In Mark DeRosa, the St. Louis Cardinals Find Answer at Third Base

The St. Louis Cardinals are currently at the top of their division, sitting one game ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers. Everything sounds great, right? Well, the road there wasn't easy and the road forward doesn't look any easier, but a trade with the Cleveland Indians to get Mark DeRosa has added a spark to the lineup for Tony La Russa and the Cardinals offense.

Before the season started, St. Louis got some grim news in late January regarding their projected starting third baseman. Late in the offseason, Glaus informed the team that he needed to have surgery on his throwing shoulder before the season started. Obviously, people around town were not pleased that Glaus had waited so late in the offseason to make a decision about surgery, thus causing him to miss at least the first six weeks of the season.

So, the Cardinals start the season with a couple of career minor leaguers that they plan to platoon until Glaus is able to return. Along comes April 30 and so far so good. Brian Barden and Joe Thurston have played well and the team has gotten off to a surprising 16-7 start that puts them 3.5 games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers according to MLB.com.

However, as time goes on both Barden and Thurston start to come back to earth. Barden struggled so much so that he is sent back to Triple-A Memphis to figure things out. While all of this is going on, there are problems at the shortstop position as well.

After a tough start to the year, starting shortstop Khalil Greene eventually succumbed to an anxiety disorder that was effecting his play in the field and on May 29, according to STLToday.com, Greene went on the DL. Thankfully for the Cardinals, they are able to find two players able to carry the load at shortstop in Brendon Ryan and Tyler Greene. Therefore, with Greene and Glaus both out of the lineup, the Cardinals fall to 34-30 and are one game behind the Brewers.

Then, on June 27, the Cardinals make a trade with the Cleveland Indians and get infielder/outfielder Mark DeRosa from the Indians in exchange for relief pitcher Chris Perez. DeRosa fills a big hole for the Cardinals in that he can play multiple positions effectively. The Cardinals, however, will most likely use him primarily at third base because of the injuries and ineffective play that has plagued the position so far this season.

DeRosa brings with him a much needed right handed bat in the middle of the order and a sure handed fielder at third base, giving the Cardinals a recipe for success that may carry them to the top of the NL Central and eventually into the postseason for the first time since they won the World Series in 2006.

"Regular Season Standings." MLB.com.

Derrick Goold,"Khalil Greene nears return." STLToday.com.

"Major League Baseball Stats." MLB.com.