STLtoday.com

How would you rank them defensively? Who should be the catcher(s), who should they look to deal, and who should they look to move to a new position? Personally, I think Rodriquez is most likely to be moved to another position. Should they do it now, rather than wait as they did with Gorman and Walker?

From what I’ve read and seen this is what I would do…

Herrera maybe not this year but he’s a future 1B.
I think Burly is a better OF option than Herrera. Herrera is the better hitter and and there is better catcher coming up.

Crooks, I would trade while value is high.

Bernial would be future catcher. He’s the best defensively.

Rodriquez might be our best hitter period. Not just best hitting catcher. I mean he has a chance to be our best hitter period.
I would be working him out at 3B 1B to see what his potential is.
He might bump Herrera to DH and take 1B.

FG says this about Rodriguez's catching:

Rodriguez's best defensive trait right now is his agile ball-blocking, which he makes look easy. In the event he gives up a long rebound, he's quick out of his crouch to prevent an advance, and this extends to his throwing. Rodriguez's throwing footwork needs polish, but he has an average raw arm that should play up because of his exchange and accuracy. In addition to just being a very talented baseball player, Rodriguez is also heady, poised, and competitive. He carries himself like an older lad who belongs in the mid-minors with other adults, and one can foresee him growing into the sort of person who leads your clubhouse. Teenage catching prospect caveats apply here but, man, this is an exciting player who looks like a future impact regular.

If he can stick at catcher, I would definitely leave him there. Getting plus offense out of your catcher (like a Shea Langeliers, who FG also compares him to) would be a major advantage in the future. He can always DH on days off from behind the plate.

It's not hard to see the advantage to having a catcher with plus defense and plus hitting.

With reports on his hitting prowess, it appears he may be a hit-first player at his position.
Nothing wrong with that . By his own admission, JJ Wetherholt has publicly said he has always considered him self a hit-first player.
That has been his strength and no scout has projected that he would be a Gold Glove caliber defender.

I like Leo. He suffered a terrible hitting slump last summer, but if the bat holds up, he is a man.
He carries himself well, clutch and is in control.

I believe LB is a going to be a good major league player

1. Ivan Herrera
Scouting Report
Profile: Bat-first catcher with improving defensive skills.
Offense: Advanced plate discipline, high OBP profile, line‑drive approach, and emerging gap power.
Defense: Receiving has improved; arm is average; blocking is adequate. Game-calling continues to progress.
Athleticism: Better mover than most catchers; solid durability track record.
Future Outlook
Herrera projects as a major-league regular with above-average offensive production for the position. If the defense continues trending up, he’s a long-term starter. If not, he still profiles as a high-end bat-first backup who plays 90–110 games a year. He’s the closest to being an impact MLB contributor.

2. Jimmy Crooks III
Scouting Report
Profile: Well-rounded catcher with no glaring weaknesses.
Offense: Good swing decisions, solid contact skills, and sneaky pull-side power. Not a masher, but competitive at-bats.
Defense: Strong receiver, good footwork, above-average arm strength. Leadership traits stand out.
Athleticism: Moves well behind the plate; high baseball IQ.
Future Outlook
Crooks projects as a high-floor backup or low-end regular, depending on how the bat develops. His defensive reliability gives him a strong chance to reach the majors. If the power ticks up, he could push for a timeshare role.

3. Leonardo Bernal
Scouting Report
Profile: Switch-hitting catcher with upside and youth on his side.
Offense: Shows advanced feel for contact from both sides; power projection is real as he matures physically.
Defense: Soft hands, good receiver, improving arm accuracy. Still refining game-calling and blocking.
Athleticism: Above-average athlete for the position; strong frame with room to grow.
Future Outlook
Bernal has the highest ceiling of the group outside Herrera. He could become an everyday catcher if the power and defensive consistency develop. Realistically, he’s a 2–3 years away type with a chance to jump into Top‑10 organizational status if he breaks out.

4. Rainel Rodrigues
Scouting Report
Profile: Young, projectable international catching prospect with raw tools and physical upside.
Offense: Shows flashes of bat speed and natural strength. Contact quality is ahead of his pitch recognition, which is typical for his age. Power projection is real once he fills out and refines his swing decisions.
Defense: Strong arm with good carry; blocking and receiving are still early-stage but trending positively. Footwork can get choppy, but the athletic foundation is there.
Athleticism: Moves well for a young catcher; frame suggests future strength without sacrificing mobility.
Future Outlook
Rodrigues is a long-horizon developmental prospect — think 3–5 years away. The Cardinals like his physicality and foundational tools, and if the bat matures, he could grow into a defense-first backup with some pop or, in an optimistic scenario, a timeshare catcher. He’s in the same “toolsy lottery ticket” bucket as Freddy Rodríguez, but with slightly more defensive polish at the same age.

IndCard75 wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 05:01 am From what I’ve read and seen this is what I would do…

Herrera maybe not this year but he’s a future 1B.
I think Burly is a better OF option than Herrera. Herrera is the better hitter and and there is better catcher coming up.

Crooks, I would trade while value is high.

Bernial would be future catcher. He’s the best defensively.

Rodriquez might be our best hitter period. Not just best hitting catcher. I mean he has a chance to be our best hitter period.
I would be working him out at 3B 1B to see what his potential is.
He might bump Herrera to DH and take 1B.

I think crooks is underrated.

They are all suspects

Ivan is not a catcher

"Offense: Good swing decisions, solid contact skills, and sneaky pull-side power. Not a masher, but competitive at-bats.
Defense: Strong receiver, good footwork, above-average arm strength. Leadership traits stand out."

Would that be comparable to how Yadi would have been described as a rookie? Really like the last part Leadership, that's something Yadi gave the team and the team needs. Now I'm not trying to say Crooks will be close to Yadi over the years but he might be the catcher for the next 3-5 years. If so, it would make sense to move one or more of the others to different positions, sooner rather then later. Hopefully this will sort it's self out in the 2026. First is Ivan a catcher or .......? If not then is Crooks the near future catcher or just a backup?

Lots of questions to be answered in 2026, to me that one might be as important as any of them.

cardinalsfever44 wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 07:50 am 4. Rainel Rodriguez

Scouting Report

...he could grow into a defense-first backup with some pop or, in an optimistic scenario, a timeshare catcher.

That is about the most out of line take on Rodriguez that I've seen.

He's definitely a bat-first prospect who is developing defensively.

No clue since the only one I've personally seen catch is I. Hererra, I'll wait for duce' to chime in.

But fingers crossed that R.R. is even league average since his bat could be special.

Red7 wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 01:02 am How would you rank them defensively? Who should be the catcher(s), who should they look to deal, and who should they look to move to a new position? Personally, I think Rodriquez is most likely to be moved to another position. Should they do it now, rather than wait as they did with Gorman and Walker?

Pages/Crooks should share the C job in 2026.
Herrera should never be allowed behind the plate in a MLB game unless there is an in-game 3rd catcher emergency.
Rodriguez should be given time for growth and development.
Bernal, therefore, as I have explained with perfection manty times previously, is the correct and obvious trade piece.
A history lesson might be helpful.
Going into the 2020 season, it was an unusually good year for catcher representation on the Topp 100 Fangraphs prospect list:
Rutschman (7), Bart (10), Campusano (40), Varsho (59), Murphy (62), Amaya (65), Stephenson (73), Ruiz (88).
All 8 should be in the peak years of their career.
None are stars at the position - though one may yet get there.
No more than 2 are expected to be full time starting catchers in 2026.
A couple are solid journeymen.
Bernal, though ranked well in the STL system, would rank at or near the bottom of the list above at a comparable time (worth noting he is the 11th ranked catcher on MLB's Top 100 for 2026 and 98th overall).
That is not a criticism - just a reality.
The odds of Bernal becoming a top tier starting MLB catcher are pretty slim - and since the STL system is stocked with catchers who are just as likely as Bernal to succeed (or not succeed), the obviously correct strategic decision is to trade from that depth since it is near certain that doing so will have zero long term downside and can be leveraged to add talent at areas where the organization is thin - such as outfield.
Not a knock against Bernal.
Simply a matter or probabilities, of risk, and of reward.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Melville wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 09:20 am

Red7 wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 01:02 am How would you rank them defensively? Who should be the catcher(s), who should they look to deal, and who should they look to move to a new position? Personally, I think Rodriquez is most likely to be moved to another position. Should they do it now, rather than wait as they did with Gorman and Walker?

Pages/Crooks should share the C job in 2026.
Herrera should never be allowed behind the plate in a MLB game unless there is an in-game 3rd catcher emergency.
Rodriguez should be given time for growth and development.
Bernal, therefore, as I have explained with perfection manty times previously, is the correct and obvious trade piece.
A history lesson might be helpful.
Going into the 2020 season, it was an unusually good year for catcher representation on the Topp 100 Fangraphs prospect list:
Rutschman (7), Bart (10), Campusano (40), Varsho (59), Murphy (62), Amaya (65), Stephenson (73), Ruiz (88).
All 8 should be in the peak years of their career.
None are stars at the position - though one may yet get there.
No more than 2 are expected to be full time starting catchers in 2026.
A couple are solid journeymen.
Bernal, though ranked well in the STL system, would rank at or near the bottom of the list above at a comparable time (worth noting he is the 11th ranked catcher on MLB's Top 100 for 2026 and 98th overall).
That is not a criticism - just a reality.
The odds of Bernal becoming a top tier starting MLB catcher are pretty slim - and since the STL system is stocked with catchers who are just as likely as Bernal to succeed (or not succeed), the obviously correct strategic decision is to trade from that depth since it is near certain that doing so will have zero long term downside and can be leveraged to add talent at areas where the organization is thin - such as outfield.
Not a knock against Bernal.
Simply a matter or probabilities, of risk, and of reward.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Would love to see Herrera in the OF or 1b. I love his bat.

ecleme22 wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 09:31 am

Melville wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 09:20 am

Red7 wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 01:02 am How would you rank them defensively? Who should be the catcher(s), who should they look to deal, and who should they look to move to a new position? Personally, I think Rodriquez is most likely to be moved to another position. Should they do it now, rather than wait as they did with Gorman and Walker?

Pages/Crooks should share the C job in 2026.
Herrera should never be allowed behind the plate in a MLB game unless there is an in-game 3rd catcher emergency.
Rodriguez should be given time for growth and development.
Bernal, therefore, as I have explained with perfection manty times previously, is the correct and obvious trade piece.
A history lesson might be helpful.
Going into the 2020 season, it was an unusually good year for catcher representation on the Topp 100 Fangraphs prospect list:
Rutschman (7), Bart (10), Campusano (40), Varsho (59), Murphy (62), Amaya (65), Stephenson (73), Ruiz (88).
All 8 should be in the peak years of their career.
None are stars at the position - though one may yet get there.
No more than 2 are expected to be full time starting catchers in 2026.
A couple are solid journeymen.
Bernal, though ranked well in the STL system, would rank at or near the bottom of the list above at a comparable time (worth noting he is the 11th ranked catcher on MLB's Top 100 for 2026 and 98th overall).
That is not a criticism - just a reality.
The odds of Bernal becoming a top tier starting MLB catcher are pretty slim - and since the STL system is stocked with catchers who are just as likely as Bernal to succeed (or not succeed), the obviously correct strategic decision is to trade from that depth since it is near certain that doing so will have zero long term downside and can be leveraged to add talent at areas where the organization is thin - such as outfield.
Not a knock against Bernal.
Simply a matter or probabilities, of risk, and of reward.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Would love to see Herrera in the OF or 1b. I love his bat.

And as a catcher, any catcher, but especially one who has been working on throwing, left would be a nice place for that arm.

ecleme22 wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 09:31 am

Melville wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 09:20 am

Red7 wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 01:02 am How would you rank them defensively? Who should be the catcher(s), who should they look to deal, and who should they look to move to a new position? Personally, I think Rodriquez is most likely to be moved to another position. Should they do it now, rather than wait as they did with Gorman and Walker?

Pages/Crooks should share the C job in 2026.
Herrera should never be allowed behind the plate in a MLB game unless there is an in-game 3rd catcher emergency.
Rodriguez should be given time for growth and development.
Bernal, therefore, as I have explained with perfection many times previously, is the correct and obvious trade piece.
A history lesson might be helpful.
Going into the 2020 season, it was an unusually good year for catcher representation on the Topp 100 Fangraphs prospect list:
Rutschman (7), Bart (10), Campusano (40), Varsho (59), Murphy (62), Amaya (65), Stephenson (73), Ruiz (88).
All 8 should be in the peak years of their career.
None are stars at the position - though one may yet get there.
No more than 2 are expected to be full time starting catchers in 2026.
A couple are solid journeymen.
Bernal, though ranked well in the STL system, would rank at or near the bottom of the list above at a comparable time (worth noting he is the 11th ranked catcher on MLB's Top 100 for 2026 and 98th overall).
That is not a criticism - just a reality.
The odds of Bernal becoming a top tier starting MLB catcher are pretty slim - and since the STL system is stocked with catchers who are just as likely as Bernal to succeed (or not succeed), the obviously correct strategic decision is to trade from that depth since it is near certain that doing so will have zero long term downside and can be leveraged to add talent at areas where the organization is thin - such as outfield.
Not a knock against Bernal.
Simply a matter or probabilities, of risk, and of reward.
Easy.
Obvious.
Correct.

Would love to see Herrera in the OF or 1b. I love his bat.

Agree.
Outfield is where he belongs, since the continued development of his bat is really his only pathway to a sustained quality MLB career.