PED Suspension Not Dampening Jhonny Peralta’s Free Agent Market

Oct 16, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta (27) before game four of the American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

There was some initial chatter back in the summer when Jhonny Peralta‘s 50-game PED suspension came down that perhaps the Tigers would look to bring him back on a one-year “make good” contract. Even if they really didn’t have a spot for him at shortstop, it might be worth bringing him back in a super-utility role if the market for his services was surpressed and the price was right.

But that’s not proving to be the case at all. According to a tweet by Peter Gammons, Peralta already has at least one significant offer in his back pocket.

Peralta earned just under $17 million across his three full season in Detroit, but, if Gammons’ information is accurate (and we have no reason to believe it’s not), he stands to make at least $52 million over the next four years.

Perhaps we would be seeing a different situation today if either (1) the Tigers hadn’t welcomed him back to play in October or (2) he didn’t hit the cover off the ball in the postseason.

If the Tigers could go back in time knowing what they know now — that Prince Fielder would/could be traded for Ian Kinsler and that teams will be interested to pay Peralta significant money — they would certainly have extended Peralta a qualifying offer. At worst they would have ended up with an above-average third baseman at a reasonable price for one year, and at best they would be in the same spot they are in now but with an extra first round pick next year.