Cardinals designate Peralta for assignment, announce coaching changes

Mired in a seven-game losing streak, the St. Louis Cardinals held an impromptu press conference Friday in which general manager John Mozeliak announced that Jhonny Peralta will be designated for assignment, while also shuffling some members of the coaching staff including reassigning third base coach Chris Maloney.

In the absence of Bill Mueller - who officially formalized his leave of absence - Mark Budaska, the hitting coach of the team's Triple-A affiliate, was promoted to assistant hitting coach.

While manager Mike Matheny was spared, when prompted, Mozeliak said that nobody's job - not even his own - is in a secure situation.

Mozeliak opened the press conference by telling reporters that the Cardinals' season has not gone the way the team had envisioned and that it has been "a breakdown on many levels."

In limited playing time so far this season, Peralta has produced a paltry 28 wRC+ while slashing .204/.259/.204 over 21 games. The 35-year-old shortstop is in the last year of a four-year, $53-million deal. Peralta's stock has plummeted mightily since his impressive bounce-back 2014 campaign following his 50-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs the year prior.