JUPITER, Fla. -- After spending years trying to find a quality shortstop, the St. Louis Cardinals now appear to have an excess. The Cardinals introduced their newest acquisition, Cuban shortstop Aledmys Diaz, on Monday. Within the organization, some have compared him to a young Derek Jeter. "He walks like him you can see some of that there," St. Louis general manager John Mozeliak said. Diaz liked to heard that. "He thinks Derek Jeter is definitely the model ballplayer that everyone should look up to, that he looked up to in the opportunities that he had in Cuba to watch baseball games," said translator Moise Rodriguez, a team employee. "Hes a world-renowned baseball player that comes across as somebody thats a leader and somebody that everybody should try to be like." The Cardinals signed Diaz to a four-year deal over the weekend only months after signing current shortstop Jhonny Peralta, a two-time All-Star, to a free agent contract of the same length. Having Peralta will allow the Cardinals to take their time with the 23-year-old Diaz, who will begin this season in the minor leagues and likely be given a chance to learn multiple infield positions. "We plan on being patient with him," Mozeliak said. "He hasnt played baseball in, really, over a year and a half competitively. Its not something where were looking to have him put his fingerprints on the major league team tomorrow. We can give him time to develop and let him, from a talent standpoint, take his time to get back to where he was." Diaz defected from Cuba to Mexico in 2012. The Cardinals scouted Diaz in Mexico and worked him out earlier this spring at the Roger Dean Stadium complex. "I thought he did a lot of things well," said St. Louis manager Mike Matheny, who attended the Jupiter workout. "You are just looking at tools at that point. You can see that hes had some repetitions out there. He knows what hes doing. Swinging the bat, the ball jumped off. Just a guy that you could tell hes been around the game a while." Diaz hit .315 with 12 home runs in 270 at-bats during the 2011-12 season in Cuba. Mozeliak expects Diaz to continue to hit for average with gap power as a major leaguer. "Were very confident that he can be an offensive middle infielder, specifically a shortstop," Mozeliak said. Diaz went through practice with his new team before Mondays game against Detroit, but it will be some time before he appears in a major league spring training exhibition. Later this week, he will return to Mexico to finalize his work visa. Until that issue is cleared, Diaz can work out with the big league club but can only play in games on the back fields. "Its always been his dream to try and compete at the highest level in the world," Rodriguez said. "Obviously this represents that. Yeah, there are some challenges and difficulties. But for him, being able to come here and try to compete with the best in the world in the industry is something that hes always looked forward to doing." George Kell Jersey . According to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger, the New York Rangers winger skated with extras and goalies today. Ed Walsh Jersey . QUARTERBACKS Carson Palmer (vs Colts)Last week: 30/42, 419 yards, 2 TDsWinners of their last three and now tied for the final wild card spot in the NFC, the Cardinals are worth keeping an eye on. https://www.cheapwhitesox.com/3364e-omar-vizquel-jersey-white-sox.html .“I always did my stuff ahead of the deadline. The best deal Ive ever done was the Darryl Sydor deal. We did that at the end of January in 04, and Syd was the missing piece. Hoyt Wilhelm White Sox Jersey . The South Africa international, who rejoined the club last month on loan from Tottenham, opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a powerful shot into the roof of the net. Carlos Rodon Jersey . -- Conner Bleackley got it done in regulation time and in the shootout.CHICAGO - The Chicago Blackhawks found a higher gear in the third period, and Brandon Saad helped finish off the Calgary Flames.Saad scored with 7:03 left, and the Blackhawks beat the Flames 2-1 on Sunday night for their 12th victory in the last 14 games.After motoring past Calgary defenceman Mark Giordano, Saad took a centring pass from captain Jonathan Toews and lifted a shot past Jonas Hillers glove.That one felt good, Saad said. Its a great play.When youre used to winning and you know how to win, you come ready to play in the third.Toews also set up Patrick Sharps power-play goal as the surging Blackhawks dealt the Flames their fifth straight loss. Chicago had won eight in a row before Saturday nights 3-2 loss at the New York Islanders.The Blackhawks stepped up their play in the final period, dominating for chunks of time and outshooting the Flames 10-5. Hiller had to be sharp to keep it close, making several tough saves.I thought we were OK for 40 (minutes), and then went to another level in the third, Chicago coach Joel Quenneville said. It was a big win for us.We played the right way for most of the night and got rewarded in the end.The rush that led to Saads seventh goal started when Calgarys Johnny Gaudreau fell and lost the puck at the Flames blue line. Chicago defenceman Niklas Hjalmarsson fed Toews, who powered down right wing before finding Saad.Johnny got a bad edge on his skate. Its not a matter that he turned the puck over being careless or anything, Flames coach Bob Hartley said. It was an accident.Right now it seems that whenever we need a break, its not there. We showed up to work ... but no rewards to show for it.Jiri Hudler had his team-leading 12th goal for Calgary, which has scored just eight times during its slide.Sharps goal was his first since returning Tuesday from a knee innjury that sidelined him for 14 games.dddddddddddd Sharp, who led Chicago with 34 goals last season, has four this year — all on the power play.Chicagos Antti Raanta made 23 saves while subbing for Corey Crawford, who is out with a foot injury. Rookie Scott Darling had started the Blackhawks last four games.Before the game, Quenneville said he expected Crawford to return next weekend. Raanta and Darling have filled in quite nicely since Crawford was hurt while leaving a concert two weeks ago.Hiller finished with 26 saves.He gave us a chance to win, made some unbelievable saves at the right time, Hartley said. But were not scoring much right now, so were not helping our cause.Neither team had many chances in the scoreless first period.Hiller made a sprawling pad save on Andrew Shaws rebound attempt 6:15 in. Gaudreau danced down the Chicago slot with a series of nifty moves with 7:59 left, but was stopped by Raanta.Hudler opened the scoring at 4:27 of the second when he trailed in late on a rush and was left open. Hudler took Gaudreaus cross-ice feed and whistled it past Raantas glove.Sharps goal at 8:43 — just nine seconds into a power play — came off a fast passing series with Kane and Toews. From below the goal line, Toews dished across the slot to Sharp, who sprinted into the left circle and ripped in a high one-timer.NOTES: Chicago D Tim Erixon, acquired from Columbus earlier on Sunday for F Jeremy Morin, played on the left side of a defensive pair with Michal Rozsival. ... Chicago also reassigned D Klas Dahlbeck to Rockford of the AHL on Sunday. ... Calgary D Corey Potter, recalled from AHL Adirondack on Saturday, was a healthy scratch, as was former Blackhawks F Brandon Bollig. ... With Erixon in the Chicago lineup, D David Rundblad, one of his former teammates in Sweden, sat out. ' ' '