SS, 2016 and beyond

[ZigZagCardsFan]

I think this is a topic worth discussing.

It's no secret that Jhonny struggled down the stretch last year posting a .243/.306/.325 slash in the second half with a BABIP of .284 that wasn't ridiculously low and a .277 wOBA.

Was he playing through injury? Did he simply age very quickly?

Either way given his age and contract we're going to need another option soon.

Are we counting on Aledmys Diaz who was DFA'd last year before he flipped a switch posting a .373/.432/.701 slash in August with 5 homers at AA before he was promoted to AAA where he posted a 380/448/620 slash over 50 ABs at AAA to close out the season?

[JoeMcKim]

I think what they need to do is get a better backup for him at SS that you're not afraid to start a bunch to keep Peralta fresh down the stretch. Peralta's should've gotten more days off in August and September this year but when the Cardinals were riddled with injuries so that Peralta and Carpenter were the only guys producing offense you couldn't afford to take him out of the lineup if it meant starting Kozma in his place.

[JL21]

What gets lost in Peralta's super awesome first year and a half as a Cardinal is that his whole career had alternated between awesome and sub-par before he came to STL. In 2009, 2010, and 2012, he posted OPS+s of 85, 93, and 84, respectively.

All of which is to say that All-Star Jhonny from the first half and fatigued/mediocre Jhonny of the 2nd half are both outcomes that people have seen throughout his career, and nothing really abnormal. And I would imagine the contract the Cardinals gave him was predicated on that possibility.

Throw in the injuries to Holliday and Adams and the huge need to have punch somewhere in the lineup and Jhonny doesn't get a break all year.

Get Notzma as your backup SS, give Notzma 150-200 PAs filling in for Jhonny, and hope that the rest for Jhonny (plus more selective playing time) gets his 450 PAs to produce closer to the 1st half level.

[go birds]

hope is not a strategy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MrSaigon]

The entire infield is slump prone. I bet Asdrubal could get a whole season of ABs. But I'm sure someone will get him to start.

[ZigZagCardsFan]

Super-sub Zobrist anybody? You could easily give him 600 PAs between 1B, 2B, SS, LF.

[cardinalkarp]

Super-sub Zobrist anybody? You could easily give him 600 PAs between 1B, 2B, SS, LF.

I think he's going to be the target of a lot of teams and will likely get grossly overpaid by someone.

33 suggested the Cards signing him for 3yrs/55mil, which he MIGHT get from someone, but hopefully its not the Cards.

[BW23]

I thought about starting this exact same thread.

Bored at work yesterday, I went through a lot of team depth charts looking at SS. I've also looked at the FA SS list. I'm not seeing any good fits yet.

A couple of things to consider. Peralta's salary drops $2.5 million each of the next two seasons. There was talk when he signed that it made him easier to possibly move to another team and/or to a different position (LF or 3B). I'd say OF isn't a possibility at all if we consider him moving positions with the Cards. I suppose 3B could be if we're moving Marp to 2B (and Wong to another team).

Goold was asked yesterday about SS being a top priority (in terms of backup and eventual successor to Peralta). Here's his answer:

Backup absolutely is. Yes. Mozeliak said as much at the press conference, stating that the team had to improve offensively with its backup middle infielders so that Matheny is able to use them more and the starters less. That's essential. But that person does not have to be the successor. Cardinals would like for one of their shortstops in the system to be that player. Diaz is the nearest. But there are others of note in the minors, with Sosa being the chief name to know.

My personal preference would be finding a SS of the future in a deal for Lynn. I just don't see anything out there in skimming team depth charts and prospect lists.

There are okay backup options, and they could find someone that could start at SS but also 3B or 2B, too, more so than what they've had. Garcia could do that as well.

I'm interested in the thoughts of others here.

[Fat Strat]

Very good question and as BW said, I'm interested in hearing the thoughts of others.

There was some conversation earlier about flipping Lynn, Jay, Adams, Bourjos... Wonder if some combination of those guys could land us a near MLB ready SS? It would be IDEAL to go into '16 with our young replacement for Peralta on the roster, learning, growing, and getting his feet wet so we're comforable with the transition in '17.

I have no expectations of that happening, though. And have no suggestions on how to make it happen.

[MrSaigon]

On the bright side, if getting the future SS is hard, not improving from our backup SS in 2015 is impossible.