The Red Sox have optioned second baseman Jose Peraza to the club’s alternate site in Pawtucket, a source confirmed Wednesday morning. The move is reflected in the team’s official transaction log, as SoxProspects.com’s Chris Hatfield pointed out on Twitter.
Boston signed Peraza to a one-year, $2.85 million deal in December with the intention of slotting him in at second base and opened the season with the 26-year-old as the starter at that position after he impressed during summer training camp. Peraza was 4-for-5 with two doubles on Opening Day but hasn’t hit much since, going 21-for-106 (.198) with one home run and six doubles in the 33 games since while committing five errors in the field.
“He was pretty good in the first spring training, good in the second spring training and playing defense. Started out okay and then just lately, hasn’t swung the bat like we had hoped," said manager Ron Roenicke. “A lot of that, too, is where we are in the standings. We would like to see some of these guys, the younger guys we had in the camp there in Pawtucket.”
Peraza, a former Braves top prospect who played 513 games over the last four seasons with the Reds, was non-tendered by Cincinnati over the winter. The Red Sox, valuing his versatility and the fact he would be under team control through 2022 if things went well, quickly scooped him up as a younger alternate for Brock Holt, who departed as a free agent after seven years in Boston.
Peraza has lost playing time to Rule 5 pick Jonathan Arauz and second-year slugger Michael Chavis and the Red Sox now seem intent on giving some playing time to newcomer Christian Arroyo at second base. Though Peraza also has the ability to play the outfield, his struggles have apparently led Boston to decide to go in a different direction for the final quarter of the season.
Though Peraza is arbitration-eligible and under club control entering the winter, Boston’s decision to send him to the minors suggests he’s a candidate to be non-tendered this offseason. The Red Sox could add an established second baseman before Opening Day or move forward with a group of internal options that includes Arauz, Chavis, Arroyo and prospects C.J. Chatham and Jeter Downs. It appears Peraza is unlikely to factor into the club’s plans for 2021.
The Red Sox made a series of roster moves before Thursday’s game in addition to optioning Peraza. The club placed righties Austin Brice and Zack Godley on the injured list and recalled pitchers Dylan Covey, Matt Hall and Robert Stock from Triple-A Pawtucket.
Roenicke said his conversation with Peraza was a difficult one.
“It’s tough,” he said. “I’ve known Jose for a while. Somebody who has been in the big leagues for quite a few years. It’s just tough when you have to send somebody out. And such a nice guy. Works hard, ready to play all the time, played multiple positions. That’s a difficult conversation.”
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