JUPITER, Fla. -- The Cardinals on Saturday reached an agreement on a Major League deal with former Mets shortstop Ruben Tejada, who recently cleared waivers and became a free agent. The addition helps to fortify the Cardinals' shortstop depth, which thinned following a spring injury to Jhonny Peralta.Tejada, who took the final open spot on the Cardinals' 40-man roster, is considered an average defensive shortstop and has hit .255/.330/.323 over his six-year Major League career, all with the Mets.
Tejada, 26, was due $3 million by the Mets in 2016 before being released last week. The Mets no longer needed the additional middle-infield depth with Wilmer Flores returning and Asdrubal Cabrera and Neil Walker joining the club over the offseason.For the Cardinals, the addition of Tejada gives them another shortstop option as they wait for Peralta to heal from left thumb surgery. Peralta is not expected back on the field until at least June. Up until now, the Cardinals had been looking at Jedd Gyorko, Aledmys Diaz and Greg Garcia as fill-in options.
Jenifer Langosch/ MLB.com
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