Please help. Appreciate your response.

[hockey jedi]

I am a Cardinal fan, but I don't follow the Cards Talk Forum. I was curious to see what you experts think who will be our lineup next year and the year after. I don't understand why Donovan isn't someone you build around at 2B. It seems JJ is destined for 2B, but I don't understand why they aren't grooming him for 3B when Arenado gets moved. Also, if Walker continues to improve, is he the 1B of the future?

[Youboughtit]

I am a Cardinal fan, but I don't follow the Cards Talk Forum. I was curious to see what you experts think who will be our lineup next year and the year after. I don't understand why Donovan isn't someone you build around at 2B. It seems JJ is destined for 2B, but I don't understand why they aren't grooming him for 3B when Arenado gets moved. Also, if Walker continues to improve, is he the 1B of the future?

Wetherholt has always been a SS. Donovan has more versatility. Wetherholt is Younger and cost controlled for 6 years. Donovan is good but will need an extension or traded for prospects in the next 2 years and will be a 30yr old FA. Turned down a 5 year $50m offer already. Wetherholt has 0 games in college or Minors at 3B and it appears Areanado will be here for 2 more years and if not Gorman is his replacement. If they keep Donovan it will be in LF. If Walker is here in RF and Hererra at DG then Nootbar Gorman and Burleson are the trade peices. Either way 2 of Donovan Burleson Walker Nootbar and Gorman need moved before next season

[Cusecards]

I am a Cardinal fan, but I don't follow the Cards Talk Forum. I was curious to see what you experts think who will be our lineup next year and the year after. I don't understand why Donovan isn't someone you build around at 2B. It seems JJ is destined for 2B, but I don't understand why they aren't grooming him for 3B when Arenado gets moved. Also, if Walker continues to improve, is he the 1B of the future?

Welcome!
Probably a bit early to forecast 2026.
You should at least wait until after the trade deadline and into the offseason.
I agree on JJ!
Arenado who knows?
If Donovan stays he could be 2B/3B/OF.
I would guess Walker stays in the OF?
Stay tuned....and I don’t consider myself an “expert”.

[Youboughtit]

I am a Cardinal fan, but I don't follow the Cards Talk Forum. I was curious to see what you experts think who will be our lineup next year and the year after. I don't understand why Donovan isn't someone you build around at 2B. It seems JJ is destined for 2B, but I don't understand why they aren't grooming him for 3B when Arenado gets moved. Also, if Walker continues to improve, is he the 1B of the future?

Welcome!
Probably a bit early to forecast 2026.
You should at least wait until after the trade deadline and into the offseason.
I agree on JJ!
Arenado who knows?
If Donovan stays he could be 2B/3B/OF.
I would guess Walker stays in the OF?
Stay tuned....and I don’t consider myself an “expert”.

So what’s you place for Gorman Burleson and Nootbar? We have the same idea. I think those 3 are trade bait

[hockey jedi]

Thanks to both of you for your response. I didn't consider Donovan's age and contract needs. I guess that would make him prime for a trade.

[An Old Friend]

I am a Cardinal fan, but I don't follow the Cards Talk Forum. I was curious to see what you experts think who will be our lineup next year and the year after. I don't understand why Donovan isn't someone you build around at 2B. It seems JJ is destined for 2B, but I don't understand why they aren't grooming him for 3B when Arenado gets moved. Also, if Walker continues to improve, is he the 1B of the future?

Wetherholt has always been a SS. Donovan has more versatility. Wetherholt is Younger and cost controlled for 6 years. Donovan is good but will need an extension or traded for prospects in the next 2 years and will be a 30yr old FA. Turned down a 5 year $50m offer already. Wetherholt has 0 games in college or Minors at 3B and it appears Areanado will be here for 2 more years and if not Gorman is his replacement. If they keep Donovan it will be in LF. If Walker is here in RF and Hererra at DG then Nootbar Gorman and Burleson are the trade peices. Either way 2 of Donovan Burleson Walker Nootbar and Gorman need moved before next season

Wetherholt played quite a bit of 3B as a freshman at West Virginia.

Not saying he has the arm for 3B, but saying he's played 0 games there isn't accurate.

[Cusecards]

I am a Cardinal fan, but I don't follow the Cards Talk Forum. I was curious to see what you experts think who will be our lineup next year and the year after. I don't understand why Donovan isn't someone you build around at 2B. It seems JJ is destined for 2B, but I don't understand why they aren't grooming him for 3B when Arenado gets moved. Also, if Walker continues to improve, is he the 1B of the future?

Welcome!
Probably a bit early to forecast 2026.
You should at least wait until after the trade deadline and into the offseason.
I agree on JJ!
Arenado who knows?
If Donovan stays he could be 2B/3B/OF.
I would guess Walker stays in the OF?
Stay tuned....and I don’t consider myself an “expert”.

So what’s you place for Gorman Burleson and Nootbar? We have the same idea. I think those 3 are trade bait

Still two months to go.
Burleson putting together a solid season.
Gorman needs to stay healthy and demonstrate consistent plate discipline.
Nootbaar is starting to strike me as a “tease”.
Streaky player and can’t stay healthy.
Team has an excess of LH bats and more on the way(JJ/Crooks).
I agree that best guess is one of those three gets dealt.

[Youboughtit]

I am a Cardinal fan, but I don't follow the Cards Talk Forum. I was curious to see what you experts think who will be our lineup next year and the year after. I don't understand why Donovan isn't someone you build around at 2B. It seems JJ is destined for 2B, but I don't understand why they aren't grooming him for 3B when Arenado gets moved. Also, if Walker continues to improve, is he the 1B of the future?

Wetherholt has always been a SS. Donovan has more versatility. Wetherholt is Younger and cost controlled for 6 years. Donovan is good but will need an extension or traded for prospects in the next 2 years and will be a 30yr old FA. Turned down a 5 year $50m offer already. Wetherholt has 0 games in college or Minors at 3B and it appears Areanado will be here for 2 more years and if not Gorman is his replacement. If they keep Donovan it will be in LF. If Walker is here in RF and Hererra at DG then Nootbar Gorman and Burleson are the trade peices. Either way 2 of Donovan Burleson Walker Nootbar and Gorman need moved before next season

Wetherholt played quite a bit of 3B as a freshman at West Virginia.

Not saying he has the arm for 3B, but saying he's played 0 games there isn't accurate.

His college coach on the radio said he is viewed as a 2B/SS and really no team was looking at him as a 3B on radio day after draft. I still think all successful teams consider they want 3 power bas at first third LF RF and DH. The problem the Cardinals have is they really don’t have a MOTO 35/100 guy. Having Contreras at 1B Areanado at 3B Donovan in LF Walker in RF and Hererra at DH Winn at SS Wetherholt at 2B Scott in CF and Pages at C just is not enough power. How do they get it? That’s the big ?

[Red7]

Thanks to both of you for your response. I didn't consider Donovan's age and contract needs. I guess that would make him prime for a trade.

Donovan is a fine player, but he’s not a cornerstone guy. I’d compare him to Jake Neighbours. If Neighbours was the Blues’ BEST player, I think you’d agree they were in trouble. It’s nigh impossible to predict the lineup. I expect there’ll be more changes come the offseason. Bloom has had the better part of a year to determine what is wheat and what is chaff. He needs to clean up log jams and strengthen other areas. The 40 man, much less the 26, may look a lot different come Opening Day 2026.

[2ninr]

I am a Cardinal fan, but I don't follow the Cards Talk Forum. I was curious to see what you experts think who will be our lineup next year and the year after. I don't understand why Donovan isn't someone you build around at 2B. It seems JJ is destined for 2B, but I don't understand why they aren't grooming him for 3B when Arenado gets moved. Also, if Walker continues to improve, is he the 1B of the future?

You don't have to be a CT "expert" to guess who will be traded other than the expiring contracts being gone next year. Donovan makes sense but who knows.

[Bad14]

I am a Cardinal fan, but I don't follow the Cards Talk Forum. I was curious to see what you experts think who will be our lineup next year and the year after. I don't understand why Donovan isn't someone you build around at 2B. It seems JJ is destined for 2B, but I don't understand why they aren't grooming him for 3B when Arenado gets moved. Also, if Walker continues to improve, is he the 1B of the future?

Walker's strength is his arm. I think 1B would be a last resort. You won't get a consensus here on Donovan. To me, the problem is the Cardinals have no power hitting outfielder. I think they are still hoping Walker is that guy and will give him more time than they'd give most to develop.

[woofy25]

Here's the problem. The overall talent of this organization has people thinking Donovan is a guy to build a team around. He is not. He is a guy who complements the 2-4 stars they need to have. For a short period of time it was PG/NA/one season of TO, followed by one season of PG/NA/AP. It used to be Pujols/Rolen/Edmonds. Then it was Pujols/Holliday/Molina/Berkman. Then it was Holliday/Molina/Carpenter/Beltran.

Brendan Donovan is currently 18% above average, offensively, which is really good. But, he's just not a star. If they had prime NA/PG type guys on this team, I would recommend they sign Donovan to an extension. But, they shouldn't do it if he's the marquee player on the team.

[Futuregm2]

Here's the problem. The overall talent of this organization has people thinking Donovan is a guy to build a team around. He is not. He is a guy who complements the 2-4 stars they need to have. For a short period of time it was PG/NA/one season of TO, followed by one season of PG/NA/AP. It used to be Pujols/Rolen/Edmonds. Then it was Pujols/Holliday/Molina/Berkman. Then it was Holliday/Molina/Carpenter/Beltran.

Brendan Donovan is currently 18% above average, offensively, which is really good. But, he's just not a star. If they had prime NA/PG type guys on this team, I would recommend they sign Donovan to an extension. But, they shouldn't do it if he's the marquee player on the team.

Agreed, +1

[rockondlouie]

IMPOSSIBLE task!

If we can ONLY use the players here now (and I think we could see as many as two of these guys gone and two new hitters acquire via trades or FA), then just for fun:

-Donny/3B
-JJW/2B
-Hererra/LF
-WillyC/1B
-Burleson/DH
-Winn/SS
-Crooks/C
-Walker/RF
-VSII/CF

The roster is a total MESS!

C. Bloom is going to have to do some serious culling of redundant positions too many players play.

Where do you play NADO & Donovan if they're still here?

Gorman?

Noot?

Too many platoon situations on the current roster.

We have to wait and see who Bloom gets rid of and who he acquires.