Braves Claim OF Eury Perez From Yankees

[Dalyn]

What? Wang, Wandy, Winkler, and that cuban chick Dian aren't enough for you?

All the makings of an unintelligible Sting song.

[NinersSBChamps]

This has been such a good off season. It will be even better when this AAAA team plays games too.

[jpx7]

What? Wang, Wandy, Winkler, and that cuban chick Dian aren't enough for you?

In certain senses, it's going to be a great year:

[Braves1976]

Interesting waiver claim, I haven't seen much of him personally. But I did review his AB's with the Yankees via my MLB.com account after hearing about the claim. He seems to be quite a bit better vs lefties, though in the minors he hit righties well enough. But he was still much better vs lefties throughout his minor league career (source: Minor League Central). So if nothing else he could be another platoon candidate, a back-up in centerfield, and some speed off the bench late in games.

I like this pick-up and hope he shows he's more than a 4th or 5th outfielder type. It sure doesn't hurt to give the kid a shot.

[Julio3000]

In certain senses, it's going to be a great year:

No, I doubt we have have any shot at jumping the Marlins this year.

[50PoundHead]

If he has a cannon for an arm, Eury the Fury would be the greatest nickname.

[50PoundHead]

One of the few upsides to a season like the one we're facing is that you have a chance to safely evaluate fringe guys like this. The Indians were awful from 02-04, but they used those years to give a lot of overlooked players a ton of at-bats, and they ended up discovering that Casey Blake was a pretty solid player. Maybe Perez can steal enough bases and play good enough defense to justify a place on a big league roster. No reason at all we shouldn't figure that out this season.

Agree. I'm not as down on Fredi as many here, but I hope he doesn't try to manage the heck out of the team just to finish .500. Let's do some due diligence on a lot of guys and give as many younger players serious ABs as possible in order to discern whether or not they are big league players.

[weso1]

I guess this is the guy that will replace BJ Upton in the short term.

[Braves1976]

If Eury Perez can play great defense, steal bases and hit lefties like he did in AAA. Then if nothing else he might make a solid platoon partner in CF for Mallex Smith some time in 2016-17.

Hopefully by then BJ Upton will have bounced back enough to be long gone via trade.

[Tapate50]

If Eury Perez can play great defense, steal bases and hit lefties like he did in AAA. Then if nothing else he might make a solid platoon partner in CF for Mallex Smith some time in 2016-17.

Hopefully by then BJ Upton will have bounced back enough to be long gone via trade.

puff puff pass

[thethe]

Why was this guy available? The bar isn't really that high to be a productive offensive player at CF. Guy seems like he will get on base at a 32-34% clip in the majors given a full opportunity. Supposedly, he is a plus defensive player as well.

[Braves1976]

I found a few clips of Perez on defense last season with the Yankees. I'd like to see a lot more of the second one and no more of the first one.

Clip one (misplay leading to runs scored against his team):



Clip two (great diving catch):

[thethe]

This scouting report from fangraphs is from 12/2012:

__________________________________________________ ___________

Opening Day Age: 22
2012 Level: AA/AAA/MLB
Acquired: 2007 international FA
Projected 2013 Level: AAA/MLB

The swift-of-foot Perez has stolen more than 45 bases in each of the past three seasons and is yet another player in the Nationals system that possesses close to 80 speed. The outfielder was not a natural base stealer, though, and has had to work on his instincts on the base paths. A contact I spoke with said that he’s improved both his leads and his reads. “He could impact [the game] on his legs alone,” the talent evaluator said.

Perez does not walk as much as I would like to see from someone who relies on speed but the contact I spoke with said the issue would be more of a concern if Perez didn’t make such good contact and that the organization preaches aggressiveness, not passiveness. “It can be a detriment to try and change a young hitter’s natural aggressiveness,” the contact said. “He has a clear understanding of what he has to do to be successful.”

Perez spent most of 2012 in double-A but also appeared in 40 triple-A games late in the season. He hit more than .300 at that level and stole 20 bases; that earned him a 13-game cup of coffee in the majors where he stole another three bases in as many tries. He should return to the triple-A level to open 2013 although a trade of Michael Morse could start to lessen the log jam in front of him. He has the ceiling of a fringe-average, everyday center-fielder but is more likely to end up as a valuable fourth outfielder and pinch runner.

[thethe]

So this kid has basically hit around 300 every single year. I know its a stat that has a great deal of variability due to just dumb luck but I think if you do it for such a long period of time there is something there. Maybe a guy that can be a 270/320/350 guy with plus defense/speed. THat could actually be valuable in CF.

[Braves1976]

This scouting report from fangraphs is from 12/2012:
He has the ceiling of a fringe-average, everyday center-fielder but is more likely to end up as a valuable fourth outfielder and pinch runner.

That sounds about right. I could see him and Mallex Smith making a good platoon in centerfield in 2016-17.

[jpx7]

puff puff pass

All year, yo.

[Runnin]

I'd rather have Ichiro at 2 mill than Gomes at 4.

[50PoundHead]

I don't think we should ponder this move to deeply. That would amount to Euryanalysis.

[gilesfan]

Hes always been a fan favorite for his speed. Hes a lot like Jose Costanza except he tries to hit homers. Good speed, above average defense. But hes a guy that swings at everything and tries to hit bombs.

Surprised someone else didnt take him. Can be useful for a team wanting to carry a backup CF

[CyYoung31]

I hope he makes the team out of ST.