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I’d like to hear everyone’s thoughts about our 2026 everyday lineup. And compare to 2025 positions.
Catcher will be interesting to see if Herrera stays behind the plate. I just don’t feel like he is good enough defensively. I think he’ll wind up as an add and left fielder. The job may end up going to Crooks. And hopefully Herrera stays healthy regardless of position.
First base should be Burlesons. He should provide enough offense to replace Contreras bat.
Second base surely would be Wetherholts unless they want him to get more time at Memphis, which I don’t think he needs.
Third base ought to Gorman, but I can see Saggesse some too. Is a big year for Gorman. I don’t think he’ll improve to be a regular though.
Shortstop is obviously Winn. I just would like to see him hit more. His fielding is great rolling his gold glove award season.
Left field with Nootbaar out to begin the year is a huge question. I am hearing that Saggesse may get a. Hence in outfield. Herrera could play here as well.
Center field has Scott II in the lead, but he has to hit better and get on base more. You can’t steal first base.
Right field will reluctantly go to Walker. Is he ever going to get better? I really can see Baez getting a chance by mid season. I would not have a long leash with Gorman or Walker. I wish we had picked up a right handed hitting outfielder. I remain interested to see if Velasquez can make the team. He has power but Ks to much.
DH ought to comprised of whoever is either is banged up or is given a night off from fielding. Herrera ought to get a lot of these at bats.
C- Pages
1B-Burly
2B-Wetherholt
SS-Winn
3B-Gorman
LF-Noot
CF-Scott
RF-Walker
DH-HerreraWalker really should be in Memphis but we don’t have many options.
As I mentioned in a different thread I want Herrera focused on raking instead of learning a new position (LF) or trying to figure out an old one (C).
I kind of think we will hit better as a team this year compared to last. But granted it’s not a high bar to top. First base is the most questionable, as Burleson will likely hit for average better than Contreras, but doesn’t have the power Wilson does.
I would not stay with Walker too long. Perhaps there will be a right handed hitter available when the last of the ST cuts occur.
Wetherholt should put up good numbers.
Winn I hope hits a little better, but his gold glove makes him an every day guy.
Herrera has to stay healthy. I could see him hitting 25-30 homers.
It’s looking more and more like Nootbar won’t be ready for opening day.
Who takes his place in the above lineup? Church or a late sighed veteran outfielder?
Could be Church or Torres or Saggese or a new acquisition. Bloom has mentioned getting a RH OF bat before opening day. We shall see.
I agree with what most of the posters are saying, based on what we have in hand, but I still feel Gorman and Walker are lost causes and replacing them should be a priority.
Consequently, this team is pretty much same old same old and results are likely to be the same.
Winn, Weatherholt, Burleson, Herrera could develop into a pretty good foursome in the batting order….it is a little murky after that.
I don’t have much hope in Gorman developing into more than what he has been, I would think a good start to gain some confidence is critical for him.
Nootbar I don’t see him ever staying healthy enough to be counted on, he can do some things you like to see if he can stay healthy….he should be living in a yoga room and a hyperbaric chamber.
Still have some fading hope for Walker being that he is 23 and a taller player can develop more slowly.
Scott needs to get on base more (Bunt/Walks) and steal more bases, as does the whole team on stealing more bases.
Catcher….I see Herrera as the DH, can Crooks take Pages spot, or are they waiting on Bernal or Rodriguez.
There is some potential, but not a lot of power….they have guys that can steal bases but to me Marmol seems more like a station to station type manager….89 team stolen bases in 2025 was way under what it should be. You cannot be 29th in Home runs and 20th in stolen bases.
I’m not counting on Nootbaar being ready to start the year. I didn’t mention Church, but I’d like to him get a chance. He can play all 3 OF positions, is solid defensively, and has a plus arm. But can he hit mLB is the question. I also wonder if Walker hits lefties better than right handed pitchers. And yes I know hasn’t hit anyone. Yet thinking maybe he could be of use as a platoon player.
From what im reading,it seems they are thinking of hitting weatherholt leadoff assuming he makes club which i am. I dont care for that myself at all. To me from what ive read he projects to be a 2 or 3 hitter. I think trying to make him carpenter 2.0 is just a mistake. I know things are a little different with dh but i still feel the first hitter should be a guy that does whatever it takes to get on base. I dont want him saddled with that. Cardinals really havent developed a true leadoff hitter in a while. I dont know. Im just not sure this team knows how to develop talent unless it just smacks them in the face.
And I agree that Marmol must not like stealing bases.
Who are the burners you like stealing bases? Lower leg injured Wynn or the guy who doesn’t get on base Victor Scott. Nado, goldy, Herrera, Gorman, Donovan didn’t seem like burners. Contreras not a run first guy.
Oli knows his team. He knows the value of putting people on base and not putting the value on a SB. You don’t have that team that will just steal 80-90 bags between 2 players. Bad take!
I dont comsider edman or nootbarr as traditiinal leadoff hitters in any scenadio, not even close. Donovan is close but he lacks any real speed so im not big on him.
Brian i read it an article on red bird rants i believe but its also on other sites that marmol is considering weatherholt at leadoff. Maybe its the right call,i dont know. I havent seen him play yet. Could be im just old school on what i think leadoff should be or whatever. Spring wise it probably dont matter but in season i could see issues.
As your story pole of leadoff production, Carpenter isn’t exactly a “traditional” basepaths burner either. Good thing Yadi was on the roster to prevent Carp from being slowest on the club. I’ll take Donny over Carp in a foot race.
“whatever it takes”, as you said, and .361 is an extremely high homegrown OBP.
Well i never felt carpenter was a leadoff hitter. In fact mostly being a pull hitter, he should have been hitting much further down the lineup. But like i said, we havent really had what i consider leadoff types and since small ball isnt really looked upon well by analytics, cardinals go other ways.
1982willie said:
Brian i read it an article on red bird rants i believe but its also on other sites that marmol is considering weatherholt at leadoff.
No offense to anyone, but that is not a site with real reporters covering the team. They regurgitate and speculate, not provide news.
On the other hand, Derrick Goold yesterday reported this:
“The Cardinals are eager to see how Winn and Scott put together bids to be a leadoff hitters — especially as Nootbaar continues recovery from offseason heel surgeries and may not be available opening day.”
Wetherholt was not mentioned. I know which source I would trust.
P.S. My personal view is that is not zero percent odds of happening, but very, very unlikely for him to lead off right out of the gate. I am not among Marmol critics, but I would become one if he put that kind of pressure on an unproven player on Opening Day, no matter if he bats .500 this spring.
Well i agree brian. I just kbow i saw it on at least 2 sites. Maybe they like you say,just are putting stuff on the breeze. However if there is any truth to it, i hope marmol sees your comment and takes that to heart.
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