Cardinals sign reliever Aardsma

JUPITER, Fla. -- David Aardsma tweeted about Jhonny Peralta, drug penalties and rich contracts during the offseason.

On his first day in the St. Louis clubhouse, Aardsma made it a point to speak with the Cardinals shortstop -- who also happens to be a new teammate.

"I really wanted to talk to him and find out who he is and really find out about him," Aardsma said.

The Cardinals signed Aardsma, 32, to a minor league contract, hoping the veteran can fill the team's final bullpen spot. Aardsma is 23-15 with 69 saves and a 4.23 ERA during a seven-year major league career.

St. Louis signed Peralta to a $53 million, four-year deal. The All-Star became a free agent shortly after finishing a 50-game suspension in the Biogenesis scandal.

The Peralta pact prompted Aardsma to tweet: "Apparently getting suspended for PED's means you get a raise. What's stopping anyone from doing it?"

Aardsma walked back those words after talking with Peralta, saying the tweet was a knee-jerk reaction, and it's the job of the players' union to judge the outcome.

"I'm not the judge, I'm not the jury and I shouldn't be the executioner, either," Aardsma said.