Detroit Tigers: Eyebrow-Raising Transactions #20-11

Sep 21, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; Cincinnati Reds center fielder Jason Bourgeois (30) advances to second on a wild pitch as St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta (27) receives the throw during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

13. Jhonny Peralta. PEDs and a raise.

Jhonny Peralta was a shortstop for the Detroit Tigers between 2010 and 2013. During his time he made to two All-Star appearances and was suspended for 50 games for a PED violation in 2013. At the end of that season, the Tigers did not give Peralta a qualifying offer when he became a free agent. The St. Louis Cardinals saw value in Peralta and gave him $15.5 million in 2014. He is signed with the Cardinals through 2017 and will earn a total of $53 million with the team. When he left the Tigers, he earned $6 million.

When the Tigers failed to give him a qualifying offer, they did not receive a draft pick as compensation. They also lost a good shortstop. Of course, Jose Iglesias started playing with the Tigers in 2013 filling in for Peralta while he was suspended. The Tigers figured that Iglesias would fill the position in 2014 for less money than Peralta. What they did not plan on was Iglesias’s fragile body that took him out for all of 2014 and some of 2015. Meanwhile, Peralta has succeeded in St. Louis earning a 14th place spot in the MVP vote in 2014 and another All-Star spot in 2015. His WAR with St. Louis is a 7.5, while Iglesias has career WAR of 3.8.

Next: #12 Not the Tigers Finest Moment