Cards' Peralta could miss 2-3 months with thumb injury

The St. Louis Cardinals could be without shortstop Jhonny Peralta for two-to-three months due to an injured thumb, according to general manager John Mozeliak.

Peralta, who left camp in his street clothes Monday, reportedly suffered a left thumb injury on Saturday, and early indications are that he tore a ligament.

After undergoing an MRI, Mozeliak said the "initial read is not positive" on Peralta.

"We have some history with this with (Yadier Molina)," Mozeliak told reporters. "We've got to determine what this next step looks like."

The veteran infielder will head to St. Louis for a second opinion to determine how severe the injury is, as well as to get an estimated date for his return to action.

With Peralta out of the lineup, the Cardinals could turn to in-house options such as Jedd Gyorko, Greg Garcia, or Aledmys Diaz - who spent last season in the minors - to play shortstop.

"The outcome of the second opinion will dictate whether we have to look outside (the organization)," Mozeliak explained. "Right now it would be all hands on deck unless there was an outside solution we would consider."

IN-HOUSE SS OPTIONS

Peralta, who signed a four-year contract worth $53 million with the Cardinals in November 2013, has hit .269/.335/.427 with 38 home runs and 146 RBIs over the past two seasons.