JJ discusses possibly playing 3rd base for Cardinals

[ramfandan]

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wXiRHs3yOwc

Personally , I have always viewed him as a 2nd baseman long term.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Good. Could be a great move. Keep Donovan at second. Best infield in the league.

[AnExParrot]

He did not talk about possibly playing 3rd for the Cardinals. He talked about getting reps at 3rd in practice because the development team wants him to be a "complete infielder."

[ScotchMIrish]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

[redbirdfan51]

Good. Could be a great move. Keep Donovan at second. Best infield in the league.

I do hope JJ can play 3B. Donovan is our best hitter and a fan favorite. Love that guy.

[CCard]

Good. Could be a great move. Keep Donovan at second. Best infield in the league.

I wouldn't be against it if he can man the corner and put up some decent numbers.

[rockondlouie]

He's not going to be at 3rd base

He'll be standing on 2nd base opening day and should be inked in there all season.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Good. Could be a great move. Keep Donovan at second. Best infield in the league.

I wouldn't be against it if he can man the corner and put up some decent numbers.

It’s been awhile. Since there was a George Brett type third baseman. 40 ish years. That’s my vision.

[An Old Friend]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

You typically don’t move someone down the defensive spectrum until you have to.

And for what it’s worth, he played 35% of his innings in Memphis at either 3B (12 starts) or 2B (3 starts). It’s not like he only played SS.

[bccardsfan]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

You typically don’t move someone down the defensive spectrum until you have to.

And for what it’s worth, he played 35% of his innings in Memphis at either 3B (12 starts) or 2B (3 starts). It’s not like he only played SS.

If he actually could play 3B, then it solves some issues assuming Nado is gone. I didn't like what I saw of Gorman at 3B defensively (to put it politely on Xmas). Saggese doesn't have the arm for it. Fermin, ok, be he is a nice high avg hitter with no pop. Of course if Donovan isn't traded.... but he probably will be. I have not seen JJW throw, so no idea if he has the arm for it either, but SS requires a decent arm, so just assuming his arm is decent. Anyway, it will all sort out once ST arrives and we see who is still on the roster.

[CorneliusWolfe]

Good. Could be a great move. Keep Donovan at second. Best infield in the league.

Even if the power doesn't exactly play for the position, I think he'd be close and could make up for it in other aspects. I've said for a few years now that if Arenado would shorten his swing and stop trying to hit for power and be more of a Skip Schumaker-type slap hitter. He'd probably hit close to .300 and with his defense, he could've still been a good contributor.

[CrazyForMyRedbirdsInLA]

JJ and Winn up the middle for next 10 years, nuff said

[An Old Friend]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

You typically don’t move someone down the defensive spectrum until you have to.

And for what it’s worth, he played 35% of his innings in Memphis at either 3B (12 starts) or 2B (3 starts). It’s not like he only played SS.

If he actually could play 3B, then it solves some issues assuming Nado is gone. I didn't like what I saw of Gorman at 3B defensively (to put it politely on Xmas). Saggese doesn't have the arm for it. Fermin, ok, be he is a nice high avg hitter with no pop. Of course if Donovan isn't traded.... but he probably will be. I have not seen JJW throw, so no idea if he has the arm for it either, but SS requires a decent arm, so just assuming his arm is decent. Anyway, it will all sort out once ST arrives and we see who is still on the roster.

I’d be hesitant to characterize Fermin as having “no pop” - in 146 games at Memphis, he has 39 doubles, 19 HR, and 41 SB with high walk and low strikeout rates. I think I’d rather see Fermin and Wetherholt over Saggese and Wetherholt.

[Talkin' Baseball]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

You typically don’t move someone down the defensive spectrum until you have to.

And for what it’s worth, he played 35% of his innings in Memphis at either 3B (12 starts) or 2B (3 starts). It’s not like he only played SS.

If he actually could play 3B, then it solves some issues assuming Nado is gone. I didn't like what I saw of Gorman at 3B defensively (to put it politely on Xmas). Saggese doesn't have the arm for it. Fermin, ok, be he is a nice high avg hitter with no pop. Of course if Donovan isn't traded.... but he probably will be. I have not seen JJW throw, so no idea if he has the arm for it either, but SS requires a decent arm, so just assuming his arm is decent. Anyway, it will all sort out once ST arrives and we see who is still on the roster.

I’d be hesitant to characterize Fermin as having “no pop” - in 146 games at Memphis, he has 39 doubles, 19 HR, and 41 SB with high walk and low strikeout rates. I think I’d rather see Fermin and Wetherholt over Saggese and Wetherholt.

Fermin gets no love. I kind of get it. You look at him and say, "what is his carrying tool"? But, to be fair to the player, at what level, or in what role has he failed? He's done pretty well everywhere he has been tried. Don't put players like that in a box. Let them show you what they can, and can't do. He'll tell you when he has reached his limit. It is called opportunity.

[ScotchMIrish]

I still haven't heard a rational explanation of why he was at SS in the minor leagues in 2025 when that is the only position on the infield that he will not play.

You typically don’t move someone down the defensive spectrum until you have to.

And for what it’s worth, he played 35% of his innings in Memphis at either 3B (12 starts) or 2B (3 starts). It’s not like he only played SS.

If he actually could play 3B, then it solves some issues assuming Nado is gone. I didn't like what I saw of Gorman at 3B defensively (to put it politely on Xmas). Saggese doesn't have the arm for it. Fermin, ok, be he is a nice high avg hitter with no pop. Of course if Donovan isn't traded.... but he probably will be. I have not seen JJW throw, so no idea if he has the arm for it either, but SS requires a decent arm, so just assuming his arm is decent. Anyway, it will all sort out once ST arrives and we see who is still on the roster.

Wouldn't it be nice to know that already? The only position he won't play in St Louis is SS and yet that's where they had him in the minors.

[82birds]

JJ and Winn up the middle for next 10 years, nuff said

that is my preference also