Cardinals sign Tejada to replace injured Peralta
A few weeks ago the Cardinals were dealt a significant blow when shortstop Jhonny Peralta suffered a thumb injury that required surgery. The surgery and rehab will keep him out until midseason.
On Saturday, the Cardinals signed Peralta’s replacement, former Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada. St. Louis has signed Tejada to a one-year contract, the team announced. MLB Network’s Jon Heyman says the team is worth $1.5 million. New York released him earlier this week.
Tejada, 26, reportedly received minor league contract offers from several teams, including the Yankees, but he held out for a big league contract. The Cardinals were a natural landing spot. They needed shortstop depth in the wake of Peralta’s injury and Tejada can play the position.
Last fall Tejada had his leg broken on Chase Utley’s infamous NLDS take-out slide. He has rehabbed from the injury and had been playing in spring training games with the Mets before being released. New York cut him because they plan to go with Wilmer Flores as their primary backup infielder.
Tejada hit .261/.338/.350 (94 OPS+) with three homers in 407 plate appearances last season, which doesn’t sound great, but remember the league average shortstop hit .260/.308/.380 (91 OPS+) in 2015. He’s not going to replace Peralta’s bat, but Tejada can provide St. Louis with league average-ish offense for the position.
Here’s the lineup manager Mike Matheny could run out there to start the season:
- 3B Matt Carpenter
- RF Stephen Piscotty
- LF Matt Holliday
- 1B Matt Adams
- CF Randal Grichuk
- C Yadier Molina
- 2B Kolten Wong
- SS Ruben Tejada
It’s fair to wonder whether Tejada’s mobility at shortstop will be compromised following the leg injury. He has been a very good defender throughout his career though, so the tools are there. Tejada has the arm and hands for the position.
The club’s other options for shortstop are prospect Aledmys Diaz, who has barely played above Double-A, and Jedd Gyorko, who hasn’t played much shortstop in his career. Tejada gives the Cardinals a legitimate shortstop, something they absolutely needed following Peralta’s injury.
The Cardinals have signed Ruben Tejada to replace the injured Jhonny Peralta. (USATSI)
