What do the Cards do at C & CF in 2026?

[cosmo.kramer]

Pray

You mean go to Church? He deserves a look in spring. Maybe an AFL stint this fall.

He won't replace Scott out of the gate. But a possible alternative in CF not named Siani or Hampson

Church just hit .364 in the AFL last offseason. Don't think he'll head back there

[rockondlouie]

Scott is minimum salary for 2026...keep him, let those under him develop. We're not contending next season, no need to make a splash in FA for a CF

Catcher.... Crooks vs. RHP, Pages vs. LHP.......Pozo should be traded by the deadline, imo

He should be a PH/defensive replacement. Sure he can be on the roster, but not 500 PAs worth.

Pages can walk. POZO can hit

+1

Pages is overrated.

How have all those starters who "love to throw to him" looked w/him behind the plate?

As the season wore on his small sample size doesn't look impressive at all and of course he s u c k s at the plate.

Bring up Crooks 9/1 and start him most games w/Pozo backing him up.

Bernal keeps progressing, then Crooks becomes a trade chip.

I'd move on from Pages who's JAG.

I like VSII, let's give him more time as the kids glove is golden and his speed on the bases is something this team sorely lacks.

[JuanAgosto]

I would let Crooks and Pozo catch next season. Then bring in Bernal in 2027.

As for CF, I stick with Scott. But I bring in a capable 4th OF to spell him when needed.

[IndCard75]

I would like to think Bloom will reshape the roster this offseason.
Like someone else mentioned-
C I would bring Crooks up and let him start the rest of the season.
We pretty much know what we have in Pages and Pozo. It seems Bernal will be the C of the future. This offseason I would try to package Crooks with others for a top of rotation SP. So in 2026 you would still have Pages Pozo and eventually Bernal.

CF- Same as C, I’m hoping Bloom trades Noot and reshapes the roster. Scott would be my opening day CF but Church or others would get their opportunities to beat him out of playing time.

[Cusecards]

I would like to think Bloom will reshape the roster this offseason.
Like someone else mentioned-
C I would bring Crooks up and let him start the rest of the season.
We pretty much know what we have in Pages and Pozo. It seems Bernal will be the C of the future. This offseason I would try to package Crooks with others for a top of rotation SP. So in 2026 you would still have Pages Pozo and eventually Bernal.

CF- Same as C, I’m hoping Bloom trades Noot and reshapes the roster. Scott would be my opening day CF but Church or others would get their opportunities to beat him out of playing time.

Agree
Scott can clearly handle the job defensively.
If he actually learned to hit the ball on the ground instead of popping everything up he’d hit .250+ on IF hits alone!

[Lightning Rod]

I would like to think Bloom will reshape the roster this offseason.
Like someone else mentioned-
C I would bring Crooks up and let him start the rest of the season.
We pretty much know what we have in Pages and Pozo. It seems Bernal will be the C of the future. This offseason I would try to package Crooks with others for a top of rotation SP. So in 2026 you would still have Pages Pozo and eventually Bernal.

CF- Same as C, I’m hoping Bloom trades Noot and reshapes the roster. Scott would be my opening day CF but Church or others would get their opportunities to beat him out of playing time.

Agree
Scott can clearly handle the job defensively.
If he actually learned to hit the ball on the ground instead of popping everything up he’d hit .250+ on IF hits alone!

Scott is fine defensively but has a left fielders arm. Hitting the ball on the ground is key to him being a better hitter. I doubt he ever becomes a good hitter, but he's not a bad guy to have on the team, but not as an everyday player.

[imadangman]

Scott is minimum salary for 2026...keep him, let those under him develop. We're not contending next season, no need to make a splash in FA for a CF

Catcher.... Crooks vs. RHP, Pages vs. LHP.......Pozo should be traded by the deadline, imo

I'm more optimistic that Bernal can be here sometime next year. Pages is a stiff. He's a switch-hitter who, until this year, hit about the same from each side. This year, he's killing LHP (.975 OPS) and not RHP (.706).
I still hold out hope Joshua Baez can be the future CF. He has all the tools but this is his first year doing fairly well (great at times).

Yes he can at least be there to apply pressure, and help our outfield equation. He can play RF but also CF if Scott struggles.

[cardstatman]

C and CF are not really the problem areas considering they are manned by league minimum players.

fWAR by position

4.2 SS - Winn 3.3, Saggese 0.5, Donovan 0.3, Barrero 0.1
2.4 1B - Contreras 2.3, Burleson 0.2
2.3 2B - Donovan 2.6, Gorman 0.1, Saggese -0.6
1.6 C - Herrera 1.1, Pozo 0.4, Pages 0.1
1.4 CF - Scott 1.7, Nootbar 0.0, Siani -0.1, Barrero -0.2
1.1 3B - Arenado 0.9, Saggese 0.3, Gorman 0.1
0.7 LF - Nootbar 0.9, Burleson -0.1, Donovan -0.3
0.5 RF - Burleson 1.1, Nootbar 0.2, Walker -0.8
0.1 DH - Herrera 0.5, Gorman 0.5, Burleson 0.3, Baker -0.2, Donovan -0.2, Arenado -0.2, Contreras -0.3

The worst problems have been at DH, corner OF, and 3B.

Herrera injured too much.
Nootbar injured too much.
Arenado not injured enough.

I do wonder:

1. C What if they went with Crooks/Pozo next year? Or perhaps Herrera can still catch some?
2. CF Can Scott and Church share CF with the better player playing the most? Scott was okay but perhaps overexposed but his backups were awful.
3. 3B Can they send salary with Arenado in a trade and move Donovan to 3B and let Wetherholt take over 2B?
4. LF Can Nootbar stay healthy?
5. RF Can Burleson hit with an .800 OPS? If so, he's okay in RF
6. DH Can Herrera stay healthy?

IMHO Gorman cannot field any position adequately; we should play him in Aug/Sep to find out if he can DH.
IMHO Walker needs to play in Aug/Sep but assuming no breakout happens then next year he should be in AAA.
IMHO Both will most likely fail and it is time to move on... but I'd let Walker play in AAA.