What should the St. Louis Cardinals do when Kolten Wong comes back?

Release Jhonny Peralta

The 35-year-old Peralta has been unquestionably bad this season, and he hasn’t been particularly productive since the All-Star break in 2015. The former starting shortstop is still capable of playing his natural short and his adopted position of third base, but reports that he refused to get work at first base–a position where the Cardinals are lacking reliable depth–are troubling.

With that said, maybe the fact that Mike Matheny would struggle to find starts for Peralta once Wong returns is a good thing. Peralta has never really been a great fielder, but he’s been consistently bad in the field ever since returning from a hand injury last season. On the flip side, however, Peralta has arguably been the Cardinals’ most consistent pinch hitter this season, going 3 for 7 (.429) in those situations. If he’s limited strictly to a pinch-hitting role–and unlike on most clubs, that wouldn’t be a problem since Mike Matheny has never shown a desire to give adequate playing time to more than 21 or 22 of his players anyway–then perhaps he’d be in a better position to succeed.

The calls on social media and in the press for Peralta to be released have become overbearing, so perhaps Cardinals GM John Mozeliak will give in to the pressure just like he did with Jonathan Broxton earlier this year. But as long as Greg Garcia is the Cardinals’ primary backup at second base, third base, and shortstop, there shouldn’t be a major issue with Peralta sticking around in a reduced role. If he does, that would logically lead one to believe that the Cardinals would make a more straightforward move: