Cardinals weigh options for open spot in infield – MLB News
With the seemingly raging debate on acquiring/finding second baseman, the St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny indicated on Wednesday – Dec. 19, that the club may get a player from the organization itself.
That is plausible. After the Cardinals dealt Tyler Greene a few months ago, and recently Skip Schumaker to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the question over filling the spot with right candidate has been lingering.
The club has at its disposal the choices available in the free-agent market. However, given the fact that the Cardinals might not find any player that they are looking for, due to unavailability of a non- exhaustive list of players, they will have to look into organization itself.
"It did turn into a revolving door at times [in 2012]," Matheny said. "Just what we're looking for is for that position to be taken. We have talented guys on this club that can do it. It's just a matter of putting them in position to where they can show what they can do and take advantage of the opportunity."
Options for the Cardinals available right now – other than the Minor Leaguers, are that of Daniel Descalso, Ryan Jackson, Kolten Wong, Matt Carpenter and Pete Kozma. All the players have shown the consistency and efficacy that remain the requisites of occupying the right spot.
But of all, Carpenter seems one of the viable choices available to the Cardinals at the moment. This past season, the player appeared in 114 games, and had .294 batting average in 296 at-bats, having five appearances at the second base.
The player has made appearances in virtually all positions, starting from first and second bases to left and right field. He is bracing himself for the challenge if only the Cardinals deem it right.
“Of the daily work he's done so far, Carpenter described it as "great." He then added: "Obviously you can't simulate a real game, but there's definitely confidence built when you are working with something every day. There's a comfort level being built."
Decision in this regard is likely to be taken before or after the Spring Training.
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