The Mariners picked up catcher Jhonny Pereda from the Twins on Tuesday, adding depth behind Cal Raleigh with a player who’s been grinding for more than a decade to reach the majors.
Seattle announced the trade Tuesday night, bringing over the 29-year-old Venezuelan who’s appeared in 48 MLB games over the past two seasons.
Pereda’s story is pretty remarkable when you think about it. He was an international signing back in 2013 and spent more than 11 years in the minors before finally debuting with Miami in April 2024. That’s a long time to keep believing.
Since then, he’s been on the move. Started 2025 with Oakland, got traded to Minnesota, and now he’s heading to Seattle. He’s hit .241 in the majors so far, going 26-for-108, but his minor league track record shows more promise – a .263 average with a .706 OPS across all those years in the system.
What makes this move sensible for Seattle is pretty straightforward. Raleigh’s their guy behind the plate, but catching depth is always valuable. Pereda brings experience and versatility after bouncing through seven different organizations – the Cubs, Red Sox, Giants, Reds, Marlins, Athletics, and Twins.
The Mariners had to designate Jackson Kowar for assignment to clear the 40-man roster spot, which tells you they see something in Pereda’s potential contribution.
It’s not a flashy move, but sometimes those late-blooming veterans who’ve seen everything can be exactly what a team needs when injuries or performance issues arise during a long season.
