With Jhonny Peralta set to be shelved for the next several months, the St. Louis Cardinals needed a replacement shortstop and they got one.
According to a report by Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com on Saturday, the Cardinals have signed shortstop Ruben Tejada to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million.
Ruben Tejada's one-year deal is worth $1.5 million. Contract does not include performance or appearance incentives. #STLCards
— Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) March 19, 2016
Tejada, 26, batted .261/.338/.350 with three home runs and 28 RBIs for the Mets last season. While he is probably best known for being the victim of Chase Utley’s infamous takeout slide in Game 2 of last year’s NLDS, Tejada is a solid defender that can at least provide passable production with the bat, assuming he is fully recovered from the broken leg he suffered on that play.
The aging Cardinals aren’t expected to be World Series contenders in 2016, especially playing in the fearsome NL Central and having lost outfielder Jason Heyward in free agency. But the signing of Tejada to fill in for Peralta (who is looking at an extended absence with a thumb injury) should at least help them stay afloat.
Image Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
H/T Rotoworld
