Cardinals sign Tejada to play shortstop until Peralta returns from thumb injury in July

Johnny Peralta’s injury made the St. Louis Cardinals uncomfortable about their shortstop situation. On Saturday, the Cardinals tried to put their concerns to rest.

St. Louis signed free agent Ruben Tejada to a one-year, $1.5 million deal. He is expected to be the starter until Peralta, who is recovering from a torn ligament in his left thumb, returns around the All-Star break.

The Cardinals’ in-house candidates to play shortstop had been newcomer Jedd Gyorko, minor-leaguer Aledmys Diaz and career backup Greg Garcia. Tejada represents a defensive upgrade over the other options.

The light-hitting Tejada was placed on waivers Tuesday by the New York Mets despite hitting .278 with one double, one triple, one home run and five RBIs in eight spring-training games.

Last season, Tejada batted .261 with 23 doubles, three home runs and 28 RBIs in 116 games for the Mets. He is a career .255 hitter with a low .323 slugging percentage.

Tejada is perhaps best known for having his right leg broken last fall in the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Tejada was attempting to complete a double play when Chase Utley slid late and out of the basepath to break up the play.

Tejada, 26, has appeared in 431 career games at shortstop, 118 games at second base and 19 games at third base. He made his major-league debut April 8, 2010, at 20 years, 219 days old to become the youngest player to start a big-league game at shortstop since B.J. Upton (20 years, 40 days old) on Sept. 30, 2004, for Tampa Bay.

The signing of Tejada, who will wear No. 19, put the Cardinals’ 40-man roster at 40 players.

This story was originally published March 19, 2016 at 4:12 PM with the headline "Cardinals sign Tejada to play shortstop until Peralta returns from thumb injury in July."