Cardinals Rumors: St. Louis should pursue David Peralta

The St. Louis Cardinals could use depth all over the roster, but perhaps no more so than the outfield. Who might they pursue?

At this point of the season, the St. Louis Cardinals have a pretty decent understanding of the type of team they are. They’re 28-22 and in first place in the National League Central. But they have dealt with an assortment of injuries, especially in the rotation and outfield, and they figure to pursue upgrades and depth before the July 30 trade deadline.

One option who makes sense for the Cardinals is Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder David Peralta.

Peralta, 33, is hitting .265/.321/.448 with four home runs and 29 RBI in 48 games this season. He would provide the Cardinals with a proven veteran outfielder, something they could use even with the emergence of Dylan Carlson and Tyler O’Neill, and is a player the team is likely to explore this season, if they haven’t already.

What could make Peralta even more intriguing is that he is unlikely to cost the Cardinals any of their top prospects. He is signed to a three-year, $22 million contract and will become a free agent in 2023, meaning he would not be a one-year rental, which will surely appeal to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. And his $7.5 million salary this season is a reasonable price tag considering his level of production in recent seasons.

How Peralta would fit in the outfield is unclear. He could replace Harrison Bader or O’Neill in the outfield. But replacing Bader’s defense in center field or O’Neill’s bat in the middle of the order would be tough for the Cardinals, though adding a proven outfielder who hits left-handed could be too enticing for a team whose lineup is right-handed heavy.

Peralta figures to be one of many options that the Cardinals consider. But considering his production, and controllability, he may be the player the team pursues the most.