Although he still has 15 games remaining on his 50-game suspension for his ties to the Biogenesis scandal, Jhonny Peralta will begin working out with the Tigers on Wednesday. His future with the team and any possible role this season, however, is still in question.
Jhonny Peralta to rejoin Tigers Wednesday in workouts
Jhonny Peralta will resume workouts with the Tigers, but the team has yet to make a decision on if he will return to the roster when his suspension ends.
Leon Halip
In a statement, the Tigers said Peralta joining the team for workouts is in accordance with protocols in the collective bargaining agreement and the decision on whether he would return to the active roster following the suspension has yet to be made. Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said if Peralta does return, it won’t be as the starting shortstop.
“He’s not coming back as our everyday shortstop,” Dombrowski said, via Chris Iott of Mlive.com. “We have our everyday shortstop at this point.”
Detroit traded for shortstop Jose Iglesias, and he's played well since coming over from Boston. Dombrowski said if Peralta is activated, he would play a utility role, seeing time around the infield and also getting work in the outfield, according to Tigers radio play-by-player announcer Dan Dickerson.
When Peralta was suspended, he released a statement apologizing to his teammates and the organization. He will address the team prior to Wednesday’s workout, according to Iott. From purely an on-the-field standpoint, Peralta’s return could help the Tigers. He racked up 3.5 wins above replacement before being suspended, with a slash line of .305/.361/.461.
Although Iglesias has filled in well, the Tigers have hit a rough patch recently. Detroit had a .626 winning percentage before the suspension and compiled a .569 winning percentage since. That drop can’t be entirely attributed to the loss of Peralta, but at this point Detroit can use any help it can get and Peralta should be able to help. Kurt Mensching of Bless You Boys is among the Tigers’ fans who think Peralta should return to the active roster:
Peralta admitted wrongdoing. He accepted his punishment. With three games left in the regular season, the slate is wiped clean. The Tigers owe it to themselves and their fans the best shot in the postseason. They look good on paper, but there’s no guarantees they’ll get another chance this good in the future.
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