What to do with Walker?

[craviduce]

I play him in the bigs all season. All 162 games if healthy.

He either finds success or crashes and burns

At least we will know for 2026

yes!!!

[wkycards]

I play him in the bigs all season. All 162 games if healthy.

He either finds success or crashes and burns

At least we will know for 2026

yes!!!

I feel the same way about Gorman, Herrera, Winn, and Burleson.
Along with Walker, we have to know what we have in those 5 players in order to proceed to build a proper roster.

[Quincy Varnish]

Chaim has to consider moving him. There's possibly a few teams that may feel they can correct his ills?

I have feeling he may not be eager to make himself look stupid. Also… trade him for what? More prospects? Ownership obviously is not in the mood to take on major league contracts.

this is how I see it. 3 options.

1) Let him stay, get him 500 PA's (minimum), work with the current hitting coaches. Continue his work on his new stance/approach

2) Send him to Memphis, where the organization admits it is highly inadequate to help hitters. The R & D side is non-existent. This approach sets him back a year or more.

3) Trade him. Will we regret it, yes...he'll go to an organization that has the infrastructure and personnel available for him to succeed. Get what we can for him, the return will be more now than what we'd get in 2-3 years. I get the "more prospects" side you made, but if we get Single A players, or a good college player who doesn't require the retool that Walker does, and maybe a Comp Pick, too...then I think that's acceptable.

I know the organization is currently trying to get up-to-date on their R & D side, so getting a low A prospect would probably be easier to teach/handle.

I choose option 1. I never choose option 2, not with our current state with the minors. Option 3 I can live with, if done well. I never want to hold on to someone, b/c I'm in fear that they'll blossom somewhere else.

I’d take option 1.

I think I might have come off too argumentative regarding option 3… it’s not a terrible idea, but as you suggest, they have to get it right. Trading Walker, considering their payroll constraints, would have to be a Rays-ish move - deal the high ceiling for multiple options with lower ceilings but less volatility. That could be a positive turn.

I don’t see that happening at all, though - the Cards need to hit with something. They need cost-controlled thumpers to build around, and bailing on Walker would only homogenize the system.

[Monsieur De Treville]

Some of you people love spring training. If the cardinals moved Walker and he become a stud elsewhere, you people would destroy the FO for giving up on him too early. Same with Gorman. Cmon. What’s the point of moving either of him? There is zero reason to. You guys and/or gals are funny.

Spring training?

He hit .263 for Memphis last season and .201 for the Cardinals.

I hope he becomes a star and I hope it's in St. Louis.
But right now he's a hot mess at the plate.

[82birds]

Chaim has to consider moving him. There's possibly a few teams that may feel they can correct his ills?

You don't have to go forward with what you have...tough decisions need to be made. I guess they'll make those decisions after the 2025 season.

Talking about the note Mozeliak is gonna go out on.

Can you think of a worse way than to have... JORDAN WALKER... be the next former Cardinal to hit his stride with another organization?

For the 100'th time.
Do you think that any moves that have been made this spring or any moves that may be made would not require Blooms approval?

Input, yes. Approval, no.

agree FGM2
and that's the rub

[Jatalk]

Walker seems like a good kid who wants to succeed. Says all the right things. But let's face it...he's a dumpster fire at the plate. Didn't hit AAA or MLB pitching at all last season and has not hit a lick this spring.

And the Cards are going to just hand him a job?
They either know something we don't or they're incredibly stupid.

So I put it to you fine folks. How would you handle Walker? What would your plan be for the youngster who is still only 22 years old?

I know what I'd do...I send him to Memphis. Tell him he is the everyday right fielder. Tell him to have fun and not worry about the stats. Tell him his priority is to simply hit hard line drives. After a couple of months I evaluate and go from there. There is no way that right now he needs to be playing in St Louis. Does him or the team no favors.

Same as Gorman, MEMPHIS bound for both.

In my imaginary world players earn their spot. Neither of these two have done that while several have outperformed them.

[hilton head is 4 idiots]

Walker seems like a good kid who wants to succeed. Says all the right things. But let's face it...he's a dumpster fire at the plate. Didn't hit AAA or MLB pitching at all last season and has not hit a lick this spring.

And the Cards are going to just hand him a job?
They either know something we don't or they're incredibly stupid.

So I put it to you fine folks. How would you handle Walker? What would your plan be for the youngster who is still only 22 years old?

I know what I'd do...I send him to Memphis. Tell him he is the everyday right fielder. Tell him to have fun and not worry about the stats. Tell him his priority is to simply hit hard line drives. After a couple of months I evaluate and go from there. There is no way that right now he needs to be playing in St Louis. Does him or the team no favors.

Same as Gorman, MEMPHIS bound for both.

In my imaginary world players earn their spot. Neither of these two have done that while several have outperformed them.

True, Walker partially due to injury; Iron Glove simply lack of ability.

[cardstatman]

His debut at age 20 years 312 days was a dumb move. Making him learn OF in front of 40,000 people was dumbest.
However, two years later in a "discovery" season, he should be starting on opening day.

If he flails for a couple of months, then send him down and give Scott or Koperniak or someone else a 2 month chance.
Same deal for Gorman, give Saggese or Fermin or Barrero or Prieto a 2 month chance.

If Walker or Gorman dominate AAA for 2 months, then bring 'em back up in August. If not, give someone else a chance.

Most of these 15 guys will fail.
Walker, Saggese, Winn, Scott, Herrera, Gorman, Siani, Prieto, Fermin, Burleson, Pages, Barrero, Koperniak, Baker, Helman

By the end of the year, I doubt anyone deserving will be blocked.
It would be fantastic news if 4 of them turn into above average MLB players.
It would be a disaster of 2 or less of them do.

By the end of the season, more guys will be lining up hoping for an MLB chance. Crooks, Bernal, Davis, ...
Keep the train moving. IMHO, it best to do the sorting in AAA and stop having people skip AAA.

NOBODY should be learning to field at the MLB level. It should all be about adapting their hitting to MLB pitching after they have shown they can hit AAA pitching.

[Dazepster]

Walker seems like a good kid who wants to succeed. Says all the right things. But let's face it...he's a dumpster fire at the plate. Didn't hit AAA or MLB pitching at all last season and has not hit a lick this spring.

He hit 8 home runs in his last two months for Memphis w/ an .800+ OPS. That’s a lick.

I see no reason to send him back to AAA. Even if he struggles, he’s better off struggling against major league pitching and making adjustments.

Haven't watched an at bat this preseason.

If he is still using the stance where his front foot is pointed at third base:

He will not hit worth a lick.

This afternoon…

Looks good.

[cardsfaninla]

Beyond "let the kid play" ... what is left to say
let the chips fall where they may

go cards

[ramfandan]

See several criticisms about Walker skipping AAA as a big mistake. Well , in 2023 the Brewers had a 19year old zooming thru their system.
He dominated AA ball and they promoted him in late Sept. to play just 6 games at AAA Nashville.
He made the MLB roster last year without any more AAA seasonng. The 20 yr. old ended up 3rd in rookie of the year balloting after a slow first couple months learning the ropes in 'The Show'. A few guys have done allright skipping AAA ball

[hilton head is 4 idiots]

Walker and Gorman both need to be in AAA to start the season. It does no one any good for him to fail at the MLB level this year. Yeah, there is a chance he could find a groove. I just think it sends the wrong signal to current and future prospects. Get drafted high enough or rated as the next coming of Pujols, and you too can be in the show sooner rather than later, whether you earned it or not. He had a good 4 months in his rookie year, for a rookie. The league figured him out and he never found his stroke with all the jacking around they did with him. They were so desperate to have a young up and coming bopper they put blinders on to his true stroke and then screwed with what he had.

Gorman has been given every opportunity to excel and we are still talking about him maybe one day being consistent. Neither one has lit up AAA recently nor hit this spring. Instead you get guys like Koperniak that proved themselves in the minors. Got left there too long. Hit this spring well, and some are still calling him a bum and no hit Walker should start ahead of him because he is a big guy and young. Just does not make sense. Send Walker down with the message to earn his way back and Trade Gorman. Gorman may very well hit 30+ HR's mistake pitches for some one, but he will also strike out 200 times and hit for a .230 average. Most of those mistake pitches are going to come with the bases empty. His defense is not good enough to warrant a HR guy that strikes out a ton. He has had a lot more MLB at bats than Walker and a fair shot at earning a spot.

Saggesse has hit well this spring also and deserves that spot over Gorman.

Starting outfield should be Nootbar, Scott and Koperniak with Burleson as 4th at least to start the season.

My two cents.

Great knowledgeable posters. Spot on concerning both players who need to show some success in the minors before being gifted with GUARANTEED PLAYING TIME like the uniKKKKorn was handed last year.

Many talk about 30+ HRS from Gorman. Real idiots say 40+.

Why don't we say "show me you can even hit 20 HRS 2 years in a row"; before we give this bum another year of full-time coddling.

[hilton head is 4 idiots]

See several criticisms about Walker skipping AAA as a big mistake. Well , in 2023 the Brewers had a 19year old zooming thru their system.
He dominated AA ball and they promoted him in late Sept. to play just 6 games at AAA Nashville.
He made the MLB roster last year without any more AAA seasonng. The 20 yr. old ended up 3rd in rookie of the year balloting after a slow first couple months learning the ropes in 'The Show'. A few guys have done allright skipping AAA ball

No one cares about your brewers.

[hilton head is 4 idiots]

Walker seems like a good kid who wants to succeed. Says all the right things. But let's face it...he's a dumpster fire at the plate. Didn't hit AAA or MLB pitching at all last season and has not hit a lick this spring.

He hit 8 home runs in his last two months for Memphis w/ an .800+ OPS. That’s a lick.

I see no reason to send him back to AAA. Even if he struggles, he’s better off struggling against major league pitching and making adjustments.

Haven't watched an at bat this preseason.

If he is still using the stance where his front foot is pointed at third base:

He will not hit worth a lick.

This afternoon…

Looks good.

Walker lost a full week of baseball activities with his knee injury, setting him behind.

If Oli would start him every game instead of every other game, then I could see keeping on the big club.

Give him 25 at bats in the next 7 games.

[cardstatman]

AAA stats just for fun to look at.

.AVG .OBP .SLG .OPS PA
.386 .470 .713 1.183 117 Carlson struggled first MLB season
.361 .383 .616 .999 95 Arenado struggled first MLB season
.321 .410 .551 .961 283 Contreras
.276 .331 .561 .892 485 DeJong
.268 .341 .547 .888 1052 O'Neill
.258 .350 .529 .879 1345 Baker bad defense
.283 .378 .500 .878 249 Nootbar
.281 .414 .453 .867 769 Herrera
.296 .394 .473 .867 198 Donovan
.295 .365 .477 .842 940 Koperniak
.306 .356 .486 .842 641 Burleson bad defense
.288 .359 .474 .834 494 Winn
.263 .316 .505 .821 614 Gorman bad defense
.254 .373 .414 .787 663 Fermin has struggled in MLB
.265 .385 .401 .786 836 Palacios
.283 .324 .436 .760 826 Prieto
.257 .332 .420 .752 512 Walker bad defense
.248 .309 .428 .737 591 Saggese has struggled in MLB
.229 .341 .355 .696 531 Siani has struggled in MLB
.222 .299 .368 .667 194 Pages has struggled in MLB
.210 .294 .303 .597 362 Scott has struggled in MLB

[Quincy Varnish]

Walker seems like a good kid who wants to succeed. Says all the right things. But let's face it...he's a dumpster fire at the plate. Didn't hit AAA or MLB pitching at all last season and has not hit a lick this spring.

He hit 8 home runs in his last two months for Memphis w/ an .800+ OPS. That’s a lick.

I see no reason to send him back to AAA. Even if he struggles, he’s better off struggling against major league pitching and making adjustments.

Haven't watched an at bat this preseason.

If he is still using the stance where his front foot is pointed at third base:

He will not hit worth a lick.

This afternoon…

Looks good.

Walker lost a full week of baseball activities with his knee injury, setting him behind.

If Oli would start him every game instead of every other game, then I could see keeping on the big club.

Give him 25 at bats in the next 7 games.

They have 5 more opportunities? Unless he’s able to be in Port St Lucie and Jupiter at the same time, which would be quite a tool.