St. Louis Cardinals Best/Worst Case 2016: Shortstops

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Oct 3, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta (27) reacts after striking out in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game one of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

With Jhonny Peralta out until at least the start of June, Aledmys Diaz is making a strong case to see opportunities at shortstop with the St. Louis Cardinals once April hits. What will the club get from their shortstops in 2016?

This piece would have originally been dedicated to Jhonny Peralta, but we all know what happened over the weekend with the St. Louis Cardinals shortstop. Yesterday, Aledmys Diaz took a major step forward in his efforts to win the now vacant shortstop job out of camp.

Diaz turned in a 4-4 effort in the Cardinals’ 5-3 victory over the Twins. Diaz had a pair of doubles, two RBI, and a run scored on the afternoon.

Talk about stepping up and giving the club a shot in the arm. Diaz’s performance didn’t even give me ample time to freak-out about Peralta. I’m totally intrigued by Diaz. Monday’s news was a “here we go again” negative development in the injury department, something Cardinal fans have grown accustomed to since the start of 2015.

But, with Tommy Pham and Stephen Piscotty‘s efforts last season, the “next man up” mantra is becoming commonplace with the Cardinals as well.

Aledmys Diaz looks to be the next guy to step up for the Cardinals when everything seems to be doomed. Granted, this is one game. Diaz still has a lot to prove before he should be considered the everyday Cardinal shortstop. But how can you not be ecstatic about Diaz’s performance yesterday, when the team needed a lift like that the most?

Jedd Gyorko will most certainly figure into the shortstop equation, as well. He’s the man on the St. Louis roster with the best tool set to replicate what Peralta brought to the table.

Therefore, I’ll do a collaborative best/worst case breakdown of Diaz, Gyorko, and Peralta together as the Cardinals face their new shortstop challenge.

Next: Has Jamaal Charles Lost a Step?

Mar 21, 2014; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Aledmys Diaz (95) connects for a base hit against the Washington Nationals during a game at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

Best Case: Diaz has lots of 4-4 days, Cards don’t miss a beat at short, Diaz hands the torch back to Peralta for a World Series run

If I would have written this piece a couple of days ago, I doubt that I would give Diaz near as high of a ceiling as I am about to give him. Likewise, a week from now, the outlook could seem a lot different for Diaz and the shortstop position for the Cardinals.

But, I’m writing this on the heels of a big time Spring Training performance from Diaz. That sounded a little ridiculous when I wrote it, so let me rephrase. Diaz did everything he could have (and then more) in easing the minds of Cardinal fans who are still digesting the Peralta news, whether it was “just a Spring Training game” or not.

Diaz has had such great examples before him that he can follow. He’s watched Minor League teammates Stephen Piscotty and Tommy Pham step in and shine for the Cardinals. Those two played as big a role as anybody in pushing the Cardinals to 100 wins a season ago.

Diaz watched big league mainstays go down last year and he watched his teammates step in and provide huge boosts for the big league club. Now it is his turn. If today’s performance is any indication, I have little doubt that Diaz is the next man to step into impending doom and keep the club afloat.

Of course, though, we are talking best-case fantasy world here! That scenario doesn’t involve Diaz simply keeping the club afloat, it means he does that and then a whole lot more.

In Diaz’s best case, he puts in Piscotty-like numbers from last year while Peralta is gone. Through the April-June months, Diaz hits above .300, gets on base at a .380-.390 clip and hits seven or eight home runs in half a season of baseball.

He gives the Cardinals a huge lift, and he gives Peralta the luxury of really making sure that he is back to 100% before returning.

After that, Peralta steps in fresh and healthy and leads the club in home runs and RBI in the second half of the season. Diaz becomes the clubs second super-utility man (with Jedd Gyorko), and the Cardinals infield depth dwarfs the rest of the National League.

Next: Has Jamaal Charles Lost a Step?

Aug 27, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta reacts against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Diaz and others can’t get it done, Peralta returns too soon, fails to produce like he has in the past

Our worst-case scenario is, of course, that nightmare outlook that I’m sure many felt when the Peralta knows broke. Memories of Pete Kozma immediately come to mind, no offense to Pete. What will an already suspect offense look like without it’s power-hitting shortstop?

Diaz looked great today, and he’s been pretty solid so far this spring, but can we really expect him to step into the most competitive division in baseball and lead the defense at shortstop for an extended chunk of the season?

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Gyorko is the man most capable of replicating what Peralta brought to the club, but there are no guarantees as to what the Cardinals will get from him. Plus, his services are going to be needed around the infield, not just at shortstop.

I appreciate Greg Garcia for what his time with St. Louis, but his offensive limitations hold him back from having much shot at an every day job.

Worst case, Diaz makes the club out of camp and then struggles mightily during the regular season. The hit to his confidence is so great that he is never to be seen with the big club again.

With that, Gyorko struggles with the strikeout all season. Feeling pressed in the heated NL Central race, the Cards push Peralta back before he is ready.

Pushing Peralta back either results in him re-injuring the thumb or just lacking the strength with the bat to be the same run producer that he’s been in the past.

Next: Has Jamaal Charles Lost a Step?

Jun 28, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta (27) is congratulated by teammates after scoring against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

My Prediction: Diaz and Co. give the Cards enough at shortstop, hand the keys back to Peralta for another NL Central run

While I don’t expect Diaz to light the world on fire or to be an all-star in his first season with the big club, I do think that he makes the Opening Day roster out of camp. He may not start on Opening Day, but thanks to a stellar spring, he will see plenty of opportunities before Peralta’s return.

I like Diaz for a lot of starts at shortstop against left-handed pitching, with Gyorko sliding over to second base to spell Kolten Wong. Likewise, Diaz is a good candidate to see time at third base whenever Matt Carpenter needs a break.

I expect a very solid defensive effort from Diaz, and think that he will do enough with the bat to stay in the lineup on a fairly routine basis.

The Cardinals are going to miss Peralta’s presence in the lineup, but I definitely think that Diaz and Gyorko together can do enough to keep the club where it needs to be.

Assuming that Peralta returns some time in mid-to-late June, I like Diaz for five or six home runs and an OBP in the .340’s.

I think that double digit home runs for Gyorko through the first couple of months is a definite possibility, although I am wary of the strikeout and potential for a low OBP.

In the end, I think that Cardinal replacement shortstops will be solid enough to remove any temptation to hurry Peralta’s recovery process.

With just a 3-4 month season ahead of him after his return, the Cardinals will be able let Peralta go out there without too much concern for rest.

Next: Should the Cards deal for a shortstop?

If there was ever a good time for Peralta to go down, now is it. So long as Diaz and Gyorko can keep things afloat, the Cardinals and Peralta should be in a good position as they move through the mid-summer months and into stretch-run time.

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With Jhonny Peralta out until at least the start of June, Aledmys Diaz is making a strong case to see opportunities at shortstop with the St. Louis Cardinals once April hits. What will the club get from their shortstops in 2016?

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