The Cardinals have traded righthanded reliever Blake Hawksworth to the Los Angeles Dodgers for middle infielder Ryan Theriot.
The Cardinals also added another lefthanded piece to their bullpen today by signing former American Leaguer Brian Tallet to a one-year contract. Terms were not immediately available. Tallet becomes only the third lefthander on the Cardinals' 40-man roster.
Theriot, who turns 31 next week, hit .270 with 29 RBI and 72 runs scored last season. He appeared exclusively at second base for the Dodgers after playing 151 games solely at shortstop for the Chicago Cubs in 2008.
The acquisition of Theriot, traded by the Cubs to the Dodgers last July, at least partly addresses the team's desire to give itself more flexibility within its middle infield. Theriot served as the Cubs' starting shortstop from 2007-09.
Hawksworth was deemed expendable as the Cardinals enjoy a glut of righthanded relievers; Hawksworth, drafted in 2001, is also out of options.
Theriot appeared mostly as a leadoff hitter last season, a role the Cardinals also hoped to address with any infield acquisition. However, Theriot's .321 on-base percentage ranked as his lowest in five full major-league seasons. He achieved a .387 on-base percentage during the Cubs' run to a second consecutive NL Central title in 2008. Theriot also has averaged 23 stolen bases the last four seasons.
Considered consistent but not rangy in the field, Theriot ranks below average in most defensive metrics but made only 15 and 14 errors at shortstop in 2008 and 2009 with the Cubs. The Cardinals received sometimes spectacular defense with incumbent Brendan Ryan but manager Tony La Russa became increasingly impatient with defensive inconsistencies he believed stemmed from Ryan's difficult year at the plate.
General manager John Mozeliak previously suggested the club wanted to upgrade at shortstop moreso than at second base, where Skip Schumaker patrolled for a second straight season. However, Theriot's presence also allows Schumaker to move to more of a super-utility role should La Russa want Theriot to play on both sides of second base.
Today's acquisition of Theriot, however, is hardly expected to be the last involving the middle infield carousel. A move involving Ryan is expected as a likely spin-off, perhaps by the conclusion of next week's Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla.
Tallet, released last month by the Toronto Blue Jays, has spent at least parts of eight seasons with the Cleveland Indians and Blue Jays. Tallet, 33, pitched primarily out of the Blue Jays' rotation in 2009 before returning to a relief role for most of 2010. Arbitration-eligible before his release, Tallet earned $2 million during a difficult 2010 season in which he absorbed a 6.40 ERA and allowed 20 home runs in 77 1/3 innings.
Tallet projects as the potential successor to Dennys Reyes as the complement to Trever Miller. Tallet has averaged more than an inning per relief appearance during his career and last season enjoyed solid success against lefthanded hitters while being pounded by rights.
Lefthanded bats reached Tallet for a .176 average and four home runs compared to righthanders' .320 success and 16 home runs. Tallet also proved especially vulnerable inside the hitter-friendly Rogers Centre, where he absorbed an 8.26 ERA in contrast to a 4.38 road figure.
Tallet admitted last summer that an early-season forearm condition caused him to alter his arm slot, which resulted in chronic shoulder stiffness for much of the season.
The 6-foot-6 Tallet enjoyed his best season in 2008, when he amassed a 2.88 ERA in 56.1 innings covering 51 appearances. He averaged 48 relief appearances for the Jays from 2006-08.
The Cardinals last week signed another veteran lefthander, Raul Valdes, to a minor-league contract. Valdes is also 33 but produced reverse splits last season with the New York Mets.
The Los Angeles Dodgers' signing of free agent shortstop Juan Uribe to a three-year, $21 million contract accelerated the Cardinals' pursuit of a middle infielder. The Cardinals had expressed interest in Uribe, a starting shortstop for two world championship teams, but were not prepared to guarantee three years or $7 million per season. Miguel Tejada and J.J. Hardy also offered possibilities.
The Cardinals were one of several teams involved in trade talks for Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett and have expressed interest in veteran free agent outfielder-first baseman Lance Berkman.
