Looks like Burleson will continue to be a utility player

[riff raff]

Burly will be in LF/DH most likely if Nado is gone

And he'll get plenty of starts at 1B. Contreras ain't getting any younger and has had some injury issues in the past. Therefore, the "utility" label again in '26 for Burleson..

Who f'ing cares how you label it ?

[Shady]

Burly will be in LF/DH most likely if Nado is gone

And he'll get plenty of starts at 1B. Contreras ain't getting any younger and has had some injury issues in the past. Therefore, the "utility" label again in '26 for Burleson..

Who f'ing cares how you label it ?

The MLB might care. Burleson may be selected for the Silver Slugger Award this season as a utility player. And could repeat in '26.

[riff raff]

Burly will be in LF/DH most likely if Nado is gone

And he'll get plenty of starts at 1B. Contreras ain't getting any younger and has had some injury issues in the past. Therefore, the "utility" label again in '26 for Burleson..

Who f'ing cares how you label it ?

The MLB might care. Burleson may be selected for the Silver Slugger Award this season as a utility player. And could repeat in '26.

Jimmy cracked corn

[MIDMOBIRDTWO]

Burly will be in LF/DH most likely if Nado is gone

And he'll get plenty of starts at 1B. Contreras ain't getting any younger and has had some injury issues in the past. Therefore, the "utility" label again in '26 for Burleson..

Who f'ing cares how you label it ?

The MLB might care. Burleson may be selected for the Silver Slugger Award this season as a utility player. And could repeat in '26.

Tee Hee! Good joke Shady monster!

[Mort Gage]

Burly will be in LF/DH most likely if Nado is gone

And he'll get plenty of starts at 1B. Contreras ain't getting any younger and has had some injury issues in the past. Therefore, the "utility" label again in '26 for Burleson..

Who f'ing cares how you label it ?

The MLB might care. Burleson may be selected for the Silver Slugger Award this season as a utility player. And could repeat in '26.

If Burleson gets a Silver Slugger MLB may as well abolish the award. Nothing says slugger like 18 HR, 69 RBI.

[CorneliusWolfe]

Burly will be in LF/DH most likely if Nado is gone

And he'll get plenty of starts at 1B. Contreras ain't getting any younger and has had some injury issues in the past. Therefore, the "utility" label again in '26 for Burleson..

Who f'ing cares how you label it ?

The MLB might care. Burleson may be selected for the Silver Slugger Award this season as a utility player. And could repeat in '26.

6 homeruns and 20 RBI in the second half. A silver slugger for an empty batting average? If you want to cheer an award like that, have at it. MLB should retroactively award Aaron Miles one too.

[craviduce]

Burly will be in LF/DH most likely if Nado is gone

And he'll get plenty of starts at 1B. Contreras ain't getting any younger and has had some injury issues in the past. Therefore, the "utility" label again in '26 for Burleson..

Who f'ing cares how you label it ?

The MLB might care. Burleson may be selected for the Silver Slugger Award this season as a utility player. And could repeat in '26.

6 homeruns and 20 RBI in the second half. A silver slugger for an empty batting average? If you want to cheer an award like that, have at it. MLB should retroactively award Aaron Miles one too.

A Sliver of a Slugger

[Strummer Jones]

Burly should be an every day player next year. Herrera should be the DH, and Crooks should be the starting catcher, with Pages backing him up.

[Lloyd Braun]

Burly will be in LF/DH most likely if Nado is gone

And he'll likely get plenty of starts again at 1B. Contreras ain't getting any younger and has had some injury issues in the past. Therefore, the "utility" label again in '26 is likely for Burleson.

Agree. Contreras has averaged 114 games over the last four seasons. 110 the last two seasons. He'll be 34 when the season starts. In addition to missing lots of games, we should expect a drop off (at minimum gradually) offensively and defensively.

Whereas, Burleson has the ability to winning a batting title and hit at least 20 homers... and if he keeps improving, maybe 25-30.

The only players to hit .290 with 18 or more HRs this year were:

Aaron Judge
Bobby Witt
Vlad Guerrero
Freddie Freeman
George Springer
Bo Bichette
Yandy Diaz
Josh Naylor
Geraldo Perdomo
Alec Burleson

The combined salary for Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Freddie Freeman, George Springer, and Bo Bichette is $129,750,000 or $22 million per season.

Burleson makes $2.1 million.

I just don't understand the hate for Burlseon. The guy is a unique skill in today's game of hitting for high average and pop. It just doesn't grow on trees. And he's probably the only Cardinal that has improved year to year.

[Melville]

With Contreras staying at 1B and Herrera returning to catcher. Burleson's role next season also depends on if Donovan and/or Walker get traded.

Herrera won't be the starting catcher next year.
Pitching staff will not allow it.

[Talkin' Baseball]

Burly will be in LF/DH most likely if Nado is gone

And he'll likely get plenty of starts again at 1B. Contreras ain't getting any younger and has had some injury issues in the past. Therefore, the "utility" label again in '26 is likely for Burleson.

Agree. Contreras has averaged 114 games over the last four seasons. 110 the last two seasons. He'll be 34 when the season starts. In addition to missing lots of games, we should expect a drop off (at minimum gradually) offensively and defensively.

Whereas, Burleson has the ability to winning a batting title and hit at least 20 homers... and if he keeps improving, maybe 25-30.

The only players to hit .290 with 18 or more HRs this year were:

Aaron Judge
Bobby Witt
Vlad Guerrero
Freddie Freeman
George Springer
Bo Bichette
Yandy Diaz
Josh Naylor
Geraldo Perdomo
Alec Burleson

The combined salary for Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Freddie Freeman, George Springer, and Bo Bichette is $129,750,000 or $22 million per season.

Burleson makes $2.1 million.

I just don't understand the hate for Burlseon. The guy is a unique skill in today's game of hitting for high average and pop. It just doesn't grow on trees. And he's probably the only Cardinal that has improved year to year.

Are you talking about the same Alec Burleson that just put up 1.9 WAR this season and has 2.3 for his career?

[Stlcardsblues]

He's a DH, at best. Herrera returning to C frees up DH. Not sure what the problem is.

So do Pages and Pozo get non-tendered? Is crooks the new backup and should we forget all about his 2 hits in his first 40 ABs?

My thought is one of Pages or Pozo will be non-tendered or traded. The other will be the backup with Crooke starting at Triple A if he isn’t traded. It wouldn’t shock my if Crooks is traded for pitching with Bernal identified as the catcher to be the guy when the rebuild is done.

[Lloyd Braun]

Burly will be in LF/DH most likely if Nado is gone

And he'll likely get plenty of starts again at 1B. Contreras ain't getting any younger and has had some injury issues in the past. Therefore, the "utility" label again in '26 is likely for Burleson.

Agree. Contreras has averaged 114 games over the last four seasons. 110 the last two seasons. He'll be 34 when the season starts. In addition to missing lots of games, we should expect a drop off (at minimum gradually) offensively and defensively.

Whereas, Burleson has the ability to winning a batting title and hit at least 20 homers... and if he keeps improving, maybe 25-30.

The only players to hit .290 with 18 or more HRs this year were:

Aaron Judge
Bobby Witt
Vlad Guerrero
Freddie Freeman
George Springer
Bo Bichette
Yandy Diaz
Josh Naylor
Geraldo Perdomo
Alec Burleson

The combined salary for Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Freddie Freeman, George Springer, and Bo Bichette is $129,750,000 or $22 million per season.

Burleson makes $2.1 million.

I just don't understand the hate for Burlseon. The guy is a unique skill in today's game of hitting for high average and pop. It just doesn't grow on trees. And he's probably the only Cardinal that has improved year to year.

Are you talking about the same Alec Burleson that just put up 1.9 WAR this season and has 2.3 for his career?

Thanks. That's what I figured. That hate comes from the computer geek stat nerds that destroyed the game with fake, subjective, made up stats

[Carp4Cy]

Burly will be in LF/DH most likely if Nado is gone

And he'll likely get plenty of starts again at 1B. Contreras ain't getting any younger and has had some injury issues in the past. Therefore, the "utility" label again in '26 is likely for Burleson.

Agree. Contreras has averaged 114 games over the last four seasons. 110 the last two seasons. He'll be 34 when the season starts. In addition to missing lots of games, we should expect a drop off (at minimum gradually) offensively and defensively.

Whereas, Burleson has the ability to winning a batting title and hit at least 20 homers... and if he keeps improving, maybe 25-30.

The only players to hit .290 with 18 or more HRs this year were:

Aaron Judge
Bobby Witt
Vlad Guerrero
Freddie Freeman
George Springer
Bo Bichette
Yandy Diaz
Josh Naylor
Geraldo Perdomo
Alec Burleson

The combined salary for Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Freddie Freeman, George Springer, and Bo Bichette is $129,750,000 or $22 million per season.

Burleson makes $2.1 million.

I just don't understand the hate for Burlseon. The guy is a unique skill in today's game of hitting for high average and pop. It just doesn't grow on trees. And he's probably the only Cardinal that has improved year to year.

Are you talking about the same Alec Burleson that just put up 1.9 WAR this season and has 2.3 for his career?

Thanks. That's what I figured. That hate comes from the computer geek stat nerds that destroyed the game with fake, subjective, made up stats

Judge hit a LOT more than 18 home runs. Still only took up a single roster spot and spot in the lineup.

[ecleme22]

Burly will be in LF/DH most likely if Nado is gone

And he'll likely get plenty of starts again at 1B. Contreras ain't getting any younger and has had some injury issues in the past. Therefore, the "utility" label again in '26 is likely for Burleson.

AB, if not traded, will see mostly OF. Also, if WC isn’t traded.

[ScotchMIrish]

How can Hererra return to catch when he can't throw out runners?