After the trade of Willson Contreras to Boston, a set of circumstances that was already in play suddenly became even more prominent: the left-handed heavy nature of the Cardinals’ position player group.
Contreras was a right-handed power threat in a St. Louis lineup that is, well, lacking in that department. Ivan Herrera is labeled as the next rising slugger to pick up the mantle, but behind him, it would seem that the hope of a Jordan Walker rebound is the next-best guess at developing another answer from that side of the plate. Masyn Winn turning into the best version of himself as a legitimate on-base threat with some pop in the top third of the lineup would provide a significant boost, as well.
If we leave out Brendan Donovan and Nolan Arenado due to the expectation of their respective trades prior to spring training, the Cardinals would project to see (when healthy) Alec Burleson, Victor Scott II, Nolan Gorman and Lars Nootbaar as regular fixtures in the lineup from the left side.
Though JJ Wetherholt isn’t on the 40-man roster yet, we’re anticipating seeing him make his MLB debut in 2026 and perform as a staple of the batting order once that happens. He’s another lefty, making for at least five left-handed hitters in the tentative estimate for a 2026 Cardinals lineup.
The righties, in this scenario and as things currently stand, would look something like Herrera, Winn, Walker and a possible DH/3B candidate to play wherever Gorman isn’t—let’s call Thomas Saggese the present leader in the clubhouse for those plate appearances, with the versatile Jose Fermin still hanging around to pick up some stray opportunities.
Does that rough draft of a lineup accomplish what the Cardinals are hoping to see play out for 2026? Or do the Cardinals need to add a notable right-handed bat to the mix in order to maximize the balance of the lineup?
I think it comes down to exactly how you view the upcoming season. Is it going to be a year of building for the future by providing opportunities for those players who could still be capable of taking a step forward in the present? By performing with their opportunities in a year amid diminished expectations, perhaps some players from this group could surprise folks, playing their way into more of the long-term vision of the organization.
I would put Nootbaar, Gorman and Walker into this ‘prove-it’ category, along with Victor Scott II with regard to whether he can hit enough to justify everyday playing time on a true contender down the road.
While this notion might feel redundant after the team spent 2025 talking a lot about the concept of ‘runway’ for certain players, a year where there’s no facade of being only halfway into committing to a rebuild could be a more appropriate opportunity to exercise the endeavor.
Let these guys play, and take any positive developments among them as a win. Because the real timeline for the future of the club will come into focus based on the development of the next crop of big-league ready pitching.
Rob Cerfolio, Matt Pierpont and others who have been installed by Chaim Bloom for this purpose will help guide that revolution within the Cardinals system. If it unfolds successfully to stock the Cardinals with ample pitching talent 12 to 24 months down the road, then it will coincide with a point at which the organization can determine what holes still exist within the starting lineup on the position player side, and address them accordingly to coalesce with the arrival of the pitching.
It feels like a sound plan, and so far, the moves made by the Cardinals during this winter fall in line with what it could all become.
Ultimately, then, is it necessary to spend on a stopgap right-handed bat that could balance out the daily lineup card for the coming season, while potentially setting the stage for a similar situation to what played out last year when guys like Nolan Arenado, at times, blocked the daily inclusion of younger players in the lineup?
Sure, the lineup would be lefty heavy. But with an understanding of what 2026 is about, I’m curious why that would be considered a bug rather than a feature.
When it’s not a playoffs-or-bust mentality, allowing the lefty batters to take the more regular chance to prove themselves against left-handed pitching could give the team more of a definitive outcome on each of their profiles as hitters. The ones who don’t use the opportunity to develop into more well-rounded hitters? Well, at least the club would have that information when determining who sticks around for the long haul.
Additionally, spending cash on a righty to DH or play corner outfield or third base won’t be as likely to turn into a premium trade chip later in the summer. The market for bats at the July trade deadline isn’t usually as robust or projectable as the one for pitching—Dustin May, for example, falls into the category of arms that would hold substantial trade value if things go well for him in the first half of 2026. I’m not sure the Cardinals could pull off a similar scenario with a short-term position player acquisition.
In the end, a right-handed bat for the Cardinals lineup would provide Oli Marmol a more effective arsenal in the here and now. But if it comes at the cost of having the roster flexibility to see through the development of the rest of the players, I don't necessarily see it a ‘must-have’ for the Cardinals’ off-season shopping list.