Who's the better defensive shortstop? Scott in CF.

[JDW]

My current thinking for next year is an inf of Donovan-Winn-Wetherholt-Contreras, with an OF of Herrera-VS2-Noot.
C's of Pages, Pozo, Crooks and Bernal. DH with mostly Burleson, Herrera and Gorman with both playing often in the field. Bench including a C, Saggese, Church, IDK.
Would it be great if the Cards signed a slugging corner OF'er? It'd be great imo but other than Tucker which seems very doubtful, who would that be?
Will Baez get his MLB opportunity in 2026? I think so and sure hope so, but he needs to keep pushing toward that goal with good production in milb.
Way too early to consider moving a good skilled infielder to CF. VS2's elite base running has value, and he's above average defensively in a key defensive position. Even this year he may get to a bWAR of around +3. That's currently trending to be 2nd on the team for a position player this year behind only Donovan. Let's see how he continues to develop.

[Longhorns55]

And hitter. Winn or Wetherholt? Is Scott going to hit enough to be CF of the future for the Cardinals? If not, ether Winn or Wetherholy might be a good option. Just thinking outside the box.

Winn is already one of the best defensive SS in the game with an elite throwing arm. Your plan also gives up on VS very early, who is also an elite defender. If you're already strong up the middle, why disrupt? Defense is one of this teams only real sustainable strengths. TIred of seeing defense undervalued.

JJW at CF will also delay his arrival unless you want another Jordan Walker situation where he has to learn a new position at the ML level.

JJW should either replace Donovan who turns 29 before next season or Arenado if he waives NTC and moves on. I'm thinking they might sell high on Donovan if JJW shows strong at Memphis. They've already haggled him hard in arbitration.

Good post. But Wetherholt to CF could easily turned out like the stud for Arizona. IMO. It would sure help fitting both Saggese and Gorman into a future lineup. I'm concerned about Scott's strikeout rate.

What stud for the DBacks? Their CF (Alek Thomas) didn't move from SS to CF. I also doubt anyone considers him a stud (except for you). Now if so happens that you are confused and were thinking about their RF Corbin Carroll, well he is a good player but far as I can tell he never played SS.

One or the other of them may have played a little SS in high school but that's the end of it. Both started their pro careers in the OF. The only similarity is they were drafted out of high school.

When I read the original post, my first thought was that he meant Jackson Merrill in SD.

[Shady]

And hitter. Winn or Wetherholt? Is Scott going to hit enough to be CF of the future for the Cardinals? If not, ether Winn or Wetherholy might be a good option. Just thinking outside the box.

Winn is already one of the best defensive SS in the game with an elite throwing arm. Your plan also gives up on VS very early, who is also an elite defender. If you're already strong up the middle, why disrupt? Defense is one of this teams only real sustainable strengths. TIred of seeing defense undervalued.

JJW at CF will also delay his arrival unless you want another Jordan Walker situation where he has to learn a new position at the ML level.

JJW should either replace Donovan who turns 29 before next season or Arenado if he waives NTC and moves on. I'm thinking they might sell high on Donovan if JJW shows strong at Memphis. They've already haggled him hard in arbitration.

Good post. But Wetherholt to CF could easily turned out like the stud for Arizona. IMO. It would sure help fitting both Saggese and Gorman into a future lineup. I'm concerned about Scott's strikeout rate.

What stud for the DBacks? Their CF (Alek Thomas) didn't move from SS to CF. I also doubt anyone considers him a stud (except for you). Now if so happens that you are confused and were thinking about their RF Corbin Carroll, well he is a good player but far as I can tell he never played SS.

One or the other of them may have played a little SS in high school but that's the end of it. Both started their pro careers in the OF. The only similarity is they were drafted out of high school.

I could be mistaken, but I seem to recall Corbin being a converted infielder. And I believe he's played some CF for Arizona.

[sikeston bulldog2]

I don’t know what the knock is on Scott’s hitting. I think he hits fine for an elite defensive centerfielder, if we had great hitting corner outfielders. Which we don’t, but that’s not his fault.

Meanwhile, Donovan is a gold glove over a second base with an All-Star batch. And winn has a gold caliber glove, although there are a lot of those in the league right now.

So it makes me wonder whether JW can materially improve this team by replacing one of those positions or if you just feels a position where we don’t have a great need to begin with?

What we are really missing is Moto bats 100 RBI at left-field and rightfield and a DH that doesn’t get hurt.

JJW doesn’t profile as that and neither does Donovan or Scott or Winn. Feels kinda like we’re collecting shiny objects, but don’t have what we really need.

I thought the same (collecting shiny objects) when the team drafted JJW. I know he's a highly regarded prospect and may have well been the best player available but he sure did not seem to fit a position of need. LF/RF as you mentioned was/is badly needed. Agree on your take on VS hitting too.

These are all goods observations and contribute greatly to the discussion. Good work.

First J.J. is an atheletic player. That’s the new trend. Get the best athelete.

Next. Why not just focus on third. SS and second are secure. GG infield caliber.

And as proof, thiscinfield today is one of the leagues best. It’s winning games. Build on it.

[Shady]

I don’t know what the knock is on Scott’s hitting. I think he hits fine for an elite defensive centerfielder, if we had great hitting corner outfielders. Which we don’t, but that’s not his fault.

Meanwhile, Donovan is a gold glove over a second base with an All-Star batch. And winn has a gold caliber glove, although there are a lot of those in the league right now.

So it makes me wonder whether JW can materially improve this team by replacing one of those positions or if you just feels a position where we don’t have a great need to begin with?

What we are really missing is Moto bats 100 RBI at left-field and rightfield and a DH that doesn’t get hurt.

JJW doesn’t profile as that and neither does Donovan or Scott or Winn. Feels kinda like we’re collecting shiny objects, but don’t have what we really need.

I thought the same (collecting shiny objects) when the team drafted JJW. I know he's a highly regarded prospect and may have well been the best player available but he sure did not seem to fit a position of need. LF/RF as you mentioned was/is badly needed. Agree on your take on VS hitting too.

These are all goods observations and contribute greatly to the discussion. Good work.

First J.J. is an atheletic player. That’s the new trend. Get the best athelete.

Next. Why not just focus on third. SS and second are secure. GG infield caliber.

And as proof, thiscinfield today is one of the leagues best. It’s winning games. Build on it.

Dog, "Why not just focus on third". Hopefully, 3B will between, Gorman, Saggese and Wetherholt, Add, the versatlie Donovan to this list. And 3B and 2B should be in pretty good shape for a while. And, "J.J. is an atheletic player". That's why I floated the CF possibility. Especially, if his hitting is far superior to Scott's.

[sikeston bulldog2]

I don’t know what the knock is on Scott’s hitting. I think he hits fine for an elite defensive centerfielder, if we had great hitting corner outfielders. Which we don’t, but that’s not his fault.

Meanwhile, Donovan is a gold glove over a second base with an All-Star batch. And winn has a gold caliber glove, although there are a lot of those in the league right now.

So it makes me wonder whether JW can materially improve this team by replacing one of those positions or if you just feels a position where we don’t have a great need to begin with?

What we are really missing is Moto bats 100 RBI at left-field and rightfield and a DH that doesn’t get hurt.

JJW doesn’t profile as that and neither does Donovan or Scott or Winn. Feels kinda like we’re collecting shiny objects, but don’t have what we really need.

I thought the same (collecting shiny objects) when the team drafted JJW. I know he's a highly regarded prospect and may have well been the best player available but he sure did not seem to fit a position of need. LF/RF as you mentioned was/is badly needed. Agree on your take on VS hitting too.

These are all goods observations and contribute greatly to the discussion. Good work.

First J.J. is an atheletic player. That’s the new trend. Get the best athelete.

Next. Why not just focus on third. SS and second are secure. GG infield caliber.

And as proof, thiscinfield today is one of the leagues best. It’s winning games. Build on it.

Dog, "Why not just focus on third". Hopefully, 3B will between, Gorman, Saggese and Wetherholt, Add, the versatlie Donovan to this list. And 3B and 2B should be in pretty good shape for a while. And, "J.J. is an atheletic player". That's why I floated the CF possibility. Especially, if his hitting is far superior to Scott's.

Yes sir, your above is correct, SS second and third should be a go. Scott is just too good on defense. The only way we put J.J. in outfield would be left, and he would do well there. But that means Gorman goes to third. Will that degrade the infield too much.

[icon]

My current thinking for next year is an inf of Donovan-Winn-Wetherholt-Contreras, with an OF of Herrera-VS2-Noot.
C's of Pages, Pozo, Crooks and Bernal. DH with mostly Burleson, Herrera and Gorman with both playing often in the field. Bench including a C, Saggese, Church, IDK.
Would it be great if the Cards signed a slugging corner OF'er? It'd be great imo but other than Tucker which seems very doubtful, who would that be?
Will Baez get his MLB opportunity in 2026? I think so and sure hope so, but he needs to keep pushing toward that goal with good production in milb.
Way too early to consider moving a good skilled infielder to CF. VS2's elite base running has value, and he's above average defensively in a key defensive position. Even this year he may get to a bWAR of around +3. That's currently trending to be 2nd on the team for a position player this year behind only Donovan. Let's see how he continues to develop.

No way you keep Noot for a corner OF spot.

[bccardsfan]

My current thinking for next year is an inf of Donovan-Winn-Wetherholt-Contreras, with an OF of Herrera-VS2-Noot.
C's of Pages, Pozo, Crooks and Bernal. DH with mostly Burleson, Herrera and Gorman with both playing often in the field. Bench including a C, Saggese, Church, IDK.
Would it be great if the Cards signed a slugging corner OF'er? It'd be great imo but other than Tucker which seems very doubtful, who would that be?
Will Baez get his MLB opportunity in 2026? I think so and sure hope so, but he needs to keep pushing toward that goal with good production in milb.
Way too early to consider moving a good skilled infielder to CF. VS2's elite base running has value, and he's above average defensively in a key defensive position. Even this year he may get to a bWAR of around +3. That's currently trending to be 2nd on the team for a position player this year behind only Donovan. Let's see how he continues to develop.

No way you keep Noot for a corner OF spot.

Agreed. The Noot experiment needs to be over. He is a nice guy to have as your fourth OFer. We need a corner OFer who can hit north of .270 with OPS over .800 AND play at least average D. Noot is not that guy. Sure, he is that guy for a month now and then, but the bulk of the time he is not. Burleson is a hard working kid who catches everything he gets to, but is slow and is actually a pretty decent first baseman. If WC were to vanish, Burley would be your every day first basemen until someone better came along. JW.. well we all hoped he would be that guy, and maybe somehow he and the uniKKKorn will make it. But you cannot bet the farm on that. We need that big OF middle of the order bat, and Noot is not that guy, nor is Burley. Unfortunately it is not looking like JW will be either.

[Shady]

My current thinking for next year is an inf of Donovan-Winn-Wetherholt-Contreras, with an OF of Herrera-VS2-Noot.
C's of Pages, Pozo, Crooks and Bernal. DH with mostly Burleson, Herrera and Gorman with both playing often in the field. Bench including a C, Saggese, Church, IDK.
Would it be great if the Cards signed a slugging corner OF'er? It'd be great imo but other than Tucker which seems very doubtful, who would that be?
Will Baez get his MLB opportunity in 2026? I think so and sure hope so, but he needs to keep pushing toward that goal with good production in milb.
Way too early to consider moving a good skilled infielder to CF. VS2's elite base running has value, and he's above average defensively in a key defensive position. Even this year he may get to a bWAR of around +3. That's currently trending to be 2nd on the team for a position player this year behind only Donovan. Let's see how he continues to develop.

No way you keep Noot for a corner OF spot.

Agreed. The Noot experiment needs to be over. He is a nice guy to have as your fourth OFer. We need a corner OFer who can hit north of .270 with OPS over .800 AND play at least average D. Noot is not that guy. Sure, he is that guy for a month now and then, but the bulk of the time he is not. Burleson is a hard working kid who catches everything he gets to, but is slow and is actually a pretty decent first baseman. If WC were to vanish, Burley would be your every day first basemen until someone better came along. JW.. well we all hoped he would be that guy, and maybe somehow he and the uniKKKorn will make it. But you cannot bet the farm on that. We need that big OF middle of the order bat, and Noot is not that guy, nor is Burley. Unfortunately it is not looking like JW will be either.

I feel there's more power coming from Burleson. Enough to play either a corner outfield position or 1B. However, the Cardinals do need some kind of an upgrade to the lineup. Hopefully, Wetherholt can provide that.

[icon]

My current thinking for next year is an inf of Donovan-Winn-Wetherholt-Contreras, with an OF of Herrera-VS2-Noot.
C's of Pages, Pozo, Crooks and Bernal. DH with mostly Burleson, Herrera and Gorman with both playing often in the field. Bench including a C, Saggese, Church, IDK.
Would it be great if the Cards signed a slugging corner OF'er? It'd be great imo but other than Tucker which seems very doubtful, who would that be?
Will Baez get his MLB opportunity in 2026? I think so and sure hope so, but he needs to keep pushing toward that goal with good production in milb.
Way too early to consider moving a good skilled infielder to CF. VS2's elite base running has value, and he's above average defensively in a key defensive position. Even this year he may get to a bWAR of around +3. That's currently trending to be 2nd on the team for a position player this year behind only Donovan. Let's see how he continues to develop.

No way you keep Noot for a corner OF spot.

Agreed. The Noot experiment needs to be over. He is a nice guy to have as your fourth OFer. We need a corner OFer who can hit north of .270 with OPS over .800 AND play at least average D. Noot is not that guy. Sure, he is that guy for a month now and then, but the bulk of the time he is not. Burleson is a hard working kid who catches everything he gets to, but is slow and is actually a pretty decent first baseman. If WC were to vanish, Burley would be your every day first basemen until someone better came along. JW.. well we all hoped he would be that guy, and maybe somehow he and the uniKKKorn will make it. But you cannot bet the farm on that. We need that big OF middle of the order bat, and Noot is not that guy, nor is Burley. Unfortunately it is not looking like JW will be either.

The competition with the Cubs makes this so obvious. And that is the archrival with a far superior OF to that of the Cardinals.

[rockondlouie]

JJW is targeted for 2nd base, not 3rd base and definitely not SS where Winn is the future.

While it would be great if C. Bloom has his new Manager/Coaches hand him an OF'ers glove and he really took to it, that probably isn't happening.

He could be the OD 2nd baseman in 2026 if he does well at Memphis and in STing.

[sikeston bulldog2]

JJW is targeted for 2nd base, not 3rd base and definitely not SS where Winn is the future.

While it would be great if C. Bloom has his new Manager/Coaches hand him an OF'ers glove and he really took to it, that probably isn't happening.

He could be the OD 2nd baseman in 2026 if he does well at Memphis and in STing.

Then a GG Donovan moves to ….

[rockondlouie]

JJW is targeted for 2nd base, not 3rd base and definitely not SS where Winn is the future.

While it would be great if C. Bloom has his new Manager/Coaches hand him an OF'ers glove and he really took to it, that probably isn't happening.

He could be the OD 2nd baseman in 2026 if he does well at Memphis and in STing.

Then a GG Donovan moves to ….

Left Field, we need OF'ers who can hit and he's the only one we've got on today's roster!

And the GG was for Utility Man, not exclusively 2nd base where T. Edman won his.

[Shady]

JJW is targeted for 2nd base, not 3rd base and definitely not SS where Winn is the future.

While it would be great if C. Bloom has his new Manager/Coaches hand him an OF'ers glove and he really took to it, that probably isn't happening.

He could be the OD 2nd baseman in 2026 if he does well at Memphis and in STing.

Then a GG Donovan moves to ….

Left Field, we need OF'ers who can hit and he's the only one we've got on today's roster!

And the GG was for Utility Man, not exclusively 2nd base where T. Edman won his.

"we need OF'ers who can hit and he's the only one we've got on today's roster!" So you don't feel Burleson can hit? If so, you'd probably get some disagreement around the league. I hope Wetherholt becomes as good of a MLB hitter as Donovan and Burleson.

[Wattage]

JJW is targeted for 2nd base, not 3rd base and definitely not SS where Winn is the future.

While it would be great if C. Bloom has his new Manager/Coaches hand him an OF'ers glove and he really took to it, that probably isn't happening.

He could be the OD 2nd baseman in 2026 if he does well at Memphis and in STing.

Then a GG Donovan moves to ….

Left Field, we need OF'ers who can hit and he's the only one we've got on today's roster!

And the GG was for Utility Man, not exclusively 2nd base where T. Edman won his.

And lf was actually donovans origonal position in college along with 3b. We converted him to 2b cuz we thought he was athletic enough to handle it but many on here seem to think that was his original position and that playing him in outfield is playing him out of position.

[sikeston bulldog2]

JJW is targeted for 2nd base, not 3rd base and definitely not SS where Winn is the future.

While it would be great if C. Bloom has his new Manager/Coaches hand him an OF'ers glove and he really took to it, that probably isn't happening.

He could be the OD 2nd baseman in 2026 if he does well at Memphis and in STing.

Then a GG Donovan moves to ….

Left Field, we need OF'ers who can hit and he's the only one we've got on today's roster!

And the GG was for Utility Man, not exclusively 2nd base where T. Edman won his.

Ok he might hit as a LF.

As for the GG you like me is an infielder. If you have a GG at utility, which heavily included second, you are very nifty with the glove. At this level, the difference on the GG trophy is just a name.