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What’s next for Cleveland Guardians catcher Roberto Perez?

By Kevin Henry |
Apr 23, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Indians catcher Roberto Perez (55) walks onto the field before the game against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Indians catcher Roberto Perez (55) walks onto the field before the game against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

It appears that the Cleveland Guardians will move on from catcher Roberto Perez for the 2022 season. After a pair of injury-riddled seasons, what does that mean for the 32-year-old backstop?

According to Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Guardians aren’t likely to exercise the $7 million option to keep Perez as a part of their 2022 roster. Perez finished up a five-year, $14.5 million deal this season, and struggled to put together just 141 at-bats in 2021 while dealing with a fractured ring finger and right shoulder inflammation. When Perez was at the plate, he slashed just .149/.245/.319 with 56 strikeouts in those 141 at-bats (39.7 percent strikeout rate).

That follows a 2020 season where Perez also dealt with a shoulder strain and slashed .165/.264/.216 with 38 strikeouts in 97 at-bats (39.1 percent strikeout rate).

Yes, strikeouts and injuries have been a problem, but while Perez was struggling at the plate last season, he was also putting together his second consecutive Gold Glove campaign. In 2019, he also earned Wilson Defensive Catcher of the Year honors and was named as the overall Wilson Defensive Player of the Year after not allowing a passed ball in 118 games behind the plate (a career-high) and pacing MLB with 29 DRS (Defensive Runs Saved).

So what’s next for Cleveland Guardians catcher Roberto Perez?

Should Cleveland not bring him back as expected, it doesn’t seem likely that he will be out of the game long. In that 2019 season where he shined defensively, Perez also blasted 24 home runs and drove in 63 while putting up a career-high .774 OPS.

That season, however, was an outlier. He owns a career slash line of .206/.297/.360 with 53 homers in 1,445 career at-bats. Perez is the classic “defense-first” catcher, and a team that is looking to boost their defense behind the plate will likely take a chance on him, even if it’s a minor league deal where he has to prove he is healthy. That team, however, will also have to be understanding if/when Perez has struggles at the plate.

Next. Will the Guardians need to change their name again?. dark

Perez may be done in Cleveland, but that certainly doesn’t mean he is done with his MLB career.

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