Darren Yamashita – USA Today Sports
The Oakland A cemented their turf during the MLB Winter Meetings, signing utility worker Jace Peterson to a two-year contract.
Free utility agent Jess Peterson and the Oakland A’s have agreed to a two-year contract, effectively pending, according to the Oakland A’s. Familiar sources with the deal. Sources say Peterson, 32, has attracted interest from several other teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates.
What can Jess Peterson bring to the Oakland A’s?
Peterson’s defensive versatility has been interesting to teams—he can play second base, third base, and corner field—and he’s a natural replacement for Chad Bender, who was not signed and expected to leave the first team in free agency.
It is getting an A on the board and is likely to continue the trend of small and low annualized value signals. In 112 games with the Brewers last season, he hit .236/.316/.382 with eight home runs, 34 RBI and a 0.698 OPS. In his nine-year career, he hit .231/.321/.343 with 36 home runs, 207 RBI and .664 OPS.
