Did Hernán Pérez lose his spot on the Milwaukee Brewers’ roster because of his drop in offensive production over the past month or because shortstop Orlando Arcia wasn’t performing as well in the field as past seasons?

A big hint came Saturday when Tyler Saladino, called up from Class AAA San Antonio to replace Pérez, made his second consecutive start at shortstop. Before the Brewers’ game against Pittsburgh, manager Craig Counsell expressed disappointment in Arcia’s defensive showing this season.

“Like I said (Friday), Tyler is going to play shortstop,” Counsell said. “That was part of the move. We’ve been looking around the field to see where is the possibility to get more from? That might be a spot.”

Asked if Saladino will see as much or more action at the position than Arcia, who has been the team’s No. 1 shortstop for two-plus seasons, Counsell said, “I don’t necessarily know how it’s going to work out. I think they will share time for the immediate future, and we’ll see how that goes.”

Last year, it was Arcia’s offensive woes that got him demoted to the minors on two occasions. This season, he had been faring better at the plate, although experienced a prolonged slump earlier in June.

In 80 games, Arcia is batting .240 with 11 home runs, 36 RBI, .300 OBP and .704 OPS. Last year, he batted .236 with three homers, 30 RBI and .575 OPS in 119 games.

Known as a spectacular defensive player at times when he arrived in the majors, Arcia has slipped in the field this season. He already has committed 11 errors in 80 games, compared to 15 in 116 games last season. His defensive runs saved have slipped from 10 for the ’18 season to minus-five, and his zone rating has dipped from 14 to minus-nine runs saved above average.

“I think it’s uncharacteristic,” Counsell said of Arcia’s defensive slide. “That’s what it is. He has been a very good defender in this league. So, I think it’s very reasonable to expect it to improve. But by the way we look at it, and by our eyes, it’s not been to the level it was in the past.”

As for why that is happening, Counsell said, “It’s like a hitting slump. What do you make of it? It’s hard to figure out; it really is. He should be in a sweet spot for that. So, it’s a challenging one to figure out.”

Though Pérez came to the majors as a shortstop, he had played there only sparingly in recent seasons, filling in more at second base, third base and the outfield corners. He started only three games there this season, four in ’18 and five in ’17.

The Brewers consider Saladino more suited to regular action at shortstop, having started there 11 times while moving all over the field with San Antonio. Granted, he also was having a strong offensive season, batting .288 with 14 homers and 57 RBI in 67 games.

Asked if giving Saladino starts immediately at shortstop was a wake-up call for Arcia, Counsell said, “Orlando has played a lot this year, and that was by design. Going into spring training, I told him, ‘Look, we’ve been through a lot here with his options last year and his struggles. It was a great rebound at the end of the season and a very significant performance in the playoffs. It’s your time to get it done.’

“He has played a lot. We’re looking at areas where we can get better at, and this is a place where we’re going to see if there’s another player that can help us from time to time.”

Counsell said one reason Saladino did not play more games at short is because prospect Mauricio Dubon is being developed at that position, as well as second base. Dubon is considered more of a middle infielder while Saladino is a true utility player, seeing action in the infield and outfield.

“We think Tyler can play shortstop,” Counsell said. “But he has played other positions and will be expected to do so here.”

Pérez will be missed in clubhouse

It was no secret Pérez was a leader in the clubhouse, and not just with the team’s large and active group of Latin players. The Venezuelan native was respected throughout the team for his professionalism and being a good teammate who put winning above individual interests.

“What happens when you lose good people is we all have to fill in around that, and fill that void,” Counsell said. “That’s everybody’s job. It’s tough to lose good people, good co-workers, good friends. There’s no getting around that.

“It’s also wired into everybody in major-league baseball that it’s going to happen. It’s up to you if you want to feel sorry for ourselves, or keep moving forward and try to figure out a way to fill in around him. That’s our jobs, and that’s what we have to do.”

Pérez, who was third in service time on the Brewers’ roster behind Ryan Braun and Jimmy Nelson, was acquired off waivers from Detroit a week or so after Counsell became manager early in the 2015 season. Now, it is likely the Brewers will lose him on waivers.

“That’s not my area of expertise but I think that’s likely,” Counsell said.