Jace Peterson, Athletics agree to two-year contract
Dec 8, 2022, 10:36 AM
(Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
(Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
The Oakland Athletics have started their re-tooling process by adding a utility man into the fold.
According to Robert Murray of FanSided, the A’s have reached a two-year agreement with free agent infielder/outfielder Jace Peterson. The deal will become official once Oakland’s medical staff physically evaluates Peterson.
The report did not disclose financial figures, but the 32-year-old secured $1.8 million during the 2021 season while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Free-agent utilityman Jace Peterson and the Oakland A’s are in agreement on a two-year contract, pending physical, according to sources familiar with the deal.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) December 6, 2022
Peterson, a nine-year veteran, has spent time with the San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and Brewers since making his debut during the 2014 season.
The former first-round pick batted .236 while hitting eight home runs and driving in 34 runs over 112 appearances in 2022. Peterson displayed some speed on the bases last year, swiping 12 bags while only being caught stealing once.
Over the course of Peterson’s career, he has logged innings all over the diamond, playing a bulk of his time at second base, third base, and the corner outfield spots. Peterson is also an option at first base (42 career appearances) and shortstop (eight career appearances), but it’s expected that he will be in the mix for Oakland’s third base job along with Kevin Smith and Vimael Machin.
Both of the A’s free agency moves to this point–Peterson and the recently-signed Aldemys Díaz–have provided the roster with plenty of flexibility, especially when you add in the fact that Tony Kemp can play all over the field as well.
Oakland still has plenty of work to do after finishing with a 60-102 record in 2022–the franchise’s worst finish in 28 years. With just over two months to go until pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training, it’s likely that more moves are on the horizon for the A’s as they are still reportedly weighing trade offers for catcher Sean Murphy.
