The St. Louis Cardinals enter July in prime position to make a second-half surge. They’re coming off their best month of play, sit a season-best three games over. 500 and several key players are almost back.
Willson Contreras returned to the Cardinals weeks ahead of schedule, and Lars Nootbaar and Tommy Edman could join the team within the next two weeks. As president of baseball operations John Mozeliak hones in on the trade deadline, the health of his club will dictate his decisions. Before he decides where to improve his roster, he must first know what it will look like in the second half.
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That’s where Part 1 of this trade deadline-themed mailbag focuses.
You asked, we have answers. Away we go …
Once Lars Nootbaar and Tommy Edman are back, how do you see the logjam working out in terms of playing time for the outfielders? Would be hard to imagine a scenario in which Alec Burleson or Brendan Donovan get any less playing time because of their bats, and Michael Siani is both a superb defender and has been hitting better recently as well. — N. B.
If/when all players on the injured list come back, how do you see this working? Would Nootbaar take over in right field, Donovan play all over, and Edman maybe odd man out? — Tom L.
What is the outfield going to look like once Nootbaar and Edman are back healthy? Burleson has been good and needs to stay in the lineup. — Justin M.
The Cardinals played the entire first half without their projected starting outfield, but it appears — at long last — that will change around the All-Star break. Nootbaar is rehabbing with Double-A Springfield and could return to the Cardinals on Friday against the Nationals. That’s right around the time Edman could begin his rehab assignment, though given that he’s missed over 80 games, his rehab stint will likely extend at least a couple of weeks.
When Nootbaar returns, he’ll resume his everyday starting role as a corner outfielder. Siani will remain in center field. One logical move would be starting Nootbaar in right field (given Brendan Donovan’s solid play in left field) and moving Burleson to designated hitter. Another option is leaving Burleson in right field, starting Nootbaar in left field and moving Donovan to second base to give struggling Nolan Gorman a break (more on him later). This would leave the designated hitter spot open for Contreras, ensuring continued playing time for Pedro Pagés.
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Nootbaar’s versatility allows for both defensive formations, and we’ll likely see a combination. Where it gets more complicated is when Edman returns. Siani is too valuable of a center fielder to sit every day, but Edman is also a strong option. The Cardinals are mulling a center-field platoon as an option, though it would be a platoon of the position and not of 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 in line to be the everyday roving utility player coming into the season. When Edman returns, he’ll slot back to that.
Burleson will remain in the everyday lineup because his bat is too good to sit. Siani has earned consistent playing time, especially with his hitting improving. The Cardinals don’t need him to slug 20 homers, but Siani being able to hit for average combined with his elite defense makes him a staple. Edman can play all three outfield positions and both second base and shortstop. Donovan can play the outfield corners and all infield spots. The lineup might resemble musical chairs each week, but there is a way to ensure Siani, Burleson, Donovan, Nootbaar and Edman play every day.
With Nootbaar and Edman coming back soon, is Dylan Carlson about to become a former Cardinal? While he has hit a bit better lately, especially against right-handed pitching, he hasn’t been tearing it up. If he can’t start over 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 come back? Do they trade Carlson? — Darren C.
The impending returns of Edman and Nootbaar force Carlson to the fifth outfield spot when factoring in his current usage. Right now, Carlson is the reserve outfielder and a right-handed bat off the bench (Carlson is still switch hitting, but the team’s plethora of left-handed bats means Carlson is more or less regulated to the right side in pinch-hit situations).
Carrying five outfielders isn’t feasible, especially with two super-utility players also rostered. I’d imagine the Cardinals look to trade Carlson, who is just 25 years old and has multiple 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 his way to the starting center-field job after a strong spring. But the sprained AC joint 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 probably benefit from a change of scenery where he can play every day. If a team inquires, the Cardinals will listen.
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Jordan Walker has a batting average in the .250s with three homers over the past two months playing in Triple-A Memphis. What’s going on? — Michael M.
What is up with Jordan Walker? The Cardinals were so high on him; now he’s disappeared — and is seeming not to be making progress in Triple A. — Robert F.
The Cardinals certainly didn’t envision playing the majority of their season with Walker in Triple A, but his regression, along with his inability to make adjustments against the league became too glaring to excuse. Walker’s lengthy stint is not a reflection of effort. He’s worked tirelessly to correct his biggest issues, namely lifting the ball off the ground and laying off breaking balls down and out of the zone. But as Mozeliak detailed in June, the organization’s evaluations of Walker are two-fold.
“It’s been well-documented that we’re trying to get him a little bit more lift, less balls on the ground — that’s your launch angle. He’s still hitting the ball really hard, but mostly on the ground,” Mozeliak said. “The other part of it, just 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 rise, that would be encouraging.”
Simply put, the Cardinals are prioritizing Walker’s development. There has been internal concern that he was rushed up prematurely. The organization wants to ensure Walker is set up for long-term success, and they can take their time knowing they have a multitude of outfield options performing well. If Walker shows consistent improvement, the Cardinals will gladly reconsider, but there is no internal rush to call Walker back up.
With the emergence of Pedro Pagés and Willson Contreras’ return from the IL, what does Iván Herrera’s role look like for the immediate future when he returns from injury? — Samuel K.
Will the Cardinals carry three catchers? Do you think Edman will play some second base with the elite defense of Siani? — Dale W.
What can Nolan Gorman do to make him more consistent at the plate? His feasts are All-Star but his famines are way too deep and long-lasting. — Stu Z.
It would be tough, 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 either behind the plate or as the designated hitter. Mozeliak and Marmol face a tough decision regarding Herrera, who looks to be the odd catcher out at this time.
Initial plans have Herrera beginning a rehab assignment by the end of the next week, and he could return around the same time as Nootbaar. This would mean the Cardinals would need to clear two roster spots, but there isn’t a clear path to that. Herrera’s defense, specifically his arm, has been a problem. Some more seasoning in Memphis might be the best course of action.
But Herrera isn’t the only tough decision. Gorman’s strikeout rate has ballooned to 36.5 percent, the worst in the league. Gorman has always come with swing-and-miss, and he’s also profiled as a streaky hitter (such is the trade-off with most power hitters) but his lulls are becoming too large to ignore. Gorman hit six homers in June but posted a grim .141/.209/.323 line over 110 plate appearances. That kind of production, regardless of power, isn’t conducive to a starting role.
The Cardinals can continue playing Gorman every day with the hope that he can snap his skid soon, but when Edman returns they won’t have that luxury. Gorman’s performance over the next couple of weeks will decide the future of his playing time.
(Photo of Tommy Edman, right, and Lars Nootbaar from 2023: Jeff Curry / USA Today)
