Will Bloom find a hitter to replace Contreras in the lineup?

[NYCardsFan]

Burleson will replace Contreras and Contreras will not be missed.

I also look for a great year from Walker. At 23 going on 24 it will be his time. I'm not always optimistic, but one more bat and another starting pitcher I believe they will contend the NLC.

Everyone knows me by now; I don't make these predictions very often.

That would be ideal. If Walker could match something comparable to Contreras' '25 production. That could fill the current void in the MOTO. However, that is a huge "if" going into '26.

When is Burleson going to “match something comparable to Contreras’ [sic] ‘25 production”? That would be worth almost an extra win Y/Y right there.

[Shady]

Going to be tough to find someone of that caliber when they're not going to spend any "real' money this season.

Best we can hope for is when he deals Donny it brings back a young hitter ready to make the jump to MLB sometime in 2026, no later than 2027.

"Going to be tough to find someone of that caliber when they're not going to spend any "real' money this season". Wouldn't it be nice to save enough money in an Arenado trade to appropriate towards that?

[rockondlouie]

Going to be tough to find someone of that caliber when they're not going to spend any "real' money this season.

Best we can hope for is when he deals Donny it brings back a young hitter ready to make the jump to MLB sometime in 2026, no later than 2027.

"Going to be tough to find someone of that caliber when they're not going to spend any "real' money this season". Wouldn't it be nice to save enough money in an Arenado trade to appropriate towards that?

It would, but BDWJr is likely to eat 75% of NADO's deal just so C. Bloom can even get back a mid level prospect.

[11WSChamps]

I've been told by the well wishers here that his bat will easily be replaced for 2026.

So for a team that isnt looking to add a lot of payroll how is that going to happen?

Donovan isnt going to bring you such a bat at a controlled cost. A package of Donavan and a high end prospect wouldn't make sense given what the Cardinals are preaching unless perhaps one of their catching prospects are included but doubtful.

If the team was interested in feeling the need to have a bat such as Contreras for 2026 they wouldn't have traded him and his salary.

It won’t be hard to replace

Ok so who's going to replace him?

No more delusional [nonsense] let's have some names and what it will cost in players and money.

Well burleson can easily replace his numbers when healthy he hit 21 home runs and drove in 78 so if he is healthy he will easily replace Contreras numbers so then it’s who can replace bursleons 18 home runs and 69 rbi and that wil be even easier to replace. Like I said you instant gratification need the team and offseason to be competed now crowd don’t like it but bloom clearly laid out his plan and at the end of the offseason you will see he did indeed keep his plan of not giving up on competing now while building for the future. I get it the patience for you and a lot of others to wait until the offseason is over is non existent you need instant gratification or you complain and go doom and gloom but you will see

Are you learning impaired?

I've said numerous times I'm not in the knee jerk instant oatmeal crowd so stop including me in it. GOT IT?

Just as I figured you have no answer and Burleson doesn't bat right handed.

I've concluded you're in over your head in this discussion.

Logic if you can fathom that suggests acquiring a player with Contreras like production with payroll and prospects is going to be challenging given the present course Bloom is on.

I think you may be too dumb to understand that it doesn’t matter where the production comes from. Burlseon replaces Contreras numbers easily if healthy very easily then the bat he picks up just needs to replace his numbers which is 18 home runs 69 RBI and why should I have to predict an exact name who he picks up that’s dumb. And yes you are instant gratification knee jerk because you immediately started crying and whining and attacking me because I said wait until the offseason is over bloom clearly laid out his plan and has been sticking to it but nope you have to cry and whine and attack anyone who says have patience

You sound like a petulant 4 year old with that psycho rant.

Uh if you look atvyour posts the last several days you're the one attacking anyone who disagrees with you not me (donkey)(pit).

Your vocabulary consists of two words cry and whine.

You're a liar in what you've said about me here and completely over your head in any sports discussion with me.

Absolutely over your head.

Now run along boy.

[Ozziesfan41]

I've been told by the well wishers here that his bat will easily be replaced for 2026.

So for a team that isnt looking to add a lot of payroll how is that going to happen?

Donovan isnt going to bring you such a bat at a controlled cost. A package of Donavan and a high end prospect wouldn't make sense given what the Cardinals are preaching unless perhaps one of their catching prospects are included but doubtful.

If the team was interested in feeling the need to have a bat such as Contreras for 2026 they wouldn't have traded him and his salary.

It won’t be hard to replace

Ok so who's going to replace him?

No more delusional [nonsense] let's have some names and what it will cost in players and money.

Well burleson can easily replace his numbers when healthy he hit 21 home runs and drove in 78 so if he is healthy he will easily replace Contreras numbers so then it’s who can replace bursleons 18 home runs and 69 rbi and that wil be even easier to replace. Like I said you instant gratification need the team and offseason to be competed now crowd don’t like it but bloom clearly laid out his plan and at the end of the offseason you will see he did indeed keep his plan of not giving up on competing now while building for the future. I get it the patience for you and a lot of others to wait until the offseason is over is non existent you need instant gratification or you complain and go doom and gloom but you will see

Are you learning impaired?

I've said numerous times I'm not in the knee jerk instant oatmeal crowd so stop including me in it. GOT IT?

Just as I figured you have no answer and Burleson doesn't bat right handed.

I've concluded you're in over your head in this discussion.

Logic if you can fathom that suggests acquiring a player with Contreras like production with payroll and prospects is going to be challenging given the present course Bloom is on.

I think you may be too dumb to understand that it doesn’t matter where the production comes from. Burlseon replaces Contreras numbers easily if healthy very easily then the bat he picks up just needs to replace his numbers which is 18 home runs 69 RBI and why should I have to predict an exact name who he picks up that’s dumb. And yes you are instant gratification knee jerk because you immediately started crying and whining and attacking me because I said wait until the offseason is over bloom clearly laid out his plan and has been sticking to it but nope you have to cry and whine and attack anyone who says have patience

You sound like a petulant 4 year old with that psycho rant.

Uh if you look atvyour posts the last several days you're the one attacking anyone who disagrees with you not me (donkey)(pit).

Your vocabulary consists of two words cry and whine.

You're a liar in what you've said about me here and completely over your head in any sports discussion with me.

Absolutely over your head.

Now run along boy.

lol keep crying and whining and complaining that all the offseason moves haven’t been made yet

[Melville]

Burleson will replace Contreras and Contreras will not be missed.

I also look for a great year from Walker. At 23 going on 24 it will be his time. I'm not always optimistic, but one more bat and another starting pitcher I believe they will contend the NLC.

Everyone knows me by now; I don't make these predictions very often.

That would be ideal. If Walker could match something comparable to Contreras' '25 production. That could fill the current void in the MOTO. However, that is a huge "if" going into '26.

It would be foolish for STL to hope or expect to be a middle order bat to replace Contreras.
That is simply not his skill set and likely never will be.
He needs to be viewed as a potential solid #7 hitter who lengthens a lineup - and not as a potential middle order hitter.
Think Juan Encarnacion.

[11WSChamps]

I've been told by the well wishers here that his bat will easily be replaced for 2026.

So for a team that isnt looking to add a lot of payroll how is that going to happen?

Donovan isnt going to bring you such a bat at a controlled cost. A package of Donavan and a high end prospect wouldn't make sense given what the Cardinals are preaching unless perhaps one of their catching prospects are included but doubtful.

If the team was interested in feeling the need to have a bat such as Contreras for 2026 they wouldn't have traded him and his salary.

It won’t be hard to replace

Ok so who's going to replace him?

No more delusional [nonsense] let's have some names and what it will cost in players and money.

Well burleson can easily replace his numbers when healthy he hit 21 home runs and drove in 78 so if he is healthy he will easily replace Contreras numbers so then it’s who can replace bursleons 18 home runs and 69 rbi and that wil be even easier to replace. Like I said you instant gratification need the team and offseason to be competed now crowd don’t like it but bloom clearly laid out his plan and at the end of the offseason you will see he did indeed keep his plan of not giving up on competing now while building for the future. I get it the patience for you and a lot of others to wait until the offseason is over is non existent you need instant gratification or you complain and go doom and gloom but you will see

Are you learning impaired?

I've said numerous times I'm not in the knee jerk instant oatmeal crowd so stop including me in it. GOT IT?

Just as I figured you have no answer and Burleson doesn't bat right handed.

I've concluded you're in over your head in this discussion.

Logic if you can fathom that suggests acquiring a player with Contreras like production with payroll and prospects is going to be challenging given the present course Bloom is on.

I think you may be too dumb to understand that it doesn’t matter where the production comes from. Burlseon replaces Contreras numbers easily if healthy very easily then the bat he picks up just needs to replace his numbers which is 18 home runs 69 RBI and why should I have to predict an exact name who he picks up that’s dumb. And yes you are instant gratification knee jerk because you immediately started crying and whining and attacking me because I said wait until the offseason is over bloom clearly laid out his plan and has been sticking to it but nope you have to cry and whine and attack anyone who says have patience

You sound like a petulant 4 year old with that psycho rant.

Uh if you look atvyour posts the last several days you're the one attacking anyone who disagrees with you not me (donkey)(pit).

Your vocabulary consists of two words cry and whine.

You're a liar in what you've said about me here and completely over your head in any sports discussion with me.

Absolutely over your head.

Now run along boy.

lol keep crying and whining and complaining that all the offseason moves haven’t been made yet

Predictable moron response.

Find the sandbox forum. That's your speed junior.

[Cardinals4Life]

If so, the Cardinals could be pretty good in '26. Keys will be 1) finding a hitter to replace Contreras' production 2) Donovan still being in the lineup 3) the starting pitchers maintaining their health 4) how much Wetherholt will help the team 4) Walker's and Gorman's progress/production.

Shady,

I just dont see anyone available that is going to get our offense to a contending level. After trading away Gray and Contreras (and likely Donovan, Nado, and Romero), this team looks to be pretty bare boned. As much as I want them to be competitive this year, I realistically just don't think it'll happen.

[TheFantasyStud]

Bader with 3.9 War, 17 HR, .277 BA, .347 BOP, .796 OPS, OPS+117 in 448 at bats is the perfect fit. Assuming he is priced fairly.
He could be the perfect 4th outfielder and platoon with Nootbaar, Scott on lefty pitchers. ‘

Our bench could be pretty versatile and strong with Crooks, Saggase, Fermin and Bader.

[Shady]

If so, the Cardinals could be pretty good in '26. Keys will be 1) finding a hitter to replace Contreras' production 2) Donovan still being in the lineup 3) the starting pitchers maintaining their health 4) how much Wetherholt will help the team 4) Walker's and Gorman's progress/production.

Shady,

I just dont see anyone available that is going to get our offense to a contending level. After trading away Gray and Contreras (and likely Donovan, Nado, and Romero), this team looks to be pretty bare boned. As much as I want them to be competitive this year, I realistically just don't think it'll happen.

It may come down to starting pitching. I feel the staff is positioned to be improved over last season. And, right now, I am confident in Bloom finding the needed hitter to help the offense in '26.

[Shady]

Bader with 3.9 War, 17 HR, .277 BA, .347 BOP, .796 OPS, OPS+117 in 448 at bats is the perfect fit. Assuming he is priced fairly.
He could be the perfect 4th outfielder and platoon with Nootbaar, Scott on lefty pitchers. ‘

Our bench could be pretty versatile and strong with Crooks, Saggase, Fermin and Bader.

Bader could probably help out. But Bloom may be more focused on finding a younger option.

[ecleme22]

Bader with 3.9 War, 17 HR, .277 BA, .347 BOP, .796 OPS, OPS+117 in 448 at bats is the perfect fit. Assuming he is priced fairly.
He could be the perfect 4th outfielder and platoon with Nootbaar, Scott on lefty pitchers. ‘

Our bench could be pretty versatile and strong with Crooks, Saggase, Fermin and Bader.

Bader could probably help out. But Bloom may be more focused on finding a younger option.

I’m guessing he’s focused on a 1yr vet.

[Shady]

Bader with 3.9 War, 17 HR, .277 BA, .347 BOP, .796 OPS, OPS+117 in 448 at bats is the perfect fit. Assuming he is priced fairly.
He could be the perfect 4th outfielder and platoon with Nootbaar, Scott on lefty pitchers. ‘

Our bench could be pretty versatile and strong with Crooks, Saggase, Fermin and Bader.

Bader could probably help out. But Bloom may be more focused on finding a younger option.

I’m guessing he’s focused on a 1yr vet.

One way or the other. Bloom seems to have a viable plan.

[zuck698]

Shady wrote: ↑23 Dec 2025 16:57 pm
Both are 21. It seems Eldridge is more advanced. Bloom seems to have fortified the starting pitching prospects in the organization. His focus now should probably be adding a young power hitter. Unfortunately, trading Donovan may be be the primary avenue to do that.

What happened to your Dominguez and Lagrange from the Yankees trade?


Still waiting for you to answer the bolded? This is your 6th post almost identical to this O.P. Maybe you will answer this one? If we are not trading Donnie, then what is your trade to bring in a "number 3" hitter? You think trading N.A. will bring us that?

[Hoosier59]

Bader is looking for a 3 year deal, I believe over 30 mil value. Dewitt won’t go for that.
Also Shady, no way Oli bats 4 left hand hitters in a row. In your Lineup, Wetherholt, Donovan, Burleson, and Scott will be hitting 9th.
You need to mix in Herrera and Winn amongst those four.
I know how I’d bat them, but I’m sure that’s not how Oli will do it, but he won’t line them up that way.

[Shady]

Bader is looking for a 3 year deal, I believe over 30 mil value. Dewitt won’t go for that.
Also Shady, no way Oli bats 4 left hand hitters in a row. In your Lineup, Wetherholt, Donovan, Burleson, and Scott will be hitting 9th.
You need to mix in Herrera and Winn amongst those four.
I know how I’d bat them, but I’m sure that’s not how Oli will do it, but he won’t line them up that way.

How would you bat them?