The St. Louis Cardinals are heading towards a second straight season missing the postseason. While the team was more competitive in 2024 than in 2023, it’s clear there needs to be roster changes heading into next season. With plenty of youth waiting in the wings, the answer to the Cardinals’ needs could already be in the organization.<\/p>\n
While not mathematically eliminated yet, the Cardinals’ fate seems clear. The organization will likely use this time to evaluate young bats<\/a>, such as Thomas Saggese<\/a>, Luken Baker<\/a>, and the often mismanaged<\/a> Jordan Walker<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThese young guys are going to play,” said manager Oliver Marmol<\/a> on KMOX radio on Sunday.\u00a0 “There\u2019s a lot of teaching moments when you sit down after the at-bats and definitely after the game and go through that at-bat by at-bat and pitch by pitch.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Of the Cardinals starting lineup in Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, only Nolan Arenado<\/a> was older than 27.<\/p>\n The organization has seen enough from rookie shortstop<\/a> Masyn Winn<\/a>, utility man Brendan Donovan<\/a>, and outfielders<\/a> Alec Burleson<\/a>, Lars Nootbaar<\/a>, and defensive wiz<\/a> Michael Siani<\/a> to feel confident that they will likely be part of the 2025 Opening Day Roster. However, exciting young players like No. 4 prospect infielder Saggese, Baker, and infielder Jos\u00e9 Ferm\u00edn<\/a> are likely to see a lot of at-bats as the organization evaluates their future.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously when you look at where we are in the season and you start to put a little focus on the future and what that might look like, obviously you\u2019re trying to give some guys some opportunities, a little runway to see what we have and just have a better understanding,” Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak told KMOX. <\/span><\/p>\n The team still has some evaluating to do on its two rookie catchers<\/a>, Ivan Herrera<\/a> and Pedro Pages<\/a>. Another objective is determining if they can try again with Jordan Walker in 2025, as the 22-year-old former top prospect has shown flashes of high-level baseball in his short career. Mozeliak cautioned that all the decisions won’t be based on what the team sees in September.<\/p>\n “But it is a little glimpse of the future, and I think we should take advantage of that,” Mozeliak said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Cardinals offense was their primary downfall in 2024. A lot of those issues stemmed from the disappointing seasons of Arenado<\/a> and Paul Goldschmidt<\/a>. A season of injuries for Willson Contreras<\/a> also hurt the team, as he was effective while in the lineup. He had a team-high OPS of .848 with a .262\/.380\/.468 slash line in 84 games played.<\/p>\n Goldschmidt<\/a> turned 37 last week and is wrapping up his worst season as an MLB player. He’s posted a career-worst batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage in 2024 with a .247\/.303\/.414 slash line. He also has a career-worst OPS of .718 in 2024. Goldschmidt is set to be a free agent this offseason.<\/p>\n The team has options at first base with Burleson and Baker. With Baker, the team has a power option who across four seasons in Triple-A has a slash line of .259\/.351\/.528. So far in 15 games with the Cardinals this season, Baker has struggled, but has managed nine RBI and two home runs. The 25-year-old Burleson had a breakout year in 2024 and currently leads the team in both home runs and RBI with a .270\/.312\/.431 slash line.<\/p>\n The 33-year-old Arenado has three years and $52 million left on his contract. His OPS of .712 this season is the lowest since his rookie year. His 16 home runs and 66 RBI are both the second-lowest totals of his 12-year career.<\/p>\n If the Cardinals wanted to find a way to trade him, they do have young talent that can play third base like Saggese and Donovan. There is also the potential of 2024 first-round pick<\/a> JJ Wetherholt<\/a> picking up third base in the minors, though he is likely at least a year away from joining the big league club.<\/p>\n JJ Wetherholt is on an absolute heater right now. He extended his hitting streak to ten games last night with a three-hit performance. Stats during the streak:<\/p>\n 49 PA Data: @TruMediaSports<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/pxhDozNbNf<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Kareem (@KareemSSN) September 16, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\nAging Superstars<\/h3>\n
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\n22-for-44
\n.500\/.551\/. 705
\n1.256 OPS
\n53.1% HardHit%<\/p>\n