# Constructing a Postseason Roster for the Cardinals

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/constructing-a-postseason-roster-for-the-cardinals/
- Published: 2021-09-29T11:54:39-05:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

Now that the Cardinals have clinched a playoff spot, it’s safe to look at who would
be available to the team in October. 2 things to remember is the roster construction
can change between rounds, and only players on the 40-man roster prior to September
1st are eligible for postseason play (except if they are an injury replacement –
AKA the [Francisco Rodriguez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=rodrifr04,rodrifr03&search=Francisco+Rodriguez&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
rule).

The starting 8 should be set:

C – [Yadier Molina](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/molinya01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)

1B – [Paul Goldschmidt](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/goldspa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
2B – [Tommy Edman](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/edmanto01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
3B – [Nolan Arenado](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arenano01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
SS – [Edmundo Sosa](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sosaed01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
LF – [Tyler O’Neill](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/oneilty01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
CF – [Harrison Bader](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/baderha01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
RF – [Dylan Carlson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=carlsdy01,carlso001dyl&search=Dylan+Carlson&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)

For the wild card round, the Cardinals should expand their bench. They only need
to carry 1 starting pitcher and a normal bullpen, meaning they can add a few bats
to the bench. [Andrew Knizner](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kniznan01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
[Paul DeJong](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dejonpa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
[Jose Rondon](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rondojo02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
and [Lars Nootbaar](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nootbla01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)(
see next paragraph) should be givens.

Note on Nootbaar: While he’s been [announced for the Arizona Fall League](https://www.nyrdcast.com/2021/09/cardinals-announce-2021-arizona-fall-league-selections/),
he’ll stay with the Cardinals per Derrick Goold:

> Hicks was never part of that plan.
> Nootbaar will stay with MLB team.
> — Derrick Goold (@dgoold) [September 29, 2021](https://x.com/dgoold/status/1443215387991154689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Right now, the Cardinals have a 5-man bench and we know 4 of the locks. I’d include
[Ali Sanchez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sanchal04.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
to have an extra catcher; this also frees up Knizner as a pinch-hitter. That leaves
[Ivan Herrera](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=herrer002iva&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
[Matt Carpenter](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=carpema01,carpen003mat&search=Matt+Carpenter&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
[Justin Williams](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=williju02,willia006jus,willia008jus,willia005jus&search=Justin+Williams&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
and [Austin Dean](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=deanau01,dean--001aus&search=Austin+Dean&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
as the available fielders on the 40-man roster (although Dean is on the IL at Memphis);
[Max Moroff](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morofma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
is on the 60-Day IL and is [not available after June shoulder surgery](https://redbirdrants.com/2021/06/07/st-louis-cardinals-news-max-moroff/).
Carpenter probably gets the nod for the Wild Card round because of experience; his
current play probably means he’s the last guy they’d use. I don’t see Williams or
Dean being called up, as neither were all that impressive this season. Herrera is
getting his first taste of Triple A, so I don’t think they’d throw him into the 
playoff picture.

As much as I don’t like it, the Cardinals will probably use the same 6-man bench
if they advance past the Wild Card round. Carpenter is a liability in the field 
and unreliable with the bat; he’s essentially an out waiting to happen. The front
of the bench looks strong, but the front office needs to be held accountable for
the lack of options available for the back end. Carp probably should have been let
go a while ago. They traded off [Lane Thomas](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=thomala02,thomas001lan&search=Lane+Thomas&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)(
who could be lumped with Williams and Dean) and let [John Nogowski](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nogowjo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
walk (who wouldn’t have helped either). There have been options available on the
market; [Maikel Franco](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/francma02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
[Adam Eaton](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=eatonad02,eatonad01&search=Adam+Eaton&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
[Marwin Gonzalez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gonzama01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
[Josh Reddick](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reddijo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
[David Dahl](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dahlda01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
[Pablo Sandoval](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sandopa01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
[Ender Inciarte](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/i/inciaen01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
and [Nomar Mazara](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mazarno01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
are all veterans that had varying degrees of MLB success that were released in July
or August. They might not have been the best upgrades, but people thought the same
things about [Luis Garcia](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=garcilu03,garcilu05,garcilu04,garcilu02,garcilu01,garcia029lui,garcia017lui,garcia022lui,garcia023lui,garcia028lui,garcia021lui&search=Luis+Garcia&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
and [T.J. McFarland](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcfartj01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-).

So, 8 starters and a 6 man bench; you’ll have 12 spots for pitching.

In the Wild Card round, that gives you a starter and 11 relievers. [Adam Wainwright](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wainwad01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
is your go to pitcher in a do or die game; he’s a no brainers. You’ll probably want
[Jon Lester](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lestejo01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
and [Miles Mikolas](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mikolmi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
as depth if Waino can’t go long. You have recently returned starters [Jack Flaherty](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/flaheja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
and [Dakota Hudson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hudsoda02.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
that are being used in short stints right now that make sense. With the final 7 
spots, you go with your typical bullpen: [Alex Reyes](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=reyesal02,reyes-001ale&search=Alex+Reyes&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
[Giovanny Gallegos](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gallegi01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
[Genesis Cabrera](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cabrege01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
Garcia, McFarland, [Kwang Hyun Kim](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kimkw01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
and [Andrew Miller](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=millean01,miller018and,miller016and,miller019and,miller017and&search=Andrew+Miller&utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-).
I’d want to add [Jordan Hicks](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hicksjo03.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-),
but as Goold stated in the tweet above, he’s not an option for the team.

If Hudson isn’t available, or proves ineffective the rest of the week, [](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodfja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
[Jake Woodford](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/woodfja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
is the best option for that spot.

If you advance past the Wild Card round, you’ll need another starter. The team could
get away with a bullpen game in Game 4 (if it’s not do or die at that point); Flaherty,
Hudson/Woodford, and Kim could eat the bulk of the innings. There are 2 other options:
dropping a typical reliever (Miller, KK, or Hudson/Woodford) and adding [J.A. Happ](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/happja01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-)
as your 4th starter, or dropping Carpenter for Happ. Carp has no value, but 12 pitchers
might be overkill.

Trying to put together a roster for the postseason really shows the short comings
of the Cardinals when you look at what the [Dodgers](https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/2021.shtml)
and [Giants](https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/2021.shtml) can throw 
at you; both teams are a lot deeper then the Cardinals. The good news is we’ll be
facing one of these teams in a 1-game series where anything can happen; it’s often
about who’s the hot team, not the best team. In that case, the Cardinals are looking
pretty good right now.

### Share this:

 * [  Facebook ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/constructing-a-postseason-roster-for-the-cardinals/?share=facebook)
 * [  X ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/constructing-a-postseason-roster-for-the-cardinals/?share=x)
 * [  Email ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/constructing-a-postseason-roster-for-the-cardinals/?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20Constructing%20a%20Postseason%20Roster%20for%20the%20Cardinals&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyrdcast.com%2Fconstructing-a-postseason-roster-for-the-cardinals%2F&share=email)
 * [  LinkedIn ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/constructing-a-postseason-roster-for-the-cardinals/?share=linkedin)
 * [  Mastodon ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/constructing-a-postseason-roster-for-the-cardinals/?share=mastodon)
 * [  Nextdoor ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/constructing-a-postseason-roster-for-the-cardinals/?share=nextdoor)
 * [  Pinterest ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/constructing-a-postseason-roster-for-the-cardinals/?share=pinterest)
 * [  Reddit ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/constructing-a-postseason-roster-for-the-cardinals/?share=reddit)
 * [  Tumblr ](https://www.nyrdcast.com/constructing-a-postseason-roster-for-the-cardinals/?share=tumblr)

### Like this:

Like Loading…

### _Related_