Francisco Lindor has the Mets riding high, and seven other story lines from baseball’s postseason
- by The Boston Globe
- Oct 12, 2024
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Perez making a run for Cooperstown
Salvador Perez is signed through 2025, with the Royals holding a $13.5 million option for 2026. He turns 35 in May and isnât done yet.
Perez could finish his career with 300-plus home runs and 1,000-plus RBIs. Heâs also 429 hits shy of 2,000.
Perez already is a nine-time All-Star with five Gold Gloves and was MVP of the 2015 World Series.
Does that sound like a Hall of Famer?
Maybe not. Jorge Posada finished his career with 275 homers, 1,065 RBIs, four World Series rings, and five All-Star nods, and fell off the ballot after one year.
Still, Perez believes he is worthy of Cooperstown.
âOne hundred percent. If you donât think that way, youâre in the wrong sport,â he said. âI think every player wants to be in the Hall of Fame. I think every player wants to play 14, 15, 17, 20 years doing the same thing.
âI at least have the opportunity right now. Thatâs what I tell myself right now. Give it everything you have; you never know.â
Perez was a pivotal player when Kansas City won two pennants from 2014-15. Now heâs a team leader as the Bobby Witt Jr. era gets started. If Kansas City becomes a consistent contender, Perez will benefit.
His Hall candidacy will be an interesting one.
Extra bases
Former Boston College righthander Justin Dunn, who hasnât pitched since 2023 because of a shoulder injury, will throw off the mound for scouts in Arizona on Tuesday. Heâs only 29 and had a 3.94 ERA from 2019-21 with the Mariners before the injury . . . If youâre among those who find the in-game dugout interviews annoying, be advised the players love them. They receive $15,000 to do them during the postseason . . . Mark Melancon, who pitched 14 seasons in the majors, joined the coaching staff at San Diego State. Melancon had the worst season of his career with the 2012 Red Sox. Then he was traded to the Pirates and was an All-Star three of the next four seasons . . . The Athletics turned off replies for all of their social media accounts at the beginning of the season and have yet to turn them back on . . . The Cape Cod League will hold its Hall of Fame induction on Nov. 17 at the Wequassett Resort in Harwich. Longtime Falmouth manager Jeff Trundy leads a class that includes Andrew Calica, Todd Cunningham, Todd Helton, Pat Neshek, Nick Zensel, and Brick Smith. Go to capecodbaseballstore.org/hall-of-fame to order tickets . . . Polar Park hosts the inaugural âCome One, Come All, If You Want to Play Ball!â event on Oct. 19. The day features a seven-inning game involving women from the Red Sox and Yankees fantasy camps along with players from the Pawtucket Slaterettes. Gates open at 3 p.m. for the 4 p.m. game. After the game, fans will be invited onto the field to play catch, run the bases, take batting practice, and shag flies until 9 p.m. The cost is a $20 donation to the WooSox Foundation. Maybelle âAll The Way Maeâ Blair of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League will be on hand for photos and autographs. Fans can bring gloves and bats. The team will supply baseballs and softballs . . . Happy birthday to Scott Cooper, who is 57. A third-round draft pick by the Red Sox in 1986, Cooper was soon viewed as the player who would replace Wade Boggs at third base, which he did in 1993 and was an All-Star for two seasons, hitting .280 with 22 home runs over 260 games. Cooper was traded to the Cardinals before the 1995 season and played only 193 more games in the majors because of nagging injuries. He retired after being released by the Rangers during spring training in 1998. Cooper became a college coach before working with younger players. Cooperâs promise as a hitter led to the Red Sox trading third base prospect Jeff Bagwell to the Astros in 1990. Bagwell was only 7½ months younger than Cooper and was deemed expendable. Bagwell went on to the Hall of Fame.
Peter Abraham can be reached at peter.abraham@globe.com. Follow him @PeteAbe.
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