Salvador Perez Would Be A Great Fit For The White Sox

On Wednesday a report came out that the White Sox are “eyeing pursuits of Salvador Perez and Whit Merrifield, according to 670 The Score’s Bruce Levine. Perez would be an excellent addition to a White Sox team looking to rebuild its clubhouse culture and add more pop to the lineup. 

The initial reaction from fans was volatile. It’s understandable since the White Sox are fresh off a 101-loss season and are continuing to hire personnel from the Kansas City Royals, who lost 106 games this season.  Adding more ex-Royals to the equation does not seem like a winning formula for a front office who claims they are trying to “get it right” this offseason. 

However, despite the bad optics Perez would be an excellent fit on the South Side. 

Offensive Production

One of the many holes the White Sox need to fill is at the catcher position. Perez would represent an upgrade over every catcher the White Sox trotted out last season, at least from an offensive standpoint. 

Yasmani Grandal hit just eight home runs with an OPS+ of 77 while Korey Lee proved he is not an MLB hitter. Carlos Perez is an interesting option behind the plate, but having him as the Opening Day catcher would be foolish if the White Sox are serious about improving.

While the bar for the White Sox is set incredibly low, Perez would be an offensive upgrade for most teams at the catcher position. 

The 33-year-old slashed .255/.292/.422 with 23 home runs and 80 RBIs. That is more home runs and RBIs than all White Sox catchers combined last season. In the process, Perez was named to his eighth All-Star team. What Perez lacks is plate discipline. Last season he struck out 135 times and has ranked in the league's bottom five percent in walk rate for the past eight seasons. This is a real concern for a White Sox lineup that already struggles to draw free passes. 

But what Perez lacks in plate discipline he makes up for in power, which is something the White Sox need more of especially from the catcher position. Last season he ranked in the top 70th percentile in expected batting average and expected slugging percentage. In 2021 Perez led the league with 48 home runs and 121 RBIs. 

Perez has hit 20-plus home runs in seven of the last nine seasons with the only exceptions being the shortened 2020 season and the 2019 season, in which he did not play a single game due to an elbow injury. This has come despite the fact he has had limited lineup protection over the last several years. Throw him in a hitter-friendly park like Guaranteed Rate Field and Perez would have a legitimate shot to lead the White Sox in home runs. 

Perez is not a good defender. But there are rumblings that the White Sox could be looking to shake up the core. If Eloy Jimenez happens to get traded then Perez would easily slot in at DH. If not he could serve as a placeholder at catcher while the White Sox number three prospect Edgar Quero develops. 

Clubhouse Leader 

Salvador Perez is a former World Series Champion who knows what it takes to win. By all accounts, he is also a great clubhouse guy. That is exactly the type of player the White Sox should be targeting as they try to revamp their clubhouse culture. 

Perez was named the Royals' fourth-ever team captain in franchise history. According to a report from the Kansas City Star, he was present in every pitcher's meeting and took several players under his wing in the clubhouse. That’s a far cry from Yasmani Grandal who was “no friend of the pitchers” per a report from ESPN’s Jesse Rodgers.

“Even (outside) of the ‘C,’ the captain thing, I am still going to try to do my best as they can follow me and try to get better,” Perez told the Kansas City Star. “I talk to them about situations and all of that. I think that is very important as you have a lot of youth on the team.”

Perez also has a resume that commands respect. He is an eight-time All-Star, five-time Gold Glove winner, four-time Silver Slugger, and World Series MVP. 

Production aside, Perez is the type of guy the White Sox want to add to their clubhouse. He can mentor younger players, and set an example for how a professional is supposed to go about their business for players like Eloy Jimenez, Yoan Moncada, and Luis Robert Jr. He has also worked with Pedro Grifol before and can help him regain some of the respect that he clearly lost last season.