Player Outlook
Salvador Perez's .254 average, .292 OBP and 23 home runs in 2023 came close to exactly matching his figures from a year prior, but the homer total is a concern given he played in 26 more games than 2022. The home run and RBI (80) totals are still among the best in MLB for catchers, but the downward trend is clear as he enters his age-34 campaign. With that in mind, it's not a surprise he saw more action than ever out from behind the plate, as he made 29 starts at DH and 23 at first base. Those latter numbers should only increase going forward, though he shouldn't have issues retaining positional eligibility anytime soon. Trade rumors have become more common of late, but the remaining two years and $44 million (including a $2 million buyout for a 2026 club option) on his contract limits potential suitors. Perez is no longer close to being the top catching option for fantasy managers, but his likely high volume should make him a strong producer in 2024, even if the downward trajectory continues.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
r
Runs
hr
Home Runs
rbi
Runs Batted In
bb
Base on Balls (Walk)
sb
Stolen Bases
avg
Batting Average
2024 .000
2023 330.52.4 59 23 80 19 .255
2022 301.52.6 48 23 76 18 .254
3y Avg. 3772.7 65 31 92 22 0 .262
Projections Powered by
Fantasy Performance by Week
93%
Roster
87%
Start
#9
C Rank

Fantasy News

  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Slow start in spring

    Perez went 1-for-12 over his first four Cactus League games. Perez's slow start in spring is of no concern -- per Anne Rogers of MLB.com, Perez is still the Royals' starting catcher. It's very possible the continued growth of Freddy Fermin could lead to fewer games behind the dish for Perez in 2024. He appeared in a career-high 52 games somewhere other than catcher last season, including 23 contests at first base, though that position belongs to Vinnie Pasquantino. Perez is unlikely to be an everyday player, but it's not unusual to see him get into 140 games when he stays healthy.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Homers in Saturday's loss

    Perez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 5-2 loss to the Yankees. Perez has gone 8-for-24 (.333) with two homers and seven RBI over six games since returning from the 7-day concussion injured list. His numbers through 139 games this season have largely been in line with what he did in 114 contests in 2022. Perez is slashing .256/.294/.424 with 23 homers, 79 RBI, 59 runs scored and 21 doubles entering the final game of 2023.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Earns three hits, drives in three

    Perez went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, three RBI and a run scored in Friday's 12-5 win over the Yankees. Perez collected two hits and drove in two runs in the first inning alone to continue a red-hot September. The veteran catcher is closing out his season on a high note, hitting .319 with three homers, 21 RBI and seven runs scored over 72 at-bats this month.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Homers in return

    Perez (concussion) went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Astros. Perez missed just over a week with the concussion he sustained Sept. 16. He ended a 12-game homer drought in his return, blasting an offering from Hunter Brown into the seats in the third inning. It's still been a bit of a down year for Perez, who is batting .252 with a .711 OPS, 22 homers, 74 RBI, 57 runs scored and 20 doubles over 134 contests.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Activated from IL

    The Royals reinstated Perez from the 7-day concussion IL on Sunday. Perez landed on the 7-day IL last Monday after taking a foul tip off his mask, but he will return after a minimum-length stay. He'll bat third and serve as Kansas City's designated hitter in his return Sunday while Logan Porter starts behind the dish. Tyler Cropley was optioned to Triple-A Omaha in a corresponding move.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Expected back Sunday

    Perez (concussion) is on track to be activated from the 7-day injured list when first eligible Sunday, Joel Goldberg of Bally Sports Kansas City reports. Perez was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list Monday after taking a hard foul tip off his mask last weekend, but that seems to have been a precautionary move. He passed another concussion protocol test Friday and even went through a full workout. Logan Porter has been drawing the majority of starts at catcher for the Royals during Perez's absence.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Lands on 7-day concussion IL

    Perez was placed on the 7-day injured list Monday with a concussion. The Royals said initially that Perez avoided a concussion when he was removed from Saturday's game versus the Astros following a foul tip to the mask. However, some symptoms must have cropped up since then, forcing Perez to the IL. Perez will be eligible for activation Sunday, but as is the case with all players recovering from concussions, it's difficult to project when he might be ready. With Freddy Fermin (finger) out for the season, the Royals are left with Logan Porter and Tyler Cropley as their available catchers.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Out with head injury

    Perez (head) is not in the lineup Sunday against the Astros. Perez was lifted from Saturday's game versus Houston after taking a foul ball to the face in the fifth inning, but he has been cleared of a concussion and is considered day-to-day. Logan Porter will do the catching for the Royals on Sunday afternoon.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Exits with head injury

    Perez sustained a non-concussive head injury that forced him to leave Saturday's game versus the Astros. Perez took a foul ball to the face in the fifth inning, but the initial diagnosis suggests he's avoided a concussion. The catcher can be considered day-to-day, though it wouldn't be surprising to see him sit out Sunday's series finale. The Royals open a three-game home series versus the Guardians on Monday.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Notches three hits Wednesday

    Perez went 3-for-5 with two RBI in Wednesday's 7-1 win over the White Sox. Perez has logged multiple hits in five of his 11 games in September, and he's now batting .319 (15-for-47) this month. While his contact is up, he's not hitting for a lot of power -- he has just two extra-base hits in September, and both were home runs Sept. 1. The catcher is at a .253/.293/.415 slash line with 21 home runs, 69 RBI, 55 runs scored and 19 doubles through 131 contests overall, numbers largely similar to his 114-game 2022 campaign.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Three hits in loss

    Perez went 3-for-5 with one RBI in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays. Perez has a trio of multi-hit efforts over his six games in September, going 8-for-27 (.296) with seven RBI in that span. With Freddy Fermin (finger) going on the injured list for what could be a season-ending injury, Perez will likely move back behind the dish on a more permanent basis. The 33-year-old veteran has a .249/.289/.418 slash line with 21 home runs, 64 RBI, 53 runs scored and 19 doubles over 126 contests in what's been a bit of a down year.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Getting some rest

    Perez is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the White Sox. It looks to be a routine day off for the star catcher. Freddy Fermin will catch for Jordan Lyles on Wednesday as Perez gets some rest.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Goes deep twice

    Perez went 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI in Friday's win over Boston. Perez was dealing with some back/neck soreness earlier this week but showed no signs of it Friday as he smacked a solo shot in the first inning and a two-run blast in the sixth. The veteran catcher had been stuck in a 10-for-49 (.204) funk since his last home run Aug. 14. He's now slashing .250/.293/.427 with 40 extra-base hits and 61 RBI through 499 plate appearances this season.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Returns to lineup Friday

    Perez (back/neck) is starting at first base and batting third Friday versus the Red Sox. Perez was held out of Wednesday's series finale against the Pirates due to back/neck tightness, but he'll return to action heading into the Royals' three-game weekend series versus Boston, although he'll get a lighter defensive assignment. Freddy Fermin is catching Friday and Nick Loftin will make his MLB debut as the Royals' designated hitter.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Scratched with tight back/neck

    Perez was scratched from the lineup Wednesday versus the Pirates due to back/neck tightness. Nelson Velazquez will move into the DH role as Dairon Blanco enters the lineup to cover right field. Freddy Fermin is doing the catching for the Royals, as originally planned. Perez can be considered day-to-day.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Sitting out Thursday

    Perez is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mariners. Perez caught last night's loss to Seattle, so he'll get some rest for this afternoon contest as the Royals try for a series split. Freddy Fermin will do the catching Thursday.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Knocks in four in win

    Perez went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and a sacrifice fly in Monday's 7-6 win over the Mariners. Perez got the scoring started with his first-inning blast and added a tying run on his sac fly in the ninth. The catcher has been all-or-nothing lately with three multi-hit efforts and three 0-fers in his last six games. Overall, he's at a .251/.295/.437 slash line with 19 homers, 53 RBI, 46 runs scored and 19 doubles through 107 contests this season.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Huge night in win

    Perez went 4-for-4 with one double, a home run, four RBI and two runs scored in Friday's victory over the Cardinals. Perez opened the floodgates for Kansas City with a two-run double in the first, then followed with a solo home run in the second to put the Royals up by nine. Perez now has 17 home runs on the season but has been struggling since the start of June, entering the game with a .204 batting average to go along with just five homers and 13 RBI over that stretch. Perhaps this performance will help springboard the 33-year-old veteran to a big finish to his season.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Returns to lineup Tuesday

    Perez (hand) is back in the lineup Tuesday at Boston. Perez will start at catcher and bat cleanup versus the Red Sox and right-hander Kutter Crawford after taking a pitch off his left hand in Sunday's series finale against the Phillies. He suffered only a bruise.
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  • Royals' Salvador Perez: Sitting out Monday

    Perez (hand) is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox. Though he'll be on the bench for the series opener at Fenway Park, Perez appears to have avoided a major injury scare after he was removed from Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Phillies when he was hit in the left hand by a pitch. X-rays later cleared Perez of any structural damage, so he'll be viewed as day-to-day while he heals up from the hand contusion. With Perez on the bench Monday, Freddy Fermin will start behind the plate while Matt Beaty gets the nod at first base.
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