By Chris Brown / STL Baseball Today | @cbrown_STLBBT | August 2, 2016, 3:48 pm CT
Jhonny Peralta. By Keith Allison / CC Image
Two days after acquiring reliever Zach Duke in a trade with the White Sox and one day after learning that shortstop Aledmys Diaz would likely require an extended absence, the Cardinals made a series of roster moves on Tuesday, including activating infielder Jhonny Peralta and first baseman/outfielder Brandon Moss from the disabled list.
Along with Peralta and Moss, Duke was added to the team’s 25-man roster prior to the team’s series opener in Cincinnati, while Diaz was placed on the DL with a hairline fracture in his right thumb and left-hander Dean Kiekhefer and outfielder Randal Grichuk were optioned to AAA Memphis.
[UPDATE: Kiekhefer was recalled prior to Wednesday’s game after Tyler Lyons went on the disabled list]
With Diaz’s injury (which you can read more about here) expected to sideline him for a significant period of time, Peralta will return as the Cardinals’ regular option at shortstop, the position he was slated to handle headed into the season before suffering an ligament tear in his left thumb. Peralta hit .221 with five home runs and 13 RBIs in 30 games upon his return before reinjuring his surgically-repaired thumb.
Diaz emerged as an everyday player for the redbirds at shortstop this season in Peralta’s absence, hitting .312/.376/.518 with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs in 96 games while being named an All-Star and serving as the team’s primary No. 2 hitter in the lineup.
Brandon Moss. Photo: St. Louis Cardinals / Twitter
As with Peralta, the return of Moss, who’s been sidelined since spraining his left ankle on July 4, is another key addition to the Cardinals roster. At the time of his injury Moss was leading the Cardinals with 17 home runs and batting .256 with 40 RBIs in 75 games. He’s likely to see significant time at first base as well as an occasional start in a corner outfield spot.
Acquired from the White Sox in exchange for outfielder Charlie Tilson, Duke will provide much-needed bullpen depth for the redbirds behind closer Seung-hwan Oh, joining Kevin Siegrist, Tyler Lyons, and Dean Kiekhefer as another left-handed relief option for manager Mike Matheny. The 33-year-old has has posted a 2-0 record with a 2.63 ERA and 1.25 WHIP in 37.2 innings – spread over a league-leading 53 appearances – with Chicago this season.
Meanwhile, amid an unquestionably frustrating and disappointing season, Grichuk finds himself headed down to Memphis for the second time this summer. After spending nearly three weeks at AAA from mid-June through early July in an effort to right his approach at the plate, the 24-year-old returned to a majors on positive note, hitting three home runs in his first seven games back. However, since then Grichuk has hit just .135 (5-37) in his last 15 contests.
With Grichuk back in the minors, the redbirds will use some combination of Tommy Pham, Jeremy Hazelbaker, Kolten Wong, and Stephen Piscotty in center field.
In three stints with the Cardinals this season, Kiekhefer has posted a 4.85 ERA and 10/2 strikeout/walk ratio over 13 innings. The lefty will likely be back in the majors in September, if not sooner.
Finally, with Matt Carpenter (oblique strain) set to come off the DL as soon as this Friday, the Cardinals will soon have to make another move. Veteran swingman Jerome Williams figures to be the most likely candidate to lose his spot on the 25-man roster.
Related News from STL Baseball Today:
Diaz headed to DL with hairline fracture in thumb, expected to miss significant time
