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Does this look about right, barring any additions?
C – Pages/Herrera
1B – Burleson
2B – Saggese
SS – Winn
3B – Arenado
LF – Contreras
CF – Nootbaar
RF – Walker
Super sub – DonovanGives us some power at all 4 corners.
Saggese so far in the AFL this Fall –
batting .400 with an OPS of 1.265.
He’s making a heckuva case for himself.Saggese hit .204 with .556 OPS in MLB. If the AFL sample size is enough to matter, so is the MLB sample size. Or we can agree that neither matters. AFL seems useful for giving a lower level prospect a look at advanced competition or giving an IL case some extra work.
Donovan has hit at least 12% better than the average MLB player all three years he has been in the league. In 2024, his OPS+ was second highest among starters on the team to Contreras.
No way is Donovan going to take a back seat to Saggese, at least yet.
Saggese hit .204 with .556 OPS in MLB. If the AFL sample size is enough to matter, so is the MLB sample size. Or we can agree that neither matters. AFL seems useful for giving a lower level prospect a look at advanced competition or giving an IL case some extra work.
The sample size tells us he has to succeed at a higher level. He might he might not. But he has to be given an opportunity. He’s torn it up at the lower levels. He has to learn better pitch recognition and plate discipline at the ML level or he will be a fringe player. Trade Arenado and find out in 2025.
Saggese was named the second basemen on the 2023 all minor league All Star team. He’s not going to sit on a major league bench for long. Maybe Donovan plays LF, like he did at times in 2024.
No way is Donovan going to take a back seat to Saggese, at least yet.
Play Donovan every day in left field.
Contreras will be starting at C unless he is traded. He has the best arm and controls the running game the best. He isn’t horrible behind the plate either. Starting Pages over him would downgrade the offense significantly.
I also think people are underestimating how much playing time Gorman will potentially get. He is still very young and has performed at the big league level. I don’t think he has a starting job locked up, but if his confidence is back in spring training he has a good shot at one, albeit maybe even at 1B/DH as he is not good defensively.
I’m hoping Arenado and Contreras get traded so I’m going with:
C- Herrera
1B- Burly
28- Donovan
SS- Winn
3B- Gorman
LF- Noot
CF- Siani
RF- Walker
DH- Adam DuvallGiven the opportunity, I would expect a steady role at 2B for Saggese, would smoothen his transition, but his bat needs to play too.
Donnie is gold glove proven in the super-sub DH role. If that particular choice had to be made at 2B/DH, I second Crannys choice.
Yeah, I see no reason to believe Contreras will ever be a LF. His value is as an above-average hitting catcher or DH.
And I wouldn’t pencil Jordan Walker into RF. He was penciled in this year, then put up a .619 OPS. The guy is going to have to hit a ton to be in the lineup.
I also don’t see the Cardinals trading Arenado with three years left on his contract. They would 1) have to find someone willing to take on his contract and 2) have to be willing to eat a lot of money over three years. They usually wait until the final year of a contract to move a player.
I don’t know if hitters like Walker and Gorman can be ‘fixed’. They can hit mistakes a long way, and I think their ability in that area was optimized as they came up, but I don’t know if they have the other skills that go into being a successful hitter in MLB. I don’t even think that was on PD’s radar. How could it have been when you look at how much of a mess they are at the plate and how ML pitching just goes around their swing. It seems like a stretch to count on them going forward. But I agree a strong effort should be made to get something out of them.
I agree with this and for all of the reasons he listed.
Hochman: Rebuilding Cardinals should trade Willson Contreras. It would be a win-win move. https://t.co/gJBQsy1VEI
— STL Cardinals News (@STLCardsNews) October 20, 2024
I would like to see the Cards add a rh outfielder so that Donovan can take over 2b and Saggese can be the utility guy.
If they keep Arenado then 3b is set – If they trade him they will obviously get a player back along with a couple of prospects. In this case depending on who they get back I could see Gorman at 3b…
1b is Burleson – I guess.
ZTR, They should add Adam Duvall as a RH OF power bat. He would be good for a rebuilding team because he could be signed to a cheap one year deal and flipped at the deadline if necessary.
LA, you are probably right about Arenado however the Cardinals haven’t been in rebuild mode in decades so they may act differently this time and eat some money. The Yankees, Mets, or Dodgers could easily handle Arenado on their payroll.
I think any who think there will be substantial money sent along to move contracts will be severely disappointed. Those who don’t want to see controllable talent sent instead of money will also be disappointed. Those who hope an impact bat will be acquired will likewise be disappointed. In 2025 the reset is likely to be nothing but pain for the present and hopefully optimism for the future due to the overhaul of PD. We will have to wait for next winter to see a new ML roster taking shape.
I think this a very well written piece. It pretty much encompasses everything we have talked about for the last month or so.
https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2024/10/19/24270564/2024-2025-off-season-planning-part-2
You might be right bling but I would repeat that the Cardinals are really in uncharted territory here. They have never really been in rebuild mode since BDW bought the team. We don’t know with a high degree of certainty how this winter will proceed which I actually find exciting. 2025 and 2026 could very well be losing seasons but the transformation of the organization is way overdue and could be very interesting to watch.
Very good article from Blake.
https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2024/10/20/24274827/some-quick-hits-on-the-cardinals-defense
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