Left Handed Bats 2026
Moderators: STLtoday Forum Moderators, Cards Talk Moderators
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 1350
- Joined: 23 May 2024 12:41 pm
Left Handed Bats 2026
Burleson - RF, LF, 1B
Noot - CF, RF, LF
Gorman - 3B, 2B
Donny - 2B, 3B, LF, RF
JJW - 2B, SS, 3B
Scott - CF
Church - OF
Crooks (Potentially) - C
Depending on where you play Donny, you either have a logjam of corner OF or a logjam 2B/3B.
I think you need to trade 2 of the 3 of Donny, Burly, Noot. Who would you trade? Who brings back the better return?
Burly - Pro is his bat. Con is his defense
Donny - Pro is his versatility. I'm not sure there is much of a Con. He is who he is.
Noot - Pro is his on-base ability and his rounded game. Con is his streakiness and inability to stay healthy.
I am probably shopping Noot and Burly. I am keeping Donny unless I am blown away by his all-around offensive/defensive flexibility, as well as his leadership.
Noot - CF, RF, LF
Gorman - 3B, 2B
Donny - 2B, 3B, LF, RF
JJW - 2B, SS, 3B
Scott - CF
Church - OF
Crooks (Potentially) - C
Depending on where you play Donny, you either have a logjam of corner OF or a logjam 2B/3B.
I think you need to trade 2 of the 3 of Donny, Burly, Noot. Who would you trade? Who brings back the better return?
Burly - Pro is his bat. Con is his defense
Donny - Pro is his versatility. I'm not sure there is much of a Con. He is who he is.
Noot - Pro is his on-base ability and his rounded game. Con is his streakiness and inability to stay healthy.
I am probably shopping Noot and Burly. I am keeping Donny unless I am blown away by his all-around offensive/defensive flexibility, as well as his leadership.
Re: Left Handed Bats 2026
I would hope Bloom is at least hearing offers on AB, LN and BD.
I’m down for trading all three if the return is good
I’m down for trading all three if the return is good
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 6148
- Joined: 23 May 2024 13:01 pm
Re: Left Handed Bats 2026
I would definitely trade Noot. If Contreras can be moved, I’d play Burly at first base or include him for a trade for a competent first baseman. Not enamored with Scott. I don’t think he’s ever going to be anything but a below average hitter.
Burly, JJW, Wynn and Donavan/Sagessee not a bad infield.
Church plays CF. Donavan/Sagessee in LF. Trade for a RF.
Put Walker on the trade block for pitching. Gorman at DH and backs up 2nd and 3B.
Gotta spend money to get FA starting pitching.
Burly, JJW, Wynn and Donavan/Sagessee not a bad infield.
Church plays CF. Donavan/Sagessee in LF. Trade for a RF.
Put Walker on the trade block for pitching. Gorman at DH and backs up 2nd and 3B.
Gotta spend money to get FA starting pitching.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 12299
- Joined: 23 May 2024 12:41 pm
Re: Left Handed Bats 2026
Burleson - (LF, DH if Gorman at 3B)
Noot - (Trade Bait)
Gorman - (DH, 3B if NADO is traded)
Donny - (Trade Bait)
JJW - (2B)
Scott - CF
Church - OF
Crooks - C (No way I want Pages back, rather have Pozo as a the backup)
Noot - (Trade Bait)
Gorman - (DH, 3B if NADO is traded)
Donny - (Trade Bait)
JJW - (2B)
Scott - CF
Church - OF
Crooks - C (No way I want Pages back, rather have Pozo as a the backup)
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 1350
- Joined: 23 May 2024 12:41 pm
Re: Left Handed Bats 2026
I think 4-5 LH bats in the everyday lineup is plenty.
JJW, Donny, Gorman, Crooks, and one of Scott/Church.
That leaves Noot, Burly, and one of Scott/Church as trade chips. Add Donny to that if the price is right.
Tell Nado he will be in a platoon at 3B and to expect 30% playing time. That may open him up to a trade in the offseason. No sense in lying to him.
Offseason hunt should be for a reliable TOR SP and a RH bat w/ thump for the corner OF.
JJW, Donny, Gorman, Crooks, and one of Scott/Church.
That leaves Noot, Burly, and one of Scott/Church as trade chips. Add Donny to that if the price is right.
Tell Nado he will be in a platoon at 3B and to expect 30% playing time. That may open him up to a trade in the offseason. No sense in lying to him.
Offseason hunt should be for a reliable TOR SP and a RH bat w/ thump for the corner OF.
Re: Left Handed Bats 2026
So I don't really see the perceived problem in currently having "too" many LHH, as they have the split adv. about 75% of the time, plus the faster times from Home plate to 1B.
Crooks I don't think will ever be a problem being a LHH at the C position, as +90% of them are RHH.
Hopefully JJW won't have bad splits against LHP. Donovan does fine against LHP. Burly's much improved against LHP.
That said, I'd agree with the OP's list of possible trade candidates.
Crooks I don't think will ever be a problem being a LHH at the C position, as +90% of them are RHH.
Hopefully JJW won't have bad splits against LHP. Donovan does fine against LHP. Burly's much improved against LHP.
That said, I'd agree with the OP's list of possible trade candidates.
Re: Left Handed Bats 2026
Those are the two I would prefer to trade, but I've been lumping Gorman into that group when talking about at least two of them need to be traded. Gorman is the one I would least want to trade but I'm not sure the FO will see it that way, and plus he might return the most value.Basil Shabazz wrote: ↑27 Aug 2025 14:22 pm Burleson - RF, LF, 1B
Noot - CF, RF, LF
Gorman - 3B, 2B
Donny - 2B, 3B, LF, RF
JJW - 2B, SS, 3B
Scott - CF
Church - OF
Crooks (Potentially) - C
Depending on where you play Donny, you either have a logjam of corner OF or a logjam 2B/3B.
I think you need to trade 2 of the 3 of Donny, Burly, Noot. Who would you trade? Who brings back the better return?
Burly - Pro is his bat. Con is his defense
Donny - Pro is his versatility. I'm not sure there is much of a Con. He is who he is.
Noot - Pro is his on-base ability and his rounded game. Con is his streakiness and inability to stay healthy.
I am probably shopping Noot and Burly. I am keeping Donny unless I am blown away by his all-around offensive/defensive flexibility, as well as his leadership.
If Noot and Donovan are valued evenly then you've got to keep Donovan. I really hope they sell high on Burly but I'll believe it when i see it... if they do it'll be a big clue that Bloom really is cut from a different cloth than Mo.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 211
- Joined: 27 May 2024 23:12 pm
Re: Left Handed Bats 2026
Rh bats - we need more, but how many of these will still be here?
Walker
Nado
Hererra - (what's even his position)
Pages (we can do better)
Willson
Walker
Nado
Hererra - (what's even his position)
Pages (we can do better)
Willson
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 2976
- Joined: 14 Dec 2022 09:21 am
Re: Left Handed Bats 2026
Noot and Gorman are the first two I'd move on from. No need to actively shop anyone else. The other teams would have to come to us. You can get to at least the trade deadline 2026 before making hard decisions on the rest of them.
Re: Left Handed Bats 2026
Burleson should platoon with Herrera in LF next season, since Burleson can’t hit LH pitching. Herrera would DH against RH SP.
Nootbaar should be the RF next season for the 50% of games he’s healthy. Walker has only 1 option left and should spend all or nearly all of next season in AAA Memphis until he shows he can lift the ball with power consistently. Nootbaar’s trade value has never been lower, so I see no reason to trade him.
Donovan is a bad defensive corner OF, Wetherholt will take his place at 2B, and Arenado is untradable, so Donovan can’t move to 3B. Donovan is the team’s best trade piece and should be traded for pitching in the off-season.
Scott and Church can fight it out for who is the starting CF next season and who is the 5th OF.
Gorman can get enough AB’s filling in at 2B, 3B, and DH. When Arenado is gone, he’ll likely be the starting 3B.
The team needs Walker or Baez to pan out long-term and play RF, giving the team a much needed RH bat in the lineup. A RH veteran corner OF needs to acquired in the off-season to split RF with Nootbaar and cover the games Nootbaar is inevitably on the IL.
The type of prospects any of the LH hitters besides Donovan would get in a trade would be garbage level prospects, so I see no reason to trade any of them.
Nootbaar should be the RF next season for the 50% of games he’s healthy. Walker has only 1 option left and should spend all or nearly all of next season in AAA Memphis until he shows he can lift the ball with power consistently. Nootbaar’s trade value has never been lower, so I see no reason to trade him.
Donovan is a bad defensive corner OF, Wetherholt will take his place at 2B, and Arenado is untradable, so Donovan can’t move to 3B. Donovan is the team’s best trade piece and should be traded for pitching in the off-season.
Scott and Church can fight it out for who is the starting CF next season and who is the 5th OF.
Gorman can get enough AB’s filling in at 2B, 3B, and DH. When Arenado is gone, he’ll likely be the starting 3B.
The team needs Walker or Baez to pan out long-term and play RF, giving the team a much needed RH bat in the lineup. A RH veteran corner OF needs to acquired in the off-season to split RF with Nootbaar and cover the games Nootbaar is inevitably on the IL.
The type of prospects any of the LH hitters besides Donovan would get in a trade would be garbage level prospects, so I see no reason to trade any of them.
Last edited by zoiks on 27 Aug 2025 15:37 pm, edited 2 times in total.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 6148
- Joined: 23 May 2024 13:01 pm
Re: Left Handed Bats 2026
None of the players currently on the roster are players you build around so they should be open to trading any of them
For prospects. If the cardinals are legitimately going to try to win next season and make moves to make it happen then yea keep burly and Donovan if they are going to continue the runway or do a rebuild then they and Gorman should should be traded if they offer good prospects
For prospects. If the cardinals are legitimately going to try to win next season and make moves to make it happen then yea keep burly and Donovan if they are going to continue the runway or do a rebuild then they and Gorman should should be traded if they offer good prospects
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 4076
- Joined: 06 Oct 2020 15:45 pm
Re: Left Handed Bats 2026
Not to mention the 40 man problem. More 5 year minor leaguers than spots on 40 man. I believe they need to move like 6 players to make it workBasil Shabazz wrote: ↑27 Aug 2025 14:22 pm Burleson - RF, LF, 1B
Noot - CF, RF, LF
Gorman - 3B, 2B
Donny - 2B, 3B, LF, RF
JJW - 2B, SS, 3B
Scott - CF
Church - OF
Crooks (Potentially) - C
Depending on where you play Donny, you either have a logjam of corner OF or a logjam 2B/3B.
I think you need to trade 2 of the 3 of Donny, Burly, Noot. Who would you trade? Who brings back the better return?
Burly - Pro is his bat. Con is his defense
Donny - Pro is his versatility. I'm not sure there is much of a Con. He is who he is.
Noot - Pro is his on-base ability and his rounded game. Con is his streakiness and inability to stay healthy.
I am probably shopping Noot and Burly. I am keeping Donny unless I am blown away by his all-around offensive/defensive flexibility, as well as his leadership.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 75
- Joined: 21 Apr 2025 20:55 pm
Re: Left Handed Bats 2026
100% agreeimadangman wrote: ↑27 Aug 2025 15:32 pm Noot and Gorman are the first two I'd move on from. No need to actively shop anyone else. The other teams would have to come to us. You can get to at least the trade deadline 2026 before making hard decisions on the rest of them.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 6092
- Joined: 01 Jul 2021 21:30 pm
Re: Left Handed Bats 2026
Bloom should be open to trading ANYONE for the right return. Hopefully he is more persuasive with the NTC crew. Of that trio, Gray is the only one they should consider keeping. And that's because they are so pitching thin.
In a perfect world. Nootbaar should be in RF and producing to his potential. Scott and Church would battle for the CF job, and a moto bat would patrol LF.
On the infield, Burly at 1b, Wetherholt at 2b, Winn at ss, and an improved Gorman at 3b. Herrera can DH.
I like Donovan but he's their best trade chip. They need a SP.
In a perfect world. Nootbaar should be in RF and producing to his potential. Scott and Church would battle for the CF job, and a moto bat would patrol LF.
On the infield, Burly at 1b, Wetherholt at 2b, Winn at ss, and an improved Gorman at 3b. Herrera can DH.
I like Donovan but he's their best trade chip. They need a SP.