If Herrera catches and Contreras is at 1B

[Shady]

What will Bloom be looking for, position-wise? Assuming Wetherholt will be at either 2B or 3B. And Burleson will either be a corner outfielder or DH. I guess it depends on what Bloom does with Donovan, Nootbaar, Arenado, Gorman and Walker. Adding one power hitter upgrade in addition to whatever Wetherholt brings seems essential. Maybe a corner outfielder or DH. A 3B, maybe.

[Melville]

Herrera will not be the starting catcher next season.
The pitching staff simply will not permit it.
Pitchers forced him out of the role each of the past 2 seasons - and will do so again in 2026 if The Marmot and Bloom are idiots enough to try it again.

[Shady]

Herrera will not be the starting catcher next season.
The pitching staff simply will not permit it.
Pitchers forced him out of the role each of the past 2 seasons - and will do so again in 2026 if The Marmot and Bloom are idiots enough to try it again.

Any chance Herrera can improve at whatever aspect the pitchers have a problem with?

[Melville]

Herrera will not be the starting catcher next season.
The pitching staff simply will not permit it.
Pitchers forced him out of the role each of the past 2 seasons - and will do so again in 2026 if The Marmot and Bloom are idiots enough to try it again.

Any chance Herrera can improve at whatever aspect the pitchers have a problem with?

No.
He has been a professional catcher for 9 years - and is still nowhere near even being adequate.
He is a DH, a corner outfielder, or a trade piece.
Bloom knows that.
He is merely placating Herrera by harmlessly pretending over the off-season that there is a chance of Ivan becoming a quality MLB catcher.
There isn't.

[ramfandan]

I don't see Contreras on the 2026 team . Contreras himself told Bloom in their discussions that if the Cardinals found a deal for him that worked for WIllson and the team , he would be open to that . I believe Bloom was telling Contreras I appreciate you wanting to stay to help guide the young guys but I want you to know we are looking to go with younger guys .
As I stated, I think Bloom will do his best to trade Contreras to a good team where Willy Con will waive his NTC.

[JohnnyMO]

There will be no significant additions to the big league roster from outside the organization in 2026.

[redbirdfan51]

Trust in Bloom! This team will not be rebuilt to win next season. Bloom will need some time. I hope it will be sooner than later. Fans needs to see progress.

[CorneliusWolfe]

Herrera will not be the starting catcher next season.
The pitching staff simply will not permit it.
Pitchers forced him out of the role each of the past 2 seasons - and will do so again in 2026 if The Marmot and Bloom are idiots enough to try it again.

Any chance Herrera can improve at whatever aspect the pitchers have a problem with?

No.
He has been a professional catcher for 9 years - and is still nowhere near even being adequate.
He is a DH, a corner outfielder, or a trade piece.
Bloom knows that.
He is merely placating Herrera by harmlessly pretending over the off-season that there is a chance of Ivan becoming a quality MLB catcher.
There isn't.

Placating him after 9 years of failure as a catcher is more patronizing at this point. If Herrera is too dumb to realize this, he’s lying to himself and gullible, which means he doesn’t have the mental capacity the position demands in the first place.

[greyhawk]

Does anyone think Herrera could play 1b? if contreras insists he wants to stay why not put him back behind the plate? His contract plays really well there.

[Dicktar2023]

Herrera won't even be the second choice for catcher in 2026. At least not on the Cardinals.

[Dicktar2023]

Does anyone think Herrera could play 1b? if contreras insists he wants to stay why not put him back behind the plate? His contract plays really well there.

Because WC is also a (bleep) catcher.

WC is at first and (unless there is a huge trade) IH is your DH. Why is this hard?

The Mo era is over (allegedly). We can stop trying to fix problems that don't exist and avoiding problems that do.

[Cusecards]

Trust in Bloom! This team will not be rebuilt to win next season. Bloom will need some time. I hope it will be sooner than later. Fans needs to see progress.

Agree.....patience!!
There are so many possible directions I’ll just wait to see what Bloom does.
I would NOT:
*Do NOT move Herrera back to Catcher. He can hit. Keep him healthy. Find him a position. We have Catchers in the system who are better defensively. Worst case...he hits and we trade him for value.
*Do NOT shell out big $$ on FA pitching. Go with guys from the system. If you have to sign a vet make it a one year incentive based deal to eat innings.
*Do not PANIC and expose prospects too early. Patience. And if Oli feels the hot seat? Too bad!

[greyhawk]

Does anyone think Herrera could play 1b? if contreras insists he wants to stay why not put him back behind the plate? His contract plays really well there.

Because WC is also a (bleep) catcher.

WC is at first and (unless there is a huge trade) IH is your DH. Why is this hard?

The Mo era is over (allegedly). We can stop trying to fix problems that don't exist and avoiding problems that do.

i get it -- but if he insists he wants to stay??? is he a worse catcher than IH? first base might be a spot that IH's bat would play at.

[govman]

Herrera will not be the starting catcher next season.
The pitching staff simply will not permit it.
Pitchers forced him out of the role each of the past 2 seasons - and will do so again in 2026 if The Marmot and Bloom are idiots enough to try it again.

Any chance Herrera can improve at whatever aspect the pitchers have a problem with?

No.
He has been a professional catcher for 9 years - and is still nowhere near even being adequate.
He is a DH, a corner outfielder, or a trade piece.
Bloom knows that.
He is merely placating Herrera by harmlessly pretending over the off-season that there is a chance of Ivan becoming a quality MLB catcher.
There isn't.

Placating him after 9 years of failure as a catcher is more patronizing at this point. If Herrera is too dumb to realize this, he’s lying to himself and gullible, which means he doesn’t have the mental capacity the position demands in the first place.

plus he said he's had shoulder problems for 3 years but refused to get surgery until now