He St. Louis Cardinals They enter July in prime position to make a second-half rebound. They’re coming off their best month of play, with a season-best three-game record above .500, and several key players are nearly back.
Willson Contreras returned to the Cardinals weeks ahead of schedule, and Lars Nootbaar and Tommy Edman He could join the team in the next two weeks. As president of baseball operations John Mozeliak approaches the trade deadline, the health of his club will dictate his decisions. Before deciding where to upgrade his roster, he first needs to know what he’ll look like in the second half.
That’s where Part 1 of this trade deadline email focuses.
You asked, we have the answers. Let’s go!
Once Lars Nootbaar and Tommy Edman return, how do you think the stalemate in terms of playing time for outfielders will be resolved? It would be hard to imagine a scenario where Alec Burleson either Brendan Donovan They have less playing time because of their bats, and Michael Siani He’s an excellent defender and has also been hitting better lately. — NB
If/when all the injured list players return, how do you think this will work? Would Nootbaar fill in at right field, Donovan play everywhere, and Edman perhaps sit out? — Tom L.
What will the outfield look like once Nootbaar and Edman are healthy? Burleson has played well and needs to remain in the lineup. — Justin M.
The Cardinals played the entire first half without their projected starting outfielder, but that appears to finally change around the All-Star break. Nootbaar is rehabbing with Double-A Springfield and could return to the Cardinals on Friday against the NationalsThat’s when Edman could begin his rehab, although given that he missed more than 80 games, his rehab period will likely be extended by at least a couple of weeks.
Michael Siani’s elite defense ensures he gets plenty of playing time. (Scott Kane/Getty Images)
When Nootbaar returns, he will resume his usual starting role as a corner outfielder. Siani will remain in center field. A logical move would be to put Nootbaar in right field (given Brendan Donovan’s solid play in left field) and move Burleson to designated hitter. Another option is to keep Burleson in right field, put Nootbaar in left field, and move Donovan to second base to give struggling hitters a break. Nolan Gorman a break (more on that later). This would leave the designated hitter spot open for Contreras, which would guarantee continued playing time for Peter Pages.
Nootbaar’s versatility allows for both defensive lineups, and we’ll likely see a combination. Where it gets more complicated is when Edman returns. Siani is too valuable a center fielder to sit every day, but Edman is also a strong option. The Cardinals are considering a platoon in center field as an option, though it would be a platoon of the position and not the players. What does that mean? Essentially, Siani can start in center against right-handed starting pitchers and Edman in left, and Edman would still be in the starting lineup on days Siani starts. The defensive versatility of Edman and Donovan allows for two super-utility options, which creates lineup flexibility for Marmol. Donovan was on track to be the roaming everyday utility player entering the season. When Edman returns, he’ll be back in that spot.
Burleson will remain in the starting lineup because his bat is too good to sit out. Siani has earned consistent playing time, especially with his improved hitting. The Cardinals don’t need him to hit 20 homers, but the fact that Siani can hit for average combined with his elite defense makes him a fixture. Edman can play all three outfield positions and both second base and shortstop. Donovan can play the outfield corners and all infield positions. The lineup may look like musical chairs each week, but there is a way to ensure that Siani, Burleson, Donovan, Nootbaar and Edman play every day.
With Nootbaar and Edman returning soon, it is Dylan Carlson On the verge of becoming an ex-Cardinal? While he’s been hitting a little better lately, especially against right-handed pitching, he hasn’t been tearing things up. If he can’t start against Siani and his .234 average, he’s not going to play when those guys come back. — Bob C.
What happens when Edman and Jordan Walker Are they coming back? Are they trading Carlson? — Darren C.
The impending returns of Edman and Nootbaar force Carlson into the fifth outfield spot, given his current usage. Right now, Carlson is the reserve outfielder and a right-handed hitter coming off the bench (Carlson is still a switch-hitter, but the team’s plethora of left-handed hitters means Carlson is more or less regulated to the right side in pinch-hitting situations).
It’s not feasible to carry five outfielders, especially with two super-utility players also on the roster. I imagine the Cardinals will look to trade Carlson, who is just 25 years old with several years of control remaining. Carlson will be eligible for arbitration for the first time in 2025 and won’t be a free agent until 2027. He’s a good defender, and his offensive production would likely be much higher with consistent playing time. It’s been another disappointing season for Carlson, who was on track for the starting job in center field after a strong spring. But the AC joint sprain he suffered in the penultimate spring training game sidelined him for weeks, and Siani and Donovan stepped up in the outfield in Carlson’s absence.
Carlson is a talented outfielder who would likely benefit from a change of scenery where he can play every day. If a team asks, the Cardinals will listen.
Jordan Walker is batting .250 with three homers over the past two months at Triple-A Memphis. What’s going on? — Michael M.
What’s wrong with Jordan Walker? The Cardinals held him in high regard; now he’s gone and doesn’t seem to be making progress in Triple-A. — Robert F.
The Cardinals certainly didn’t envision playing most of their season with Walker in Triple-A, but his regression, coupled with his inability to make adjustments against the league, became too glaring to justify. Walker’s long tenure isn’t a reflection of effort. He’s worked tirelessly to correct his biggest problems, namely picking the ball up off the ground and letting breaking pitches drop and leave the zone. But like Mozeliak, Walker’s long tenure isn’t a reflection of effort. detailed in JuneThe organization’s assessments of Walker are twofold.
“It’s been well documented that we’re trying to get him a little bit more pop, less balls in the dirt, that’s his launch angle. He’s still hitting the ball really hard, but mostly in the dirt,” Mozeliak said. “The other part, being very simple about it, is performance… You’d like to see some extra-base hits. If you could see where his on-base percentage and slugging percentage are going up, that would be encouraging.”
Simply put, the Cardinals are prioritizing Walker’s development. There has been some internal concern that they brought him up prematurely. The organization wants to make sure Walker is set up for long-term success, and they can take their time knowing they have a multitude of outfield options that are performing well. If Walker shows consistent improvement, the Cardinals will gladly reconsider, but there is no internal rush to call him up again.
With the emergence of Pedro Pagés and the return of Willson Contreras from the IL, what does it mean? Ivan HerreraWhat will Samuel K.’s role be in the immediate future when he returns from his injury?
Will the Cardinals go with three catchers? Do you think Edman will play second base with Siani’s elite defense? — Dale W.
What can Nolan Gorman do to be more consistent at the plate? His feasts are All-Star-worthy, but his famines are too deep and long-lasting. — Stu Z.
It would be difficult, if not impossible, for the Cardinals to carry three catchers when Nootbaar and Edman return. Pagés has emerged as the team’s best defensive option, though Contreras will play every day behind the plate or as a designated hitter. Mozeliak and Mármol face a tough decision regarding Herrera, who appears to be the odd man out catcher at the moment.
Initial plans call for Herrera to begin a rehab assignment late next week and could return around the same time as Nootbaar. This would mean the Cardinals would need to clear two roster spots, but there is no clear path for that. Herrera’s defense, specifically his arm, has been an issue. A little more experience in Memphis might be the best course of action.
But Herrera isn’t the only tough decision. Gorman’s strikeout rate has skyrocketed to a league-worst 36.5 percent. Gorman has always had bad swings and is also considered a streaky hitter (such is the trade-off with most power hitters), but his lulls are becoming too great to ignore. Gorman hit six homers in June but posted a dismal .141/.209/.323 slash line in 110 plate appearances. That kind of production, regardless of power, isn’t conducive to a starting role.
The Cardinals can continue to play Gorman every day in hopes that he can soon break out of this slump, but when Edman returns they won’t have that luxury. Gorman’s performance in the coming weeks will decide the future of his playing time.
(Photo of Tommy Edman, right, and Lars Nootbaar from 2023: Jeff Curry/USA Today)