13 position players

[C-Unit]

Here's my attempt to derive, as it stands, who the 13 position players might be would be slated to be on this club for 2026.

2B Wetherholt
SS Winn
1B Burleson
LF Herrera
DH Gorman
RF Walker
3B Fermin
C Crooks
CF Scott II

IF Saggese
IF Prieto
C Pozo or Pages (one traded?)
OF Church? Koperniak?

My feeling is that it would be interesting to see more of Prieto and Fermin at the big league level than we have so far. Maybe one or both show themselves to be players.

I guess we don't know what kind of factor Nootbaar will be even if not traded because of his health. Hopefully he is gone.

[Talkin' Baseball]

Here's my attempt to derive, as it stands, who the 13 position players might be would be slated to be on this club for 2026.

2B Wetherholt
SS Winn
1B Burleson
LF Herrera
DH Gorman
RF Walker
3B Fermin
C Crooks
CF Scott II

IF Saggese
IF Prieto
C Pozo or Pages (one traded?)
OF Church? Koperniak?

My feeling is that it would be interesting to see more of Prieto and Fermin at the big league level than we have so far. Maybe one or both show themselves to be players.

I guess we don't know what kind of factor Nootbaar will be even if not traded.

Too soon to try to parse this out. There will be several changes in the next 60 days. It's fun to think about though.

[C-Unit]

Here's my attempt to derive, as it stands, who the 13 position players might be would be slated to be on this club for 2026.

2B Wetherholt
SS Winn
1B Burleson
LF Herrera
DH Gorman
RF Walker
3B Fermin
C Crooks
CF Scott II

IF Saggese
IF Prieto
C Pozo or Pages (one traded?)
OF Church? Koperniak?

My feeling is that it would be interesting to see more of Prieto and Fermin at the big league level than we have so far. Maybe one or both show themselves to be players.

I guess we don't know what kind of factor Nootbaar will be even if not traded.

Too soon to try to parse this out. There will be several changes in the next 60 days. It's fun to think about though.

Agreed. The point is there are some players who will clearly get more exposure than in years past. Probably regardless of the changes.

[Cardinals4Life]

Here's my attempt to derive, as it stands, who the 13 position players might be would be slated to be on this club for 2026.

2B Wetherholt
SS Winn
1B Burleson
LF Herrera
DH Gorman
RF Walker
3B Fermin
C Crooks
CF Scott II

IF Saggese
IF Prieto
C Pozo or Pages (one traded?)
OF Church? Koperniak?

My feeling is that it would be interesting to see more of Prieto and Fermin at the big league level than we have so far. Maybe one or both show themselves to be players.

I guess we don't know what kind of factor Nootbaar will be even if not traded because of his health. Hopefully he is gone.

Yeah, probably way too early to tell.
As of now, we still have Contreras and Nado and Donovan.
I think Scott, Winn, Wetherholt and Herrera are locked in. Herrera will be the OD catcher.
Gorman will likely be at 3B (sadly). Walker probably in RF (sadly).
Burleson will probably be at 1B if Willy is traded. If not, probably at DH. Maybe LF.

I think Saggese will be the UT infielder. Church likely the 4th OFer.

Backup C? Who knows. Depends on moves made.

[rockondlouie]

Here's my attempt to derive, as it stands, who the 13 position players might be would be slated to be on this club for 2026.

2B Wetherholt
SS Winn
1B Burleson
LF Herrera
DH Gorman
RF Walker
3B Fermin
C Crooks
CF Scott II

IF Saggese
IF Prieto
C Pozo or Pages (one traded?)
OF Church? Koperniak?

My feeling is that it would be interesting to see more of Prieto and Fermin at the big league level than we have so far. Maybe one or both show themselves to be players.

I guess we don't know what kind of factor Nootbaar will be even if not traded because of his health. Hopefully he is gone.

We'll have to see when the dust settles from the trades.

But I don't see them playing I. Hererra being in LF (and I was the one who floated the OF idea in 2024 so you know I'd like to see it).

Also don't see Fermin at 3rd base, they're going w/Norman unless NADO isn't dealt.

If NADO's here, then you can bet the house Oli will ink him in at 3rd base ( ).

From what we can gather they may even try Herrera again behind the plate (YIKES!) and if not, then he'll be at DH if Norman is at 3rd base.

But too many balls up in the air (is Donny dealt.........how about WillyC........NADO?) for us to really make a decent call.

Stay tuned.

[moose-and-squirrel]

no thx on that lineup

[C-Unit]

Here's my attempt to derive, as it stands, who the 13 position players might be would be slated to be on this club for 2026.

2B Wetherholt
SS Winn
1B Burleson
LF Herrera
DH Gorman
RF Walker
3B Fermin
C Crooks
CF Scott II

IF Saggese
IF Prieto
C Pozo or Pages (one traded?)
OF Church? Koperniak?

My feeling is that it would be interesting to see more of Prieto and Fermin at the big league level than we have so far. Maybe one or both show themselves to be players.

I guess we don't know what kind of factor Nootbaar will be even if not traded because of his health. Hopefully he is gone.

We'll have to see when the dust settles from the trades.

But I don't see them playing I. Hererra being in LF (and I was the one who floated the OF idea in 2024 so you know I'd like to see it).

Also don't see Fermin at 3rd base, they're going w/Norman unless NADO isn't dealt.

If NADO's here, then you can bet the house Oli will ink him in at 3rd base ( ).

From what we can gather they may even try Herrera again behind the plate (YIKES!) and if not, then he'll be at DH if Norman is at 3rd base.

But too many balls up in the air (is Donny dealt.........how about WillyC........NADO?) for us to really make a decent call.

Stay tuned.

I don't understand what is to gain by putting Herrera back to C.

Yes, in mine you could have Herrera DH, Gorman 3B, and Fermin LF. That very well could be how it goes.

Maybe they will add a 1 year veteran OF when it's all said and done.

[Hoosier59]

News I read was that Wetherholt was thinking about playing in the WBC. If he does, it concerns me if he will break camp with the Cardinals. They might send him to AAA. I’d like for him to spend all of camp with the team in order to impress them and not give them any excuses to not keep him on opening day.
Also there’s talk of trying Scott at lead off! I wish he could be the lead off hitter, but he hasn’t shown that ability so far. Maybe this Spring will be different.

[Cardinals4Life]

News I read was that Wetherholt was thinking about playing in the WBC. If he does, it concerns me if he will break camp with the Cardinals. They might send him to AAA. I’d like for him to spend all of camp with the team in order to impress them and not give them any excuses to not keep him on opening day.
Also there’s talk of trying Scott at lead off! I wish he could be the lead off hitter, but he hasn’t shown that ability so far. Maybe this Spring will be different.

Where have you heard this?
This is where we all hoped he could grow into. Still going to have to have someone major changes in his approach for that to happen, imo.

[Just Whit]

I doubt Crooks will be on the team with Herrera and Pages. They will have Pozo nearby if they need him unless they end the Herrera experiment totally.

[cardstatman]

It would be good news if Wetherholt isn't on the 40-man roster until after April. The Cards gain another year of control and Wetherholt could be an excellent player in 2032. Why waste that year for one month in a year the Cards are among the worst teams in MLB.

The Cards need to get a look at Church, Fermin, Saggese, Torres, Prieto, Crooks in 2026.

I'm afraid they may instead stare in disbelief at Gorman, Walker, Pozo, and Burleson for another season. When they fail and we no longer have them, we still won't know what we have.

Maybe a fair results-based competion for playing time would be an idea? If you can't beat out those competitors head to head, then maybe you aren't MLB material.

[Cardinals4Life]

Here's my attempt to derive, as it stands, who the 13 position players might be would be slated to be on this club for 2026.

2B Wetherholt
SS Winn
1B Burleson
LF Herrera
DH Gorman
RF Walker
3B Fermin
C Crooks
CF Scott II

IF Saggese
IF Prieto
C Pozo or Pages (one traded?)
OF Church? Koperniak?

My feeling is that it would be interesting to see more of Prieto and Fermin at the big league level than we have so far. Maybe one or both show themselves to be players.

I guess we don't know what kind of factor Nootbaar will be even if not traded because of his health. Hopefully he is gone.

We'll have to see when the dust settles from the trades.

But I don't see them playing I. Hererra being in LF (and I was the one who floated the OF idea in 2024 so you know I'd like to see it).

Also don't see Fermin at 3rd base, they're going w/Norman unless NADO isn't dealt.

If NADO's here, then you can bet the house Oli will ink him in at 3rd base ( ).

From what we can gather they may even try Herrera again behind the plate (YIKES!) and if not, then he'll be at DH if Norman is at 3rd base.

But too many balls up in the air (is Donny dealt.........how about WillyC........NADO?) for us to really make a decent call.

Stay tuned.

I don't understand what is to gain by putting Herrera back to C.

Yes, in mine you could have Herrera DH, Gorman 3B, and Fermin LF. That very well could be how it goes.

Maybe they will add a 1 year veteran OF when it's all said and done.

Despite the prevailing thoughts on CardsTalk about Herrera, he has what it takes to be an outstanding catcher at the MLB level. Have seen him firsthand a lot throughout the minors and he had the ability to command his team in the same way Yadi did. I think he will surprise most of the naysayers on this site. Could be wrong, but I'd bet on Herrera.

[TheFantasyStud]

C) Herrera / Crooks
1B) Burleson
2B) Saggase
3B) Wetherholt
SS) Winn
LF) Nootbaar
CF) Scott II
RF) Walker
DH) Gorman

B) Fermin
B) Church
B) Prieto

That's my best guess assuming we trade Arenado, Donavan and Contreras.
I'd prefer to keep Donavan and Contreras, which would bump Saggase to the bench and Prieto back to AAA. Burleson to DH With Gorman sharing time at DH, 3B, and 2B.

[AZ_Cardsfan]

Wondering if they might swap Herrera and Burleson if that is the starting lineup. Herrera might end up a 1B/DH and maybe Burleson is better in LF.

Dunno.

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

I know some of the comments indicate that they want to move on from Nado, but his market is non-existent unless you are eating all his salary. I don't see that happening, he's the 3rd baseman if healthy.

Now what's interesting to me is how the DH / 1st base will work out if WC is moved and who fills in for Donovan if/when (I truly believe he is moved) and with the outside shoot of Noot being moved that would be interesting as well.

[ScotchMIrish]

I wonder if any team has tried 12 position players and 14 pitchers in the universal DH era. I ask because of Marmol's tendency to leave a SP in to throw a designated number of pitches when he is struggling in order to save the bullpen. Pinch hitters and double switches don't happen as frequently as in the past.