Major League Baseball

Cuban SS Aledmys Diaz to make Cards' spring debut

Published Mar. 21, 2014 12:31 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) Cuban shortstop Aledmys Diaz was set to make his exhibition debut for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Washington Nationals.

Diaz was in the starting lineup to hit eighth. Washington started Gio Gonzalez.

Diaz last played in Cuba in 2012, then defected. His probably will start the season at Double-A Springfield.

''We need to get him exposed to this, and we are running out of time,'' St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said.

Diaz agreed March 9 to an $8 million, four-year contract that includes a $2 million signing bonus and salaries of $500,000 this year, $1.5 million in 2015 and $2 million in each of the final two seasons.

He worked out with the Cardinals last week and played in minor league exhibition games before going to Mexico for his U.S. work visa, which is needed before he can play in big league spring training games.

''We know there are going to be gaps, we just need to see where they are and how we can help him fast-forward through some of the stumbles,'' Matheny said.

Diaz was the second significant shortstop signing by St. Louis during the offseason following a $53 million, four-year contract with free agent Jhonny Peralta.

share

Get more from Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Major League Baseball