The St. Louis Cardinals haven't had a smooth ride recently, but despite the ups and downs, they sit within striking distance for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. In a season that was expected to be a down year and allowing Chaim Bloom to evaluate talent before taking over as president of baseball operations next season, the Cardinals find themselves in the thick of a playoff race.
Depending on how the next two weeks shake out, the Cardinals' outlook could be wildly different at the deadline. In their current situation, the Cardinals are missing Ivan Herrera, who had been rehabbing for the past couple of days in Memphis and is expecting to return to the big league club after the All-Star Break, according to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat.
Herrera brings a thumping presence to the plate, and despite playing in half of the games that Lars Nootbaar has played, he only trails him by four home runs for the team lead. Herrera has shown that he can be the right-handed power bat that this lineup has been searching for this season, but is it enough?
Herrera will return and likely command most of the playing time as the designated hitter, causing Pedro Pagés and Yohel Pozo to continue as the tandem behind the plate. The Cardinals seem content to de-emphasize the catcher duties within Herrera's role the rest of the way.
The awaited return of Herrera may inform the Cardinals' search for a big bat, so where do they go?
If the Cardinals are going to have Herrera take up most of the at-bats in the designated hitter spot, the Cardinals should consider reevaluating their future at the catching position. Since joining the team, Pozo has hit for a .300 average and has been a serviceable backup catcher, while Pagés has commanded most of the starts behind the plate. The latter has played well defensively, guiding Sonny Gray to a one-hit Maddux on a memorable night in Cleveland, but he has been subpar offensively.
Of course, there is option that could land on the tramarket in the coming weeks.
Sean Murphy of the Atlanta Braves is in the midst of another strong season at the plate. The Cardinals would likely part with one of their catching prospects in a trade that would have a former All-Star catcher locked up through 2028.
Ultimately, someone will have to go if the the Cardinals are to fit a reliable right-handed bat into the lineup, and unless the front office is willing to part with any of their outfielders, that departure may have to come from the catching position.
Herrera’s return can also change things, as if he is the missing piece, and the Cardinals' offense comes back to life upon his return, then the Cardinals might focus entirely on their pitching staff ahead of the July 31 deadline.