Salvador Perez (photo/MLB)
The Kansas City Royals announced today that they have agreed to terms with three-time All-Star catcher Salvador Perez on a five-year extension, which will begin in 2017 and run through the 2021 season. The extension will supersede Perez’ existing contract that included team options for each of the next three years.
At age 25, he is coming off a 2015 season that saw him win his third-straight Rawlings Gold Glove Award, earn selection to his third-straight All-Star Game and World Series MVP honors. “Salvy” hit .260 with 25 doubles, 21 homers and 70 RBI, playing 139 regular season games behind the plate (142 overall). His home run total was the most in a single-season by a Royals backstop, while he led American League catchers in hits (137) and doubles and ranked third in homers and RBI.
He became the seventh catcher to win World Series MVP honors and first since 1992, batting .364 in the Fall Classic with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored. Perez hit four postseason home runs in 2015, which tied for fifth among all participants, while his 10 runs scored also tied for fifth. In 12 career World Series games (2014-15), Perez has hit .348 (16-for-46) with three doubles, a homer and six RBI.
“Salvy” has played in 545 regular season games with the Royals since making his debut on August 10, 2011 and has hit .279 with 102 doubles, seven triples, 65 homers and 279 RBI. He enters the 2016 season with 17 career pickoffs, which ranks fifth among active catchers and are the most in Royals history. He’s also thrown out 32.1 percent of would-be basestealers since the start of 2011, ranking him fourth among MLB backstops that have played in at least 500 games in that span.
