Cubs Sign Former Brewers Utilityman Hernán Pérez to Minors Deal

Photo of Evan Altman Evan AltmanDecember 17, 2019

The big acquisitions just keep on coming for the Cubs, who have inked 28-year-old utilityman Hernán Pérez to a minor-league deal. He’ll be a non-roster invitee to spring training, but Jon Heyman believes his ability to play all over the field and the addition of the permanent 26th man for this coming season give him a chance to make the team. If he does, he’ll earn a $1 million salary with incentives that can push that to $2 million.

While this will undoubtedly be added to the list of claims that the Cubs are being cheap, which hasn’t been proven wrong this winter, this site actually discussed the merits of picking Pérez up when he was DFA’d last season. Not that that means he should actually be considered a viable option for a would-be contender.

A .252 hitter with a .668 OPS and 45 home runs over 1,819 career plate appearances, the Cubs aren’t banking on this dude to mash. Pérez does have 69 stolen bases, though, so that would be a nice addition to the roster. Except that a 1.4 career fWAR means he’s only barely above replacement level, and only then because he compiled 2.3 fWAR from 2016-18. He’s provided zero or negative value in three other seasons.

But he’s done that while playing second, third, short, and all three outfield spots, so the Cubs are looking for a little depth wherever they can find it. As with the recent pickup of Noel Cuevas, you really shouldn’t put much into this signing. At least not until Pérez ends up hitting really well in Mesa and breaks camp with the big club.

Photo of Evan Altman Evan AltmanDecember 17, 2019
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