The Cardinals used their first pick in the MLB Draft on Thursday to select Puerto Rican SS Delvin Perez, who "was rated a top five selection until it was reported earlier this week that he had tested positive" for a PED, according to Rick Hummel of the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH. Cardinals Senior VP & GM John Mozeliak said that he was "aware that there would be potshots taken at the Cardinals for their drafting of Perez." Mozeliak: "What we tried to decide was, basically, are we willing to forgive? There’s still a moment where he has to grow up. He’s going to have to face the music on this, but you realize people do make mistakes." He added, "He was going to be picked. If we have to take a black eye for being that team, we’ll live with that." Mozeliak said that he had recently spoken with team Chair & CEO Bill DeWitt Jr. "on the possibility of taking Perez and DeWitt had agreed that it was a good risk." Mozeliak said that the drug used by Perez "was not of the 'weight loss' type." Mozeliak: "I don’t think he was intentionally trying to take steroids but, unfortunately, what he did take, was a steroid" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/10). BASEBALL AMERICA's John Manuel notes the Cardinals "saw value in a player" ranked in the top 10 by most scouting services and "getting him so low" at the 23rd spot (BASEBALLAMERICA.com, 6/10). CBSSPORTS.com's Mike Axisa notes teams have "shown time and time again they will overlook failed PED tests or other off-the-field issues if the player can play, and Perez can play, so the Cardinals grabbed him" (CBSSPORTS.com, 6/10).
TROUBLING SIGN? MLB Network's Harold Reynolds said the Cardinals drafting Perez so high sends a "horrible message that a 17-year-old can fail a performance-enhancing drug test and go this high in the draft." Reynolds: "That's not right, I'm sorry. It's not authentic. We don't know what he can do at 17-years-old and I don't care where he's from, I don't care what nationality." Former Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik noted the Cardinals also had the 33rd and 34th pick in the first round and said, "It's hard to walk by that player when you have these extra picks." He said, "You've got to talk to ownership about this, about the issues that are created here." But he added, "This is the right organization that drafted this kid. They dealt with (SS) Jhonny Peralta right after his suspension, went out and signed him immediately when he became a free agent" ("2016 First Year Player Draft," MLB Network, 6/9).
THE ENDS HOPEFULLY JUSTIFY THE MEANS: In St. Louis, Jose de Jesus Ortiz writes the Cardinals are "ultimately all about the pennants," They "clearly thought Perez was the right selection." Drafting 17-year-olds is a "huge gamble even when there aren’t any character questions." The risks are "even greater, though, when you consider that a player may have been juicing." Ortiz: "You have to wonder what message the Cardinals sent the young fans who are naive enough to believe all their favorite ballplayers are clean" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 6/10).
