The Cardinals are still reeling from the loss of Jhonny Peralta, perhaps for as long as three months, due to what is believed to be a torn ligament in his left thumb. While the book isn’t closed on Peralta’s recovery timeline just yet — he’s still headed to St. Louis to receive a second opinion on the injured digit — it would appear that Jedd Gyorko will step into the vacancy. Acquired in an offseason swap with the Padres that was made in part to keep Peralta fresh and in part to subtract Jon Jay (and his remaining salary) from a crowded outfield picture, Gyorko is the favorite to absorb Peralta’s at-bats, with Greg Garcia and Aledmys Diaz also representing internal options.
The problem with that scenario, of course, is that Gyorko isn’t a shortstop. He played some short out of necessity for the Padres last year after their widely panned platoon of Alexi Amarista and Clint Barmes failed to yield dividends. Gyorko was about three to four runs below average in 220 innings at the position in the estimation of Ultimate Zone Rating and Defensive Runs Saved, and UZR pro-rated his defensive contributions to -17.6 runs over a 150-game spell. Clearly, there’s danger in extrapolating a small sample of 220 innings in that manner and treating it as fact, but Gyorko wasn’t even perceived as a plus defender at his more natural positions of second and third base, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that he graded out very poorly at the most difficult infield position on the defensive spectrum.
Over at Fangraphs, Dave Cameron provided a quick glimpse at the injury and listed Erick Aybar as perhaps the most logical stopgap the Cardinals could pursue in an effort to upgrade. Aybar is a free agent at season’s end on a rebuilding Braves club, so the fit certainly stands out as logical. Cameron also noted that the Mets have a potential infield surplus with both Wilmer Flores and Ruben Tejada slated to fill reserve roles (the latter of those two is rumored to be on the bubble when it comes to the 25-man roster, anyhow), though he aptly notes that the Mets may not want to help strengthen another National League contender.
As MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch writes, GM John Mozeliak acknowledged that, depending on the severity of the issue, the club could pursue outside help at the shortstop position. Each of the names suggested by Cameron is indeed a logical fit for the Cardinals. Here’s a look at a few names from around the league that could potentially be looked at if the Cardinals wish to address the unexpected void with a player from outside the organization…
Trade Possibilities
- Erick Aybar, Braves: As noted above, Aybar is one year from free agency on a rebuilding club that has shown a willingness to trade virtually any veteran piece it has (Freddie Freeman excluded). Atlanta has internal options that it could consider long-term pieces (Dansby Swanson, Ozhaino Albies), and while they’re not particularly close to the Majors, the Braves could slot someone like Daniel Castro or a minor pickup of their own in at short in the event of an Aybar trade.
- Ruben Tejada/Wilmer Flores, Mets: Tejada was recently awarded an extra day of service time, making him a free agent following the season. He’s said to be on the fringe of New York’s 25-man roster this spring, and Flores could serve as the club’s primary backup all over the infield even if Tejada were to be traded. It seems far less likely that the Mets would move Flores, who has a fairly productive season last year and offers more offense in a reserve capacity with multiple years of club control remaining, but the team was famously open to trading him last summer.
- Nick Ahmed/Chris Owings, D-backs: As recently as last spring, this combination looked like a potential long-term alignment for the Diamondbacks, but that’s less the case this spring. For one, Arizona went out and acquired Jean Segura to field one of the spots — likely shortstop — thus displacing the defensively gifted Ahmed from an everyday role. Beyond that, Brandon Drury had a strong season and worked his way onto multiple top 100 prospect rankings, giving the D-backs another potential option at second. Drury could play third base as well, though Arizona has Jake Lamb as a big-league-ready option at third base — one that could handle the spot long-term. With Segura, Ahmed, Owings, Drury and Lamb, the Snakes seemingly have five infielders for three spots.
- Eduardo Nunez/Danny Santana, Twins: While Nunez isn’t known for his glovework himself, he’s more experienced than Gyorko at the position and is coming off a solid season with the bat, having slashed .282/.327/.431 in 204 plate appearances with Minnesota. Santana is out options and has yet to proven himself in the field or at the plate. After a BABIP-fueled rookie season, Santana cratered in 2015 and now looks like a utility player for the Twins. Neither player is a definitive upgrade, but both would deepen the club’s infield mix and provide greater shortstop experience than the Cards’ incumbent options. Minnesota wouldn’t be anxious to shed either player, but doing so could create a utility role for top prospect Jorge Polanco. Their preference, though, could be to get him everyday at-bats in the minors.
- Chris Taylor/Luis Sardinas, Mariners: Both infielders are competing for the right to back up Ketel Marte at shortstop. Taylor, a career .313/.394/.460 hitter at Triple-A, struggled badly in the Majors this past season but offers more offensive upside than Sardinas. On the other hand, Sardinas is probably a more sure-handed defensive option despite his own big league struggles at the plate and a more pedestrian .285/.315/.365 batting line in his Triple-A career.
- Freddy Galvis, Phillies: Galvis doesn’t bring much to the table from an offensive standpoint, and the returns on his defensive work at shortstop are mixed. Ultimate Zone Rating feels that Galvis has been about average over the life of his 1567 career innings there, whereas Defensive Runs Saved feels he’s cost his team 10 runs there. If Cardinals scouts feel that Galvis is a passable shortstop, then perhaps they’ll overlook last year’s .263/.302/.343 batting line, which rated more than 20 percent worse than the league average after adjusting for his home park (76 wRC+, 77 OPS+). For what it’s worth, he did homer seven times and swipe 10 bases in his 603 plate appearances.
- Nick Franklin, Rays: Considering how long Franklin’s name has been bounced around, it almost feels like he should be in his late 20s. That comes with the territory for a player who made his big league debut and played a whole season before he even turned 23 years old, though. Franklin only turned 25 last week, and while he hasn’t developed into the everyday infielder that he was projected to, he hit .266/.353/.500 in 221 PAs at Triple-A Durham last year. The presence of Brad Miller and Tim Beckham could effectively block Franklin in Tampa Bay.
Free Agents
- Everth Cabrera: The former NL stolen base champ barely played in 2015, hitting .208/.250/.229 in 105 plate appearances with the Orioles. He wasn’t much better in the minors, batting just .230/.302/.259 in 150 PAs between the Orioles and Giants. Cabrera is nearly three years and a PED suspension removed from providing value at the Major League level, but the Cards could take a look on a minor league deal and hope to benefit from a resurgence.
- Willie Bloomquist: At 38 years old with a .238/.262/.287 batting line across his previous two seasons in Seattle, Bloomquist probably isn’t on radars as anything more than a veteran on which to take a minor league flier with a utility role in mind.
Suffice it to say, there aren’t any enticing options currently on the free agent market, though the Cardinals could find some options late in camp as veterans on minor league deals with out clauses begin to exercise those provisions.
May as well take Flores off of that list because Alderson said this past week that he is their primary back up option at 1B.
I’d think a backup 1B would be available if someone called with the right offer.
He’s slated to be the primary backup at every infield position.
I really can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not, but Peralta is going to be out three months, not three years.
He’s just trolling…or that stupid. Earlier he was trying to make a case Latos is better than Sale. End of story.
He’s got to be trolling. Not sure how Grichuk is a scrub. I wouldn’t want Hanley playing for the Cards anyways. He doesn’t have the attitude of a Cards player. I say they just stick with Jedd, and have Diaz as the backup until Peralta’s back.
He is trolling, all he does. Yesterday Maeda sucked, Cubans don’t belong in MLB, and any writer who talks about Braves Big Three rotation compared to now is lazy.
As a Braves fan myself, wouldn’t mind seeing what the Cards would like for Aybar. I think he was a decent part of the Simmons trade and our stopgap to Swanson. Might as well get a better shot with Cards.
What’s interesting is that Aybar’s value is relatively low considering he had a down season last year and ATL was expecting to build his value for a nicer return at the AS Break. I wonder if they what it would take for them to give him up now.
So ripbraves changed his name?
Starting SS to a team in need, never know. St. Louis is always ready for this though. Hard to imagine much, but Cards fans on other sites even bring up Freeman in same trade. Not quite the St. Louis way to go blockbuster.
Was curious what happened to him myself.
It will take a choice of Redbirds’ number 4 to number 8 prospect; or for the Cards to also take Nick Swisher or Michael Bourn for lower 13-16 prospect. Erick Aybar is an average 2.8 WAR player less his $8.5 Million salary is an excess value of $14 Million. He could also be extended a year for a solid utility backup player or starter at the 4,5 or 6 position.
I could see a trade for Marco Gonzales or Luke Weaver or Nick Plummer or Carlos Martinez working. If the second option of taking the Swisher or Bourn salary with Aybar is preferred, then a prospect such as Carson Kelly or Bryce Denton or Austin Gomber would get the job done.
what about Elvis, Desmond, Profar or Hanser?
The Cards aren’t taking on 7+1 years of Andrus – that’s the Rangers grave to lay in. Desmond can’t be traded yet, I don’t think (unless he consents, correct me if I’m wrong)., Profar is a lottery ticket after those injuries – who knows if he can handle SS, Hanser..maybe? Could be an option.
As a signed free agent, Ian Desmond can’t be traded before June without his consent. I would think that if the Cardinals were interested enough to acquire him and gave the Rangers at least equivalent value to the their forfeited #19 first round pick a trade might be feasible. Why wouldn’t Desmond not want to go to St. Louis? He could remain at his natural shortstop position and in the N.L. and be with a team with just as good a chance to be in the postseason in 2016. When Jhonny Peralta returns in July, the Cardinals would then have a decision to make about who plays SS. Both players have enough athleticism to move around the diamond or one could be a valuable trade piece for another asset by the trade deadline.
For the — maximum — two months of the regular season Peralta will be out, none of these options will be enough better than Gyorko/Garcia/Diaz for the Cards to even bother.
I would want Flores over any of those options.
Jerkstore obviously
with the mets, I wonder if Matt Reynolds could be a target for them instead of tejada. With the SS prospects the mets have coming up the pipe, and Flores becoming the utility guy, i would think Reynolds could stand to lose playing time even in AAA.
Hanly is as much a natural ss as he is eating healthy.
Give Garcia an extended look this spring. Fill it from within, The Cardinal Way.
Ramon Santiago is still unsigned and had a good winter batting lead off for the Escogido Leones in Dominican winter ball, playing 2B, SS and 3B. Escogido ended up winning the Dominican Serie Final championship.
Seems to me there is a great match between the Cards and Red Sox.
Red Sox give: Devin Marrero
Card give: Alex Reyes
I hate to let a stud like Marrero go but we already have perennial All Stars in the MI and another one on the way in Moncada. Reyes would be a nice arm to add to our farm system and the Cards could plug Marrero right into their starting line up, he probably would keep the job when Peralta is eventually healthy. Seems like a win/win deal.
Go Sox!
Cards aren’t moving Reyes. If the injury requires 2 months to heal he should be ready by the first week in May, if 3 then the first week in June. With both Gyroko and Diaz as replacements, the Cards aren’t in a desparant
*desperate*
The Blue Jays might be willing to move Darwin Barney if Devon Travis comes back in good health.
Oh boy! Darwin Barney is here to save the day! If this trade comes to fruition, Cards are sure fire World Series champions!
Every year there is a post like this about a Cardinals player and every year I say the same thing.
The Cardinals don’t make knee-jerk reactions to injuries. This is the exact reason the Cardinals carry so much depth. They don’t have superstar level players, but they have solid depth to withstand injuries like this over the course of a 162 game season.
Have always said, any time the have an injury they always have one or two quality behind them.
Might be the exception this time round, no one confuses Gyorko for quality.
Greg Garcia and/or Alemdys Diaz can play above replacement level production for a couple months. Just as good as you can count on getting out of any realistic target.
Very good point.
There’s nothing in the bargain bin, and the trade market is only going to throw up replacement level guys. Unless STL are going to give up quality to get quality – and that defeats the purpose of a few months stopgap.
At least their fans can trust they are going to make good calls.
Test… Don’t see the post I just made, is his working?
if this had happened a week earlier, they could have gone after Ian Desmond. Maybe bring Ozzie Smith out of retirement! 🙂 LOL
Ozzie has taken a few ground balls this spring as guest instructor
Desmond’s agent has to be kicking himself for the 3rd time in 15 months.
Why would the Cardinals have given him more than the White Sox? Peralta’s not out all year. What do they do with Desmond in June?
Plus Cards draft phenomenally, why boot a first round pick on a two month rental?
Mike Aviles could be available from the Tigers. He was signed to platoon with Tyler Collins in LF ( I know. Still doesn’t make sense. ) Now that J-Up was signed, he is expendable. Dixon Machado could fill his spot.
The Reds would probably also be happy to move Zack Cozart, who’s coming off a knee injury. Jose Peraza and Eugenio Suarez (currently being used at 3b) could both replace Cozart. Now featuring Leake, Broxton, and Brayan Pena, the Cardinals are no strangers to acquiring former Reds… albeit rarely through trades.
Where is Devin Marerro as a trade possibility?
Sox have perineal All-Stars at both MI positions already with a 3rd on the way in Moncada. This means a stud like Marerro should be available for trade. How about Marerro for Alex Reyes? Seems like a good fit for both sides and a fairly even trade.
Give me some of whatever it is you’re smoking.
It’s an even trade like the Himalayas are even ground.
How is that not a fair trade? Marerro has tons of upside
Marrero is older and nowhere near as highly regarded as Reyes. Reyes is a pitcher, which tends to be more valuable than hitters (in trade and free agent markets). Marrero has lost a lot of prospect luster. The trade makes no sense for STL.
Reyes might be worth a little more but that’s why the Sox would be taking advantage of the situation and the Cards need at SS, they’ll have to overpay. And don’t forget Dombrowski is a master of trading, the guy wins just about every trade he makes so you have to factor that in.
So you think that a 25 year old no hit shortstop who has 53 at bats on the Major League level is going to get you someone who is a top 10 prospect?
You’re selling Marrero short, he’s a decent hitter but he’s a GG caliber defender at SS and that is he important thing at that position.
Calling someone who hasn’t played in the Majors “GG caliber” is hyperbole. I’m sure he’s a plus defender, but anyone who is 25 and has put a .622 OPS in AAA isn’t a Major League quality hitter. Defense is important for a back-up utility infielder but there are a ton of no hit good glove guys out there. The Nationals just signed Brendan Ryan.
Marrero isn’t much and certainly not worth a top 10 prospect in all of baseball. Let’s put the shoe on the other foot. Let’s say a Red Sox hitter was going to be out for April and May. Would you trade Yoan Moncada for good glove no hit 2 month fill in? Of course not.
I love the Brendon Ryan point. One of the slickest gloves at short in recent memory, if he had half a stick he’d be talked about so much more.
Can be had for a bag of peanuts and a U-Haul hire.
And incredibly, is the ceiling for a lot of prospects that get horrendously overvalued.
If a guy has a good glove but can’t hit a lick at AAA – don’t trade for him. Just sign Brendon Ryan.
Supply and demand doesn’t apply here. Marrero is no better than the Cards’ internal options. He has not shown “decent” hitting skills. The more I think about this trade idea, the more asinine it becomes. No way Sox consider Bogaerts for Reyes either. The teams don’t really match up for SS.
Maybe Marrero for like Dean Kiekhefer.
You want a top 10 prospect for a no bat shortstop? Marrero is no different than Diaz, Garcia, Matt Reynolds, Nick Ahmed, Chris Owings, etc etc.
If they are going to trade Alex Reyes to the Sox you better believe they are going to want one of their better young players like Xander or Devers or Benintendi
A’s have a bunch of shortstops.
Everybody has a “bunch of shortstops”. It’s quality not quantity we’r e after here.
Blow to the redbirds efforts to improve on their finish of 24th out of 30 teams in runs.
sure it’s a blow. but teams have to expect injuries along the way. is it worth it for STL to give up a bunch of young talent for a mediocre SS to play for 3-months? I don’t think so right now. They make do….the improvise…they adapt, they overcome! It’s the STL way.
It’s almost like preventing runs is as good as scoring runs.
The wizard ain’t walking through that door. Redbirds are losing WAR faster than the speed of light this offseason.
That’s why they play the games.
Diaz was pretty awesome in the second half last season. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him put up comparable numbers to Peralta.
How about Ian Desmond? I’m not sure why the Rangers signed him anyways. Rua is ready to go and Mazara and Brinson are right behind him. We don’t need Ian. We have Profar who’s going to take Elvis’ spot very soon.
Can’t imagine the Cardinals giving up the worth if a 1st round pick.
He mentions Freddy Galvis but Andres Blanco would seem to be a better possibility. The guy had an .863 OPS last year and the Phillies would probably give him up for a few shiny trinkets.
Alemdys Diaz can handle it
Mo always knows what to do. I trust him more than I would trust myself in this type of situation, if he thinks it’s fit to acquire a SS, he’ll do so. Otherwise, he’ll go internally.
The Orioles want machado to take short so that means hardy could be had
It’s all hindsight now, but Ian Desmond and Jimmy Rollins are probably kicking themselves right now for not waiting a couple of weeks into spring training before signing their free agent contract deals.
Desmond should have signed with the White Sox to be their starting shortstop rather than with the Rangers to play LF. Rollins had offers for more dollars to sign with other teams besides the White Sox but chose Chicago due to an opportunity to remain at his natural position and not become a reserve infielder. The Cardinals may very well have been one of Rollins other choices before inking his deal with the White Sox. Oh, well…
Jimmy Rollins would have been great. Probably still could be had. Anyone thinking Reyes gets moved is wishing. They should try Wong at SS. He could be permanent replacement.
I have an off the wall trade suggestion that would need the approval of two recently signed free agents, would give the Cardinals their temporary shortstop replacement and help two organizations save face for bad signing decisions. In a three team trade, the White Sox would send Jimmy Rollins to the Cardinals, the Rangers would send Ian Desmond to the White Sox and the White Sox would send Avisail Garcia to the Rangers as the principles involved in a deal that would have other players or prospects used to balance out the transaction.
The Rangers would save face by recouping equivalent value for their forfeited #19 first round draft when they foolishly signed Desmond to play LF. Garcia, a 24-year old outfielder with untapped talent would replace Desmond as the Rangers right-handed hitting LF they sought, along with another prospect or player from the Cardinals and/or the White Sox. Garcia has 4 more years of arbitration eligible team control and would have a chance to blossom with the Rangers, starting as a platoon option in their OF.
The White Sox would save face by getting Desmond for the 1 yr/$8M bargain contract they could have had him for instead of signing Rollins to the $2M deal he will earn for making their opening day roster. The White Sox would gain a 30-year-old quality starting shortstop and not have to worry about a Rollins/Tyler Saladino platoon at such an important position in 2016. Desmond would be the safer bet for a White Sox team looking to be a serious contender in the A.L., a potential 2-4 WAR player over a couple of replacement level ones at shortstop. Garcia also lost his regular RF spot with the White Sox recent signing of FA Austin Jackson and figured to be the primary right-handed hitting platoon option with Adam LaRoche at DH in 2016. Trading away Garcia might also serve to diminish a potential log jam in the White Sox OF in 2016 and pave the way for a possible trade by the July deadline for the power hitting corner OF the White Sox failed to acquire this offseason.
Both Rollins and Desmond would have to agree to the trade since they can’t be dealt before June as recent free agent signings. Why wouldn’t they? Rollins would become the Cardinals starting shortstop for at least 2-3 months and remain in the N.L. where he has spent his entire career. Desmond would return to his natural SS position where he can regain some value he lost after his sub par 2015 season. He will still be the premier shortstop available in next offseasons FA class, one that figures to be less competitive overall than this past one. How much more value could he possibly have as a LF in next year’s FA market?
You didn’t mention what the Cards would give up in this complicated transaction. I don’t see the Rangers wanting Garcia—-who hasn’t shown much in five years. Desmond is a good athlete and there are many cases of infielders going to the OF and succeeding. Besides, Desmond has a much better bat than Garcia and Texas needs a RH batter with some pop, and Desmond has averaged over 20HR a year over the last 4-5 years. Draft picks are overrated. Texas sees a chance to win it all now and Desmond is better to accomplish that than the draft pick or Garcia. I really don’t see the Cardinals wanting Rollins, either. If Mo and Mike decide that what they have now won’t work, they can always pick up someone closer to the start of the season when teams have to make cuts.
It’s not a “complicated” trade at all. The Cardinals would only receive 37-year old Rollins and would be involved in the balancing out of the trade with a low-mid level prospect or fringe MLB player going to the Rangers.
It’s best to keep in mind that Garcia is still just 24-years old, turning 25 in June. He has not played for 5 years in the majors, only parts of 4 seasons that began with his debut in August of 2012 at the young age of 21. Last year was his first full one in MLB. Prior to that, he never played in more than 72 games, including missing most of the 2014 season with an April injury. In 2015 Garcia slashed .257/.309./.365 with 13 HR’s and 59 RBI’s. In comparison, 30-year old Desmond slashed .233/.290/.384 with 19 HR’s and 62 RBI’s in his 6th full season as the Nationals shortstop.
Imo, Desmond is no sure bet to exceed his sub-par offensive production of 2015 while also learning to play a new position, one he has never played before professionally. He will also be switching leagues, which may require an adjustment period offensively. Garcia has played his entire pro career in the OF and his bat figures to improve with gained MLB experience.
In hindsight, Garcia would probably not be the ideal return going to the Rangers and not because of his bat or potential. Going to Texas would mean he would be re-united with former Tiger Prince Fielder. It was Garcia’s alleged involvement with Fielder’s former wife in Detroit that very likely got him traded to the White Sox at the 2013 summer trade deadline. It’s not often that a 22-year old player with his upside at the time gets traded unless there are extenuating circumstances.
The White Sox could have had Desmond all long. Why would they want him now? I didn’t know about the Garcia-Fielder woman thing…..but….that aside, from a pure baseball standpoint, unless Desmond is looking bad in the OF right now in the cactus league, or he’s a jerk in the clubhouse, there’s no reason for the Rangers to make a move like that. Yes…Desmond isn’t coming off a great year offensively or defensively, but that’s the reason the Rangers were able to get a RH bat with power at that price for ONE year. It’s his job until he proves he can’t get it done. As for STL….TRUST IN MO/MIKE. They’re going to go another few weeks looking at what they presently have. They are guys who have proven they know what they’re doing! 🙂