DownSwinging.com

With just over a month away from the trade deadline, the St. Louis Cardinals have made the first move to nab a short-term boost to its team by way of Mark DeRosa. DeRosa, 34, came over from the struggling Cleveland Indians in exchange for a reliever and a player to be named later. The Cardinals are currently a half-game up on the Milwaukee Brewers and in the lead in the NL Central, a hotly-contested division.

The move is brilliant for the Cardinals. Firstly, they were able to pick up another strong hitter who has some pop. DeRosa hit .285 with 21 HRs for the Cubs last season, and already has 13 bombs in 2009. What’s even better for the Cards is the versatility that DeRosa brings. DeRosa is certainly an everyday player for them, but the beauty is that on a team that has been playing only mediocre recently, DeRosa allows guys to have a day off and still be filled in with a strong player. DeRosa can play second base, third base and both corner outfield positions.