Antonio Perez

Despite performing well at the plate, Perez got buried by the Dodgers for his defensive shortcomings, including an inability to convert to the outfield. Now with the A's as part of the Milton Bradley deal, he's with an organization that better appreciates his strengths, rather than harps on his weaknesses.

Perez, acquired from Tampa Bay in spring 2004, put together a solid season at Triple-A Las Vegas. There's a good chance he'll be given a shot to platoon with Alex Cora in 2005 if he isn't traded and Jeff Kent doesn't play second.

Perez got a mid-season callup and impressed immediately at second base and at the plate, but he hit only .119 (5-for-42) after August 1, so he obviously wasn't quite ready for the bigs. Still, he's Tampa Bay's second baseman of the future. Whether he's the Rays' second baseman of the present will depend on whether the Rays retain Marlon Anderson (or sign another veteran 2B in the winter), and how Perez fares in the resulting competition in the spring.

Perez hit .258 in 72 games at second base (two homers, 15 steals) for Double-A San Antonio in 2002 before Seattle sent him to Tampa Bay in the Randy Winn-Lou Piniella deal. (He was also part of the Ken Griffey Reds-M's deal.) He's been hampered with injuries (two separate broken bones in his right wrist) over the past two seasons. Still, he's viewed as a five-tool prospect, and the Rays will try to get him regular infield work at either Double-A or Triple-A in 2003 to see if he can potentially become B.J. Upton's double-play partner.