The reported multi-year deal between the Cardinals and shortstop Jhonny Peralta is completed pending a physical, reports Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Jhonny Peralta contract: Shortstop agrees to 4-year, $52 million deal
Pending a successful physical, Peralta will sign a deal worth over $50 million.
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Assessing Jhonny Peralta's Value
Viva El Birdos takes a look at what Jhonny Peralta will bring to the Cardinals The contract will be worth a little over $52 million for four years, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports. The Cardinals had been looking for a shortstop this season after receiving very little production from the position in 2013. There had been rumors that they could trade one of their talented young starters, with Troy Tulowitzki’s name coming up occasionally.
Cardinals shortstops posted a .226/.282/.314 line in 2013, good for the second-worst OPS in the National League at the position. Pete Kozma took most of the starts, while Daniel Descalso also saw significant time at shortstop.
St. Louis won 97 games in 2013 and advanced to the World Series. The addition of Peralta in free agency will make the team even better without them needing to give up someone like Shelby Miller.
Peralta, 31, has played for the Tigers the past three-and-a-half years. He played in 107 games in 2013 due to a 50-game suspension for his connection to the Biogenesis scandal. When he was in the lineup, he hit .303/.358/.457. He has a career .755 OPS with the power to reach 20 home runs in a season.
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