Cardinal Nation on Bernal as #5 Prospect

[hugeCardfan]

A free look:

https://thecardinalnation.com/tcn-2026- ... do-bernal/

[peterman'srealitytour]

Good article. Thanks for posting this.

[TheFantasyStud]

I remember a couple years ago an investment offer article on the post dispatch where fans could invest in Bernal. Helping him financially then for a % of his future MLB earnings. Did anybody participate? I wanted to and have regretted that I didn't do it. I think it might pay some nice dividends for anyone who did.

[Jatalk]

Considering all the prospects and roster catchers in the organization, it will be extremely interesting to see what the Bloom regime does regarding trades. In some ways this is the most important decision he has to make.

[Melville]

Considering all the prospects and roster catchers in the organization, it will be extremely interesting to see what the Bloom regime does regarding trades. In some ways this is the most important decision he has to make.

Absolutely correct.
And though it is not popular nor understood, the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION is to trade Bernal to address positions of greater need.

[Jatalk]

Considering all the prospects and roster catchers in the organization, it will be extremely interesting to see what the Bloom regime does regarding trades. In some ways this is the most important decision he has to make.

Absolutely correct.
And though it is not popular nor understood, the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION is to trade Bernal to address positions of greater need.

I’m not smart enough to evaluate the players but I am smart enough to know what I want in a catcher. Sure I want him to hit but my main priority is defense and the knowledge to control the staff and frankly the game. Pitch framing, blocking, arm strength, and brains. Those are my priorities

[2ninr]

Considering all the prospects and roster catchers in the organization, it will be extremely interesting to see what the Bloom regime does regarding trades. In some ways this is the most important decision he has to make.

Absolutely correct.
And though it is not popular nor understood, the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION is to trade Bernal to address positions of greater need.

I understand it Mel. If Bernal doesn't continue an upward trajectory in aaa his value craters. But his ceiling is much higher than Crooks. I've thought about it, and I would keep them all. But-You may be right
I may be crazy
Oh, but it just may be a lunatic you're looking for
Turn out the light
Don't try to save me
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right

[3dender]

Considering all the prospects and roster catchers in the organization, it will be extremely interesting to see what the Bloom regime does regarding trades. In some ways this is the most important decision he has to make.

Absolutely correct.
And though it is not popular nor understood, the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION is to trade Bernal to address positions of greater need.

The correct baseball decision is to trade Crooks, who does not have as high a ceiling as Bernal.

The correct baseball decision is to plan for a Bernal/Rodriguez catching platoon starting in 2028... assuming Herrera doesn't become as good as Rodriguez defensively.

[2ninr]

I think a lot of things are dependent on how well Bernal shows at aaa and Rodriguez's development at the position. Crooks doesn't have the ceiling of either player. But trading any of those 3 might not be in their plans unless it's to make something else happen that they really want. It's like starting pitching prospects. The more bullets the better.

[hugeCardfan]

Bernal is recognized for his work ethic. He gives 110% daily and throughout the winter. He'll be better and more prepared this spring. I would only consider trading him if Crooks becomes a star.

[Melville]

Considering all the prospects and roster catchers in the organization, it will be extremely interesting to see what the Bloom regime does regarding trades. In some ways this is the most important decision he has to make.

Absolutely correct.
And though it is not popular nor understood, the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION is to trade Bernal to address positions of greater need.

I’m not smart enough to evaluate the players but I am smart enough to know what I want in a catcher. Sure I want him to hit but my main priority is defense and the knowledge to control the staff and frankly the game. Pitch framing, blocking, arm strength, and brains. Those are my priorities

My priorities are for STL to make CORRECT BASEBALL DECISIONS.
Bernal is a quality prospect and may well be at the top of his value - and STL should leverage that to fill far more pressing needs.
By the way, when you typed 'Pitch framing, blocking, arm strength, and brains" you perfectly described Crooks - who STL has under control for the next 6 years.
Bernal is expendable.

[Talkin' Baseball]

Considering all the prospects and roster catchers in the organization, it will be extremely interesting to see what the Bloom regime does regarding trades. In some ways this is the most important decision he has to make.

Absolutely correct.
And though it is not popular nor understood, the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION is to trade Bernal to address positions of greater need.

I’m not smart enough to evaluate the players but I am smart enough to know what I want in a catcher. Sure I want him to hit but my main priority is defense and the knowledge to control the staff and frankly the game. Pitch framing, blocking, arm strength, and brains. Those are my priorities

My priorities are for STL to make CORRECT BASEBALL DECISIONS.
Bernal is a quality prospect and may well be at the top of his value - and STL should leverage that to fill far more pressing needs.
By the way, when you typed 'Pitch framing, blocking, arm strength, and brains" you perfectly described Crooks - who STL has under control for the next 6 years.
Bernal is expendable.

or vice versa.

[Melville]

Considering all the prospects and roster catchers in the organization, it will be extremely interesting to see what the Bloom regime does regarding trades. In some ways this is the most important decision he has to make.

Absolutely correct.
And though it is not popular nor understood, the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION is to trade Bernal to address positions of greater need.

I understand it Mel. If Bernal doesn't continue an upward trajectory in aaa his value craters. But his ceiling is much higher than Crooks. I've thought about it, and I would keep them all. But-You may be right
I may be crazy
Oh, but it just may be a lunatic you're looking for
Turn out the light
Don't try to save me
You may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right

Following the 2022 season, I was the only person on the planet who correctly advised trading Tink Hence - who many considered STL's #1 prospect.
Everyone without exception disagreed.
Everyone without exception was wrong.
I have been proven correct.
Now, his stock has fallen like a rock and STL missed a huge opportunity.
This stuff isn't hard.
There are 3 foundational questions that should guide such decisions - what are the short-term and long-term needs, what is the knowable, risk, what is the potential reward?
With Hence, asking those questions made the answer ridiculously obvious - even though I was the only person who could see it.
The same questions, applied to Bernal, make the answer just as obvious.
I can list a dozen or more STL prospects, or players at the beginning of the MLB career, whom over the past decade I advised keeping, or trading.
As far as I can recall, I have been proven correct every single time.
If Bloom can acquire the right return (which I am happy to identify) for Bernal, there is zero question that he should be traded.

[Melville]

Considering all the prospects and roster catchers in the organization, it will be extremely interesting to see what the Bloom regime does regarding trades. In some ways this is the most important decision he has to make.

Absolutely correct.
And though it is not popular nor understood, the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION is to trade Bernal to address positions of greater need.

I’m not smart enough to evaluate the players but I am smart enough to know what I want in a catcher. Sure I want him to hit but my main priority is defense and the knowledge to control the staff and frankly the game. Pitch framing, blocking, arm strength, and brains. Those are my priorities

My priorities are for STL to make CORRECT BASEBALL DECISIONS.
Bernal is a quality prospect and may well be at the top of his value - and STL should leverage that to fill far more pressing needs.
By the way, when you typed 'Pitch framing, blocking, arm strength, and brains" you perfectly described Crooks - who STL has under control for the next 6 years.
Bernal is expendable.

or vice versa.

Not quite.
Crooks is needed now.
Bernal is not and may or may not be in the future.
Which is why Crooks should be retained and Bernal dealt.

[Talkin' Baseball]

Considering all the prospects and roster catchers in the organization, it will be extremely interesting to see what the Bloom regime does regarding trades. In some ways this is the most important decision he has to make.

Absolutely correct.
And though it is not popular nor understood, the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION is to trade Bernal to address positions of greater need.

I’m not smart enough to evaluate the players but I am smart enough to know what I want in a catcher. Sure I want him to hit but my main priority is defense and the knowledge to control the staff and frankly the game. Pitch framing, blocking, arm strength, and brains. Those are my priorities

My priorities are for STL to make CORRECT BASEBALL DECISIONS.
Bernal is a quality prospect and may well be at the top of his value - and STL should leverage that to fill far more pressing needs.
By the way, when you typed 'Pitch framing, blocking, arm strength, and brains" you perfectly described Crooks - who STL has under control for the next 6 years.
Bernal is expendable.

or vice versa.

Not quite.
Crooks is needed now.
Bernal is not and may or may not be in the future.
Which is why Crooks should be retained and Bernal dealt.

Why is Crooks needed now? So we can have 3 catchers on the roster instead of 2? So we can win 75 games instead of 73?

[Melville]

Considering all the prospects and roster catchers in the organization, it will be extremely interesting to see what the Bloom regime does regarding trades. In some ways this is the most important decision he has to make.

Absolutely correct.
And though it is not popular nor understood, the CORRECT BASEBALL DECISION is to trade Bernal to address positions of greater need.

I’m not smart enough to evaluate the players but I am smart enough to know what I want in a catcher. Sure I want him to hit but my main priority is defense and the knowledge to control the staff and frankly the game. Pitch framing, blocking, arm strength, and brains. Those are my priorities

My priorities are for STL to make CORRECT BASEBALL DECISIONS.
Bernal is a quality prospect and may well be at the top of his value - and STL should leverage that to fill far more pressing needs.
By the way, when you typed 'Pitch framing, blocking, arm strength, and brains" you perfectly described Crooks - who STL has under control for the next 6 years.
Bernal is expendable.

or vice versa.

Not quite.
Crooks is needed now.
Bernal is not and may or may not be in the future.
Which is why Crooks should be retained and Bernal dealt.

Why is Crooks needed now? So we can have 3 catchers on the roster instead of 2? So we can win 75 games instead of 73?

Herrera is not an MLB catcher and never will be, while Pozo is a journeyman roster filler.
That leaves Pages and Crooks as potential viable options.
Further, 2026 is needed to evaluate Crooks at the MLB level - which is not yet needed from Bernal.
Additionally, Bernal is being pushed from below by Rodriguez.
Bernal may become a quality MLB catcher - no one is debating otherwise.
But, the organization is deep with catcher prospects and given where each is at right now, as well as where the organization is at, it is obvious that Bernal is the most obvious and appropriate trade piece option from the current group.
Bloom would be very, very foolish to pass on any quality opportunity to leverage Bernal to obtain needed talent at greater areas of need.