Outfield

[Carp4Cy]

All the trade talk I’m reading seems to be centrally focused on getting pitching in return. When do we address the outfield? Our current roster includes good defensive outfielders that can’t hit or mediocre defensive players that also can’t hit or can hit but mediocre on defense. This is especially true if Donovan is traded.

I’m not as astute as many on CT so can someone discuss reasonable outfielders we might obtain and are MLB ready in the near term?

Honestly I see this as the most critical need. If I’m wrong excuse my ignorance.

I’ve been saying this for years.

We have no good outfielders in our system. When do we get to the actual building part of the rebuild?

The OF is going to require intentional moves. Not just waiting and paitience.

Mitchell and Baez may surprise everyone and make it.

We need 4 starting caliber OFers because someone is always hurt - plus there's the DH slot. What we have is the hurt one - Noot. The DH - Hererra, and none of the other 3 starting caliber ones. Which will be 4 holes if Noot is traded. Maybe Baez fills 1 slot, but when? Then there are still multiple holes.
There is no one in our OF who should be blocking Bloom from making trades for truly good OFers who can both Hit and Catch.

[Talkin' Baseball]

All the trade talk I’m reading seems to be centrally focused on getting pitching in return. When do we address the outfield? Our current roster includes good defensive outfielders that can’t hit or mediocre defensive players that also can’t hit or can hit but mediocre on defense. This is especially true if Donovan is traded.

I’m not as astute as many on CT so can someone discuss reasonable outfielders we might obtain and are MLB ready in the near term?

Honestly I see this as the most critical need. If I’m wrong excuse my ignorance.

I’ve been saying this for years.

We have no good outfielders in our system. When do we get to the actual building part of the rebuild?

The OF is going to require intentional moves. Not just waiting and paitience.

Mitchell and Baez may surprise everyone and make it.

We need 4 starting caliber OFers because someone is always hurt - plus there's the DH slot. What we have is the hurt one - Noot. The DH - Hererra, and none of the other 3 starting caliber ones. Which will be 4 holes if Noot is traded. Maybe Baez fills 1 slot, but when? Then there are still multiple holes.
There is no one in our OF who should be blocking Bloom from making trades for truly good OFers who can both Hit and Catch.

I guess there is no hope.

[ICCFIM2]

All the trade talk I’m reading seems to be centrally focused on getting pitching in return. When do we address the outfield? Our current roster includes good defensive outfielders that can’t hit or mediocre defensive players that also can’t hit or can hit but mediocre on defense. This is especially true if Donovan is traded.

I’m not as astute as many on CT so can someone discuss reasonable outfielders we might obtain and are MLB ready in the near term?

Honestly I see this as the most critical need. If I’m wrong excuse my ignorance.

Put Herrera in left field.

I agree with this. For all the talk that Herrera wants to catch etc., he is potentially our best hitter and will not be 26 until June 1 2026. Also, based on all the scouting reports and statistics, Leonardo Bernal is by far and away the Cards best defensive catcher. Catcher is such an important defensive position, a tandem pf Bernal plus either Crooks or Pages, I don't care which, just makes sense. The gap in Herrera's defensive skills it will take years to close. The MLs is no place for on the job training.

This OF looks a lot better if the starting group is Herrera LF, Scott CF and Walker RF with Church as the 4th OF next year assuming they trade Noot and Donovan. Baez will be AAA and the Cards are likely to pick an OF prospect as part of the trades that will still happen this winter. There really is not any depth if they trade Nootbar and Donovan as of now. But, they can sign a player, there will be trades. I am not concerned. I am more concerned if Herrera catches. That means they will need to use him as the DH on the days he doesn't catch which puts more strain on the line-up overall.

[Carp4Cy]

All the trade talk I’m reading seems to be centrally focused on getting pitching in return. When do we address the outfield? Our current roster includes good defensive outfielders that can’t hit or mediocre defensive players that also can’t hit or can hit but mediocre on defense. This is especially true if Donovan is traded.

I’m not as astute as many on CT so can someone discuss reasonable outfielders we might obtain and are MLB ready in the near term?

Honestly I see this as the most critical need. If I’m wrong excuse my ignorance.

I’ve been saying this for years.

We have no good outfielders in our system. When do we get to the actual building part of the rebuild?

The OF is going to require intentional moves. Not just waiting and paitience.

Mitchell and Baez may surprise everyone and make it.

We need 4 starting caliber OFers because someone is always hurt - plus there's the DH slot. What we have is the hurt one - Noot. The DH - Hererra, and none of the other 3 starting caliber ones. Which will be 4 holes if Noot is traded. Maybe Baez fills 1 slot, but when? Then there are still multiple holes.
There is no one in our OF who should be blocking Bloom from making trades for truly good OFers who can both Hit and Catch.

I guess there is no hope.

Its about focus. Honestly I'd like to see us focus on acquiring an elite OF and then fill in the rotation from year to year as needed. Good hitters often have more durable and predictable careers while pitchers can be more of a risk long term.

In 2004 we had an pretty great OF with Edmonds, Walker, and Sanders plus an awesome IF. But our rotation was Carp + a group of 0-2 WAR veteran SPs who ate innings and won games because their offense backed them.

[ICCFIM2]

All the trade talk I’m reading seems to be centrally focused on getting pitching in return. When do we address the outfield? Our current roster includes good defensive outfielders that can’t hit or mediocre defensive players that also can’t hit or can hit but mediocre on defense. This is especially true if Donovan is traded.

I’m not as astute as many on CT so can someone discuss reasonable outfielders we might obtain and are MLB ready in the near term?

Honestly I see this as the most critical need. If I’m wrong excuse my ignorance.

I’ve been saying this for years.

We have no good outfielders in our system. When do we get to the actual building part of the rebuild?

The OF is going to require intentional moves. Not just waiting and paitience.

Mitchell and Baez may surprise everyone and make it.

We need 4 starting caliber OFers because someone is always hurt - plus there's the DH slot. What we have is the hurt one - Noot. The DH - Hererra, and none of the other 3 starting caliber ones. Which will be 4 holes if Noot is traded. Maybe Baez fills 1 slot, but when? Then there are still multiple holes.
There is no one in our OF who should be blocking Bloom from making trades for truly good OFers who can both Hit and Catch.

I guess there is no hope.

Its about focus. Honestly I'd like to see us focus on acquiring an elite OF and then fill in the rotation from year to year as needed. Good hitters often have more durable and predictable careers while pitchers can be more of a risk long term.

In 2004 we had an pretty great OF with Edmonds, Walker, and Sanders plus an awesome IF. But our rotation was Carp + a group of 0-2 WAR veteran SPs who ate innings and won games because their offense backed them.

For certain hitters are more predictable. But every World Series team has a Carpenter/Waino. You need both. I don't think you can find a Carp/Waino year-to-year. They need to have one. They are filling up the pitching talent bucket as we speak. Hopefully one is already in the bucket. I felt really good about our IF depth with Donovan, Winn, Contreras and Wetherholdt. But, if we trade two of those 4 away, we have holes in both the IF and the OF. All this points to is that the rebuild is more than 2026.

[Jobafish]

Could be looking at
Church, Scott and Walker. Not ideal.

Not ideal for sure, but that's what it might be.

Look at it this way. Walker and Scott will by nature have better years. They are at rock bottom. Anything more from the two will go towards growth.

Also that's not the outfield you'll see in 2028 when they are trying to compete again.

In the year 2028. Three years. If they both are here, we should be doing well overall. We wouldn’t keep them if they stink.

If they’re gone, who knows the state of the outfield.

as I told Old Red, it would be sweet if the Cardinals could draft with 32nd pick .. Trevor Condon CF (see Old Red defense thread for details ).
Since he is 18 years old and entering Tenn. as Freshman this year, guess you would project him to be in minors thru 2028 ? Then hit the majors at 21 years old ? or so .
Since Bloom is looking to the future , Condon would be the type player Bloom could be seeking with our 32nd overall selection. As I told Old Red though, in one mock they had Condon going to the Brewers at pick # 25 . If he lasts til 32, that could be a very nice pick. Cardinals could use even more speed in their future lineups. A Lenny Dykstra type player.

I don’t think Condon makes it to the 32nd pick. He may not even make it to the 13th. He’s a stud. I watched one of gio rojos games and condon stroked the number 3 right handed pitcher in the country. He runs like a deer. I think he’s a better version of Pete crow Armstrong.

[C-Unit]

Could be looking at
Church, Scott and Walker. Not ideal.

Not ideal for sure, but that's what it might be.

Look at it this way. Walker and Scott will by nature have better years. They are at rock bottom. Anything more from the two will go towards growth.

Also that's not the outfield you'll see in 2028 when they are trying to compete again.

In the year 2028. Three years. If they both are here, we should be doing well overall. We wouldn’t keep them if they stink.

If they’re gone, who knows the state of the outfield.

as I told Old Red, it would be sweet if the Cardinals could draft with 32nd pick .. Trevor Condon CF (see Old Red defense thread for details ).
Since he is 18 years old and entering Tenn. as Freshman this year, guess you would project him to be in minors thru 2028 ? Then hit the majors at 21 years old ? or so .
Since Bloom is looking to the future , Condon would be the type player Bloom could be seeking with our 32nd overall selection. As I told Old Red though, in one mock they had Condon going to the Brewers at pick # 25 . If he lasts til 32, that could be a very nice pick. Cardinals could use even more speed in their future lineups. A Lenny Dykstra type player.

I don’t think Condon makes it to the 32nd pick. He may not even make it to the 13th. He’s a stud. I watched one of gio rojos games and condon stroked the number 3 right handed pitcher in the country. He runs like a deer. I think he’s a better version of Pete crow Armstrong.

I think there are other OFs in the draft that could be a factor. If AJ Gracia is still there at 13 he would be a great pick. That might be a tall wish.

[Goldfan]

How talented does a POBO have to be to miss on
TO
Bader
Carlson
Noot
Walker
And have no apparent Minor league options

[AZ_Cardsfan]

Well I think the goal is a team that can actually compete for a division title and scare some people in the playoffs by 2028. If so they should develop as many players of any kind as they can and if it's December 2027 and no OFers have stepped up free agent OFers are usually abundant.

I'm not worried about any specific position right now. More worried that we need to develop and promote some elite talent at ANY position.

[JuanAgosto]

If Johnny numb nuts Mozeliak was still around, he would hope that Nootbaar healed, Scott learned how to hit, and Walker morphed into Hank Aaron. In other words, he would sit around with his thumb up his (donkey) doing nothing. His idea of making moves was to move guys to new positions. So, Pozo may have been CF in 2026.

[zuck698]

All the trade talk I’m reading seems to be centrally focused on getting pitching in return. When do we address the outfield? Our current roster includes good defensive outfielders that can’t hit or mediocre defensive players that also can’t hit or can hit but mediocre on defense. This is especially true if Donovan is traded.

I’m not as astute as many on CT so can someone discuss reasonable outfielders we might obtain and are MLB ready in the near term?

Honestly I see this as the most critical need. If I’m wrong excuse my ignorance.

I’ve been saying this for years.

We have no good outfielders in our system. When do we get to the actual building part of the rebuild?

The OF is going to require intentional moves. Not just waiting and paitience.

Mitchell and Baez may surprise everyone and make it.

We need 4 starting caliber OFers because someone is always hurt - plus there's the DH slot. What we have is the hurt one - Noot. The DH - Hererra, and none of the other 3 starting caliber ones. Which will be 4 holes if Noot is traded. Maybe Baez fills 1 slot, but when? Then there are still multiple holes.
There is no one in our OF who should be blocking Bloom from making trades for truly good OFers who can both Hit and Catch.

Carp, I wasn't disagreeing with you. I was just pointing out the fact that we do have a couple of good outfield prospects in our system. Granted, how many years away before they make it, if they make it, that is to be determined. I think Herrera should be moved away from the catcher's spot and have him start learning the outfield now. He will be moved away from that position anyway in the near future, unless the Cards just trade all their catching prospects away. Plus, it should allow him to hit better and stay healthy. So between Mitchell, Baez, and hopefully Herrera, the future of the outfield has some hope.

Do I wish they would go out and sign or trade for a "good to great" outfielder for a change? That answer is YES, but it doesn't seem we will be trying to compete and rebuild at the same time, even though it is only Bill's money needed to do both, right now. But many here, think we can only do one at a time, and that is focus on rebuilding only. This board is almost like a political discussion around the holiday kitchen table. There doesn't seem to be any gray area for the most part. It is either one way or the other, just like left or right politically. Myself, I think there is plenty of gray area to work with and could do both compete and rebuild right now. I hear the argument "that is what we have done the last several years and no one wants to go back to that". I disagree, the money that was spent previously was spent poorly and the talent that was acquired was either not good enough or there wasn't enough of it. Bloom, with a 180-200 mil payroll may not be anything like the last several years. Compete and build at the same time. Mo was obviously terrible at both aspects. imo

[rightthinker4]

[quote=Jatalk post_id=13206522 time=<a href="tel:1765466939">1765466939</a> user_id=338097]
All the trade talk I’m reading seems to be centrally focused on getting pitching in return. When do we address the outfield? Our current roster includes good defensive outfielders that can’t hit or mediocre defensive players that also can’t hit or can hit but mediocre on defense. This is especially true if Donovan is traded.

I’m not as astute as many on CT so can someone discuss reasonable outfielders we might obtain and are MLB ready in the near term?

Honestly I see this as the most critical need. If I’m wrong excuse my ignorance.

I’ve been saying this for years.

We have no good outfielders in our system. When do we get to the actual building part of the rebuild?

The OF is going to require intentional moves. Not just waiting and paitience.
[/quote]

Going with the young guys in the outfield.

[JuanAgosto]

[quote=Jatalk post_id=13206522 time=<a href="tel:1765466939">1765466939</a> user_id=338097]
All the trade talk I’m reading seems to be centrally focused on getting pitching in return. When do we address the outfield? Our current roster includes good defensive outfielders that can’t hit or mediocre defensive players that also can’t hit or can hit but mediocre on defense. This is especially true if Donovan is traded.

I’m not as astute as many on CT so can someone discuss reasonable outfielders we might obtain and are MLB ready in the near term?

Honestly I see this as the most critical need. If I’m wrong excuse my ignorance.

I’ve been saying this for years.

We have no good outfielders in our system. When do we get to the actual building part of the rebuild?

The OF is going to require intentional moves. Not just waiting and paitience.

Going with the young guys in the outfield.
[/quote]

The rebuild is now. Bloom has a plan. John Mozeliak had no clue, no plan, and no energy to fix anything. What a putz.

[riff raff]

fusilli Mo

[11WSChamps]

Haven't addressed any longer term needs in tge OF since Craig got hurt.

No reason to believe they suddenly will now.

[Bomber1]

What we need the out field to look like this year
LF) a healthy Nootbaar with a .360 on base % and 20 + homeruns
CF) Scott II gold glove defense 75 sbs
RF) Walker to show why he was a top 5 prospect. .280 BA 25 plus homers 20 sbs neautral defender.

If those three players could do what they are capable of our outfield would be awesome. I don't want to see more experimens in the outfield with Herrera / Burleson. Donovan could play some for Noot until he's ready.

How can you possible believe Nootbaar is capable of 20+ home runs?
4 years as anointed starter and hasn’t even cracked the “vaunted” 15-HR season. He will never become the player you believe. Plus he’s a knucklehead on the bases.
Trade him asap.