A's get Perez from SD to finalize Mateo deal

November 6th, 2020

The A’s deal with the Padres to send infielder Jorge Mateo to San Diego in exchange for a player to be named later on June 30 has been completed.

Minor League outfielder Junior Perez was announced as the player acquired by Oakland from the Padres on Thursday, officially completing the trade.

Perez, who was ranked as San Diego’s No. 16 prospect per MLB Pipeline, signed with the Padres out of the Dominican Republic for $300,000 in 2017. The 19-year-old outfielder spent two Minor League seasons in their system, batting .223/.351/.392 with 14 home runs and 65 RBIs over 112 games. With the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down all Minor League games for 2020, Perez’s last game action came in the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2019.

Projected for a corner-outfield spot due to below-average speed, Perez makes up for his legs with some quality pop in his bat, with his power grading out at 55 on the 20-80 scale. At such a young age, there is still plenty of time for Perez to develop in an A’s farm system that has steadily built up outfield depth over the past few years.