Outfield Pipeline

[rage-STL]

St Louis Cardinals
Lars Nootbaar, LH
Jordan Walker, RH
Victor Scott II, LH
Nathan Church, LH

Memphis Redbirds
Joshua Baez, RH
Chase Davis, LH
Miguel Ugueto, RH
Matt Koperniak, LH

Springfield Cardinals
Travis Honeyman, RH
Won Bin Cho, LH
Zach Levenson, RH

Peoria Chiefs
Jose Cordoba, RH
Yordalin Pena, RH
Luis Pino, RH
Jose Suarez, RH

Nootbaar feels like a prime candidate to be a trade chip at the deadline if he shows he’s healthy and able to produce coming off surgery. We all know what’s at stake for JW in 2026. Baez is the most intriguing prospect of this group because of the strides he made last year, very excited to see how he progresses this year. Honeyman and Ugueto recently competed in the Arizona fall league. From all reports it sounds like Honeyman is healthy for the first time in a long time so this is a big year coming up for him. It would be nice to see Chase Davis have a Baez like jump in production. Am I missing any outfielders with a 2-3 year timeline to reach St Louis and contribute?

Do you think any free agents are added to this mix or is this the group we’re rolling with for the foreseeable future?

[Talkin' Baseball]

There is work to be done here at every level. I will be shocked if they don't have at least one more RHB in the OF next season. From the minors, I feel certain that Baez will get a shot at some point. Chase Davis hasn't shown much with the bat so far, though he did look better in the last 1/2 of the season. Did he figure something out? I sure hope so. The Cardinals need the help and it is time for him to produce if he is going to. The only other name on your list that I have held any optimism for is Levenson. Not sure on him yet. Maybe Tyan Mitchell at some point? Help is needed.

[craviduce]

St Louis Cardinals
Lars Nootbaar, LH
Jordan Walker, RH
Victor Scott II, LH
Nathan Church, LH

Memphis Redbirds
Joshua Baez, RH
Chase Davis, LH
Miguel Ugueto, RH
Matt Koperniak, LH

Springfield Cardinals
Travis Honeyman, RH
Won Bin Cho, LH
Zach Levenson, RH

Peoria Chiefs
Jose Cordoba, RH
Yordalin Pena, RH
Luis Pino, RH
Jose Suarez, RH

Nootbaar feels like a prime candidate to be a trade chip at the deadline if he shows he’s healthy and able to produce coming off surgery. We all know what’s at stake for JW in 2026. Baez is the most intriguing prospect of this group because of the strides he made last year, very excited to see how he progresses this year. Honeyman and Ugueto recently competed in the Arizona fall league. From all reports it sounds like Honeyman is healthy for the first time in a long time so this is a big year coming up for him. It would be nice to see Chase Davis have a Baez like jump in production. Am I missing any outfielders with a 2-3 year timeline to reach St Louis and contribute?

Do you think any free agents are added to this mix or is this the group we’re rolling with for the foreseeable future?

Does Davis get promoted from Springfield? I personally wouldn't. He had to claw his way to .700 OPS in September. He just got there in time. May through August he was .600 OPS.

And Won-bin Cho should not go to Springfield. He might get cut in Spring Training.

And Pena and Pino can't hit the broadside of a barn...if they manage to make contact, it's good contact, but they miss more than you ever want a Low A player to miss.

OF is very much in trouble.

players you missed : Petrutz, Buchberger (coming back from injury, he's a LF now...probably back in Springfield, he missed most of the season after a nasty leg break in LF in April), Mike Antico, Bryan Torres (40man) will start in Memphis. Noah Mendlinger played the OF a bit in Springfield b/c of injuries to others. He's a decent bat

[Whatashame]

I think this year might still be outfield lite but it’s obviously high on the Cardinals list to finally fix. Walker is going to be given one more chance with his again winter program.

Scott is going to be given every opportunity to show he is more than a glove. Let’s see if Baez can improve on his performance last year.

Nootbaar, if not traded, will again try to show us that he’s a capable OFer. I think this time next year either we have a solid outfield or it’s a busy winter trying to fix it.

[craviduce]

Thankfully, I believe the Cards will be trading quite a bit of Pitching Depth in 2027 and 2028 to address the OF situation.

Also...we do have some infield depth in the minors....these kids can be moved to the OF, I suspect you'll see such movement beginning this spring. Padilla, Mitchell (it's reported he'll be a CF once he debuts), Gazdar, Jesus Baez...are all athletic enough to make the move to the OF.

------------

Unthankfully....the entire 2025 hitting draft class fell miserably on their faces once they debuted with Palm Beach in July/August....it's the worst debut I've ever scene from a draft class. Usually, you get a 3 or 4 debut in Peoria the following spring, I can't see any justification of moving any of the new class to Peoria, unless they impress in Spring Training.

[Shady]

A wildcard could be trading a highly rated young catcher, Crooks or Bernal, for a highly rated young outfielder.

[NYCardsFan]

A wildcard could be trading a highly rated catcher, Crooks or Bernal, for a highly rated young outfielder.

Per BTV,
Crooks: 10.4
Bernal: 11.5

What “highly rated young outfielder” do you propose they get for one of those two?

[Mort Gage]

A wildcard could be trading a highly rated catcher, Crooks or Bernal, for a highly rated young outfielder.

I think trading Burleson for a promising AA center fielder would be the right move. The Cards have enough players who can fill in at 1B during the rebuilding phase.

[Talkin' Baseball]

A wildcard could be trading a highly rated catcher, Crooks or Bernal, for a highly rated young outfielder.

I think trading Burleson for a promising AA center fielder would be the right move. The Cards have enough players who can fill in at 1B during the rebuilding phase.

I know there are others, but I keep coming back to the same 2 targets all offseason.

Alec Burleson for Carson Benge of the Mets.

Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, and JoJo Romero for Mike Sirota (OF), River Ryan and others.

If you had Benge, Sirota, and some combination of Walker, Scott, or Baez that would be worth looking at.

[sp25]

Given Noot's offseason surgeries, when is he expected to be able to play in 2026?

[craviduce]

A wildcard could be trading a highly rated catcher, Crooks or Bernal, for a highly rated young outfielder.

I think trading Burleson for a promising AA center fielder would be the right move. The Cards have enough players who can fill in at 1B during the rebuilding phase.

I know there are others, but I keep coming back to the same 2 targets all offseason.

Alec Burleson for Carson Benge of the Mets.

Brendon Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, and JoJo Romero for Mike Sirota (OF), River Ryan and others.

If you had Benge, Sirota, and some combination of Walker, Scott, or Baez that would be worth looking at.

at what point do you consider trading the CompBal A pick?

[Talkin' Baseball]

A wildcard could be trading a highly rated catcher, Crooks or Bernal, for a highly rated young outfielder.

I think trading Burleson for a promising AA center fielder would be the right move. The Cards have enough players who can fill in at 1B during the rebuilding phase.

I know there are others, but I keep coming back to the same 2 targets all offseason.

Alec Burleson for Carson Benge of the Mets.

Brendon Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, and JoJo Romero for Mike Sirota (OF), River Ryan and others.

If you had Benge, Sirota, and some combination of Walker, Scott, or Baez that would be worth looking at.

at what point do you consider trading the CompBal A pick?

Only to take a big deal over the top. For me, it would have to be a big deal where I felt like we were getting a real difference maker- or even two. It will be a deep draft and there will be someone good available there. I wouldn't even be opposed to taking Comp A picks from others in deals.

[HorseTrader]

Matt Koperniak, LH was outrighted on the 19th per MLB Trade Rumors

[Shady]

A wildcard could be trading a highly rated catcher, Crooks or Bernal, for a highly rated young outfielder.

I think trading Burleson for a promising AA center fielder would be the right move. The Cards have enough players who can fill in at 1B during the rebuilding phase.

I know there are others, but I keep coming back to the same 2 targets all offseason.

Alec Burleson for Carson Benge of the Mets.

Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, and JoJo Romero for Mike Sirota (OF), River Ryan and others.

If you had Benge, Sirota, and some combination of Walker, Scott, or Baez that would be worth looking at.

So who is a viable at 1B for the Cardinals if Burleson is traded for Benge? If you say Herrera, who is the DH without Burleson. If you say Gorman, good luck with that.

[craviduce]

A wildcard could be trading a highly rated catcher, Crooks or Bernal, for a highly rated young outfielder.

I think trading Burleson for a promising AA center fielder would be the right move. The Cards have enough players who can fill in at 1B during the rebuilding phase.

I know there are others, but I keep coming back to the same 2 targets all offseason.

Alec Burleson for Carson Benge of the Mets.

Brendon Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, and JoJo Romero for Mike Sirota (OF), River Ryan and others.

If you had Benge, Sirota, and some combination of Walker, Scott, or Baez that would be worth looking at.

at what point do you consider trading the CompBal A pick?

Only to take a big deal over the top. For me, it would have to be a big deal where I felt like we were getting a real difference maker- or even two. It will be a deep draft and there will be someone good available there. I wouldn't even be opposed to taking Comp A picks from others in deals.

the reason I ask, Sirota for the Comp A pick is something the Dodgers like to do....Lux for Cincy's Comp A pick last year. I'm not sure how each would line up.

[Talkin' Baseball]

A wildcard could be trading a highly rated catcher, Crooks or Bernal, for a highly rated young outfielder.

I think trading Burleson for a promising AA center fielder would be the right move. The Cards have enough players who can fill in at 1B during the rebuilding phase.

I know there are others, but I keep coming back to the same 2 targets all offseason.

Alec Burleson for Carson Benge of the Mets.

Brendon Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, and JoJo Romero for Mike Sirota (OF), River Ryan and others.

If you had Benge, Sirota, and some combination of Walker, Scott, or Baez that would be worth looking at.

at what point do you consider trading the CompBal A pick?

Only to take a big deal over the top. For me, it would have to be a big deal where I felt like we were getting a real difference maker- or even two. It will be a deep draft and there will be someone good available there. I wouldn't even be opposed to taking Comp A picks from others in deals.

the reason I ask, Sirota for the Comp A pick is something the Dodgers like to do....Lux for Cincy's Comp A pick last year. I'm not sure how each would line up.

I would do that if the rest of the deal were put together right. How about you?