Celebrating Geraldo Perdomo: A Stellar Season for the Diamondbacks

This was every bit the procession expected. Corbin Carroll did garner some votes, with a brave mention for Ryne Nelson, yet the overwhelming choice was clear—Geraldo Perdomo. The result felt almost presidential, reminiscent of a banana republic election where the outcome leaves little to doubt. And deservedly so, as Perdomo delivered a season for the ages.

A Historical Achievement

As noted during the nominations thread, Perdomo’s performance marked only the third time a position player for the Arizona Diamondbacks has posted a 7 WAR season, with both bWAR and fWAR affirming his exceptional value. This achievement makes it the best campaign in Arizona since Paul Goldschmidt’s remarkable season in 2015.

Goldschmidt not only achieved incredible personal success but also finished runner-up in the National League MVP voting that year. There is now a strong case to be made that Perdomo should have shared a similar fate—though the MVP title ultimately went to Shohei Ohtani. While it’s hard to argue against Ohtani’s extraordinary talent, many believe Perdomo deservingly should have finished ahead of both Kyle Schwarber and Juan Soto. As documented at the time, some of the BBWAA ballots left fans scratching their heads.

However, Perdomo isn’t losing sleep over the MVP race, especially considering that the season earned him a substantial $7.5 million, including a hefty $2.5 million salary bump for the 2028-2030 seasons.

Evaluating His Season

Much has been said regarding Perdomo’s standout season, and the analysis by ish95 is definitely worth a read. Instead of rehashing those points, let’s pivot to an intriguing discussion about the potential value of Perdomo’s contract extension compared to Goldschmidt’s deal from March 2013.

The Math Behind the Contracts

Goldschmidt’s contract, once the 2019 option was exercised, was worth a total of $46.5 million. When adjusted for “baseball inflation” (where the average MLB salary rose from $3.386 million in 2013 to $5.160 million in 2025, a 52.4% increase), this becomes approximately $70.9 million covering the years 2014-2019.

Curiously, both extensions began in a player’s age-26 season and took effect a year after initial contracts. In Goldschmidt’s case, he had a breakout year in 2013, posting 6.3 bWAR—quite similar to Perdomo’s impressive 7.0 bWAR this past season.

In the six seasons of his extension, Goldschmidt accumulated a total of 32.4 bWAR, yielding a remarkably affordable cost of $2.19 million per bWAR. Perdomo’s contract figures are less clear due to a $15 million team option for 2031. If the team decides to exercise the three-million buyout, Perdomo’s contract could total $45 million over four years or $57 million over five.

To equal Goldy’s production cost, Perdomo would need to accrue 20.6 bWAR in four years or 26.1 bWAR in five.

The Shortstop Production Landscape

Let’s focus on the four-year figure. How many shortstops have matched that kind of production during their age 26-29 seasons? Not many, it turns out. As analyzed, only fourteen have managed this feat, the latest being Jimmy Rollins with 21.0 bWAR from 2005-2008. However, there are more recent shortstops in the 15-20 bWAR range like Dansby Swanson, Francisco Lindor, Corey Seager, and Carlos Correa. Thus, reaching for the latter target might be more attainable for Perdomo.

The Value Proposition

It’s plausible that Geraldo may not quite hit the lofty bar set by Goldschmidt, but not meeting that benchmark wouldn’t indicate failure. Instead, it underscores the incredible value Goldschmidt’s contract provided to his team. Many fans and analysts consider it one of the best moves from GM Kevin Towers’ tenure, perhaps even the best deal in franchise history.

Evaluating Perdomo’s Current Value

Interestingly, Perdomo may very well have already justified the entire cost of his contract before it even takes effect. Valued at around $8 million per WAR, his performance this year alone amounts to $56 million. Current estimates suggest the price is closer to $11 million per WAR, making one ponder on the ROI (return on investment) for Perdomo.

After comparing his numbers to other elite players from the previous season, we find Perdomo’s statistics hold their own. Here’s a snapshot of several standout performances, equivalent to 6.5 bWAR or better:

• Aaron Judge: 9.7 bWAR, $40 million
• Cristopher Sánchez: 8.0 bWAR, $2 million
• Shohei Ohtani: 7.7 bWAR, $28.22 million
• Paul Skenes: 7.7 bWAR, $875,000
• Cal Raleigh: 7.4 bWAR, $2.67 million
• Bobby Witt Jr.: 7.1 bWAR, $8.11 million
• Geraldo Perdomo: 7.0 bWAR, $2.55 million
• Julio Rodriguez: 6.8 bWAR, $20.19 million
• Tarik Skubal: 6.5 bWAR, $10.15 million

Perdomo closely follows Cal Raleigh’s value, while slightly lagging behind Sanchez. Yet, standout mentions like Skenes redefine value at an earlier stage of their careers.

Perdomo’s contribution last year was nothing short of fantastic, validating every dollar of his contract. Here’s to wishing for more outstanding performances from Gerry as he dons the Sedona Red this season.