St. Louis Cardinals: Five Players Feeling the Pressure in 2017

Sep 30, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals General Manager talks with manager Mike Matheny prior to a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals General Manager talks with manager Mike Matheny prior to a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports /
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St. Louis Cardinals
Aug 4, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta watches from the dugout during the second inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 4 – Jhonny Peralta – Third Baseman / Shortstop

The St. Louis Cardinals have a bit of a position battle going on entering the 2017 season. At third base Jhonny Peralta will likely have the lead but will have to prove that he deserves more playing time than home run slugger Jedd Gyorko.

Peralta had a poor year in 2016 that was derailed by injuries but that led to the discovery of Aledmys Diaz. That is initially how Peralta lost the shortstop position and why he was transfered to third base. However, Peralta batted .260/.307/.408 in 2016 in 82 games and was heavily outproduced by Gyorko. Gyorko knocked in 59 RBI with 30 home runs while Peralta managed only 8 home runs and 29 RBI.

Peralta used to be relied on as the No. 4 or 5 hitter in the lineup but saw more time in the 6 and 7 holes due to his lack of production. His health is certainly a factor and his return from that thumb injury will be huge when considering the rest of Peralta’s career considering he’s 34-years old and will become a free agent at the end of the 2017 season.

If Peralta wants to stay in the league he will need to rebound and produce like he has in his recent All-Star years. And if he wants to remain on a playoff contender, he will have to prove that he is a benefit to the team at the plate and on defense. A major part of the problem last year for the Cardinals was infield defense and Peralta was well below average defensively.

His transition from shortstop to third base was rushed and unexpected given the emergence of Diaz, but this season he should have no excuses to any defensive woes. He will have a full spring training and offseason to prepare at his new position while he also uses that time to stay healthy and strengthen that injured thumb and hand.

Peralta is feeling a lot of pressure this season because he’s an aging veteran that is due to become a free agent. Not only is he coming off an injury, he’s coming off of one of his worst offensive and defensive seasons in his career. Any teams interested will be watching this season to see if his regression was due to age or if it was due to injury and other factors. The Cardinals surely want and need him to return to form considering the lack of power in the lineup.