Cardinals sign shortstop Aledmys Diaz

The St. Louis Cardinals have been wanting to expand their market into Cuba and Asia. Well, on Sunday afternoon they did just that by signing Cuban free agent shortstop Aledmys Diaz.  Diaz, 23, gets a four-year contract. The deal looks like it's worth $15-$20 million, even though there's no official word on the terms of the contract.

Lots of MLB teams scouted Diaz, who was suspended for a year after he lied about his age. In his last season in Cuba, he hit .315 with 12 home runs and 11 stolen bases in 270 at bats. There are teams who think that Diaz is better off playing second base. Diaz, views himself as a shortstop, but he can also play second base and third base. One of the things teams have liked about him most is the power that he is capable of producing when he's in a line-up. There are some mixed reports about his defense. That's one reason why there are teams who think he's better off playing second base in the long run. I guess the Cardinals will find out where he fits better. The Cardinals seem to do well with players who can play multi-positions.

In signing Diaz, the Cardinals get infield depth and maybe a starting shortstop for the future. He'll start out in the minors in 2014 and work his way up the the MLB. As of right now it looks like he'll be at double A Springfield or triple A Memphis. He'll be in Cardinals camp on Monday in Jupiter, FL. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny plans to get him in games right away to see where he is. The signing looks like it could be a win-win for both Diaz and the Cardinals.

Matt Carpenter lands six-year extension with Cardinals

The Cardinals have signed third-baseman Matt Carpenter to a six-year extension. Carpenter's new deal is worth $52 million and includes an option for the 2020 season. The option is for the 2020 season is worth $18.5 million.The deal buys out the first two years of free agency for Carpenter, and gets rid of all three of his arbitration years. Carpenter, 28, has played three seasons in the MLB. He's improved himself as a player since being draft by the Cardinals in the 2009 MLB draft.

Last season, Carpenter had a break out year for himself. He played in 157 games and hit .318 in 2013, with 126 runs scored, 199 hits, 55 doubles, 7 triples, 11 home runs, and 78 rbi's. The 55 doubles broke a record for a left-handed batter in franchise history that was held by Stan Musial. The record had been 53 doubles by Musial in the 1953 season. Carpenter ended up an All-Star for the first time in 2013, and won a Silver Slugger Award (which goes to the best offensive players at each position in both the American League and National League). It marked the first time in Cardinals history that a second baseman won a Silver Slugger Award. He also finished fourth in NL MVP voting.

So far in Carpenter's thee year career his stats are: 278 games played, .937 at bats, 306 batting average, 170 runs, 287 hits, 78 doubles, 12 triples, 17 home runs, 124 rbi's, and 4 stolen bases.

The deal for Carpenter looks like it could end up being a bargain for the Cardinals. A lot of that depends if Carpenter can improve from 2013 or put up almost same numbers that he did. I think he will be able to improve those stats from 2013. Good move by the Cardinals. I wouldn't be shocked if next in line for an extension is either Shelby Miller, Micheal Wacha, or Trevor Rosenthal.