# Redbird Droppings: Spring Position Battles

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/redbird-droppings-spring-position-battles/
- Published: 2024-02-20T14:52:55-06:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

### **Spring positions battles are the focus of this edition of Redbird Droppings**

[⌊Redbird Droppings⌉⌊Redbird Droppings⌉[

The Cardinals have a lot of options with their [current roster construction](https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/roster),
but a lot of how the opening day lineup will look will be based off how the dominos
fall. Let’s start with the first domino.

**ShortstopFavorite: [Masyn Winn](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/winnma01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)

Option: [Tommy Edman](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/edmanto01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br),
[Brendan Donovan](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/donovbr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)
Long-shot: [Buddy Kennedy](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kennebu01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br),
[Jose Fermin](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fermijo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br),
[Thomas Saggese](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=sagges000tho&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)

Shortstop is Winn’s position to lose; he did struggle when he was promoted to end
2023, but the defense was there. How long will they wait if the bat doesn’t come
alive? They have both Tommy Edman and Brendan Donovan who can handle the position
if Winn’s not ready; my gut says Edman will be the guy. They also have utility guys
like Kennedy and Fermin who can fill in as needed, but they shouldn’t be considered
options unless they have amazing springs and Winn struggles.

The wild card is Saggese; he’s one of the better prospects in the system and he’s
close to being ready. If he has a huge spring, he could force his way onto the roster,
at the expense of a Kennedy or Fermin.

**Centerfield**
Favorite: Tommy EdmanOption: [Dylan Carlson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carlsdy01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br),
[Lars Nootbaar](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nootbla01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)
Long-Shot: [Michael Siani](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sianimi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br),
[Victor Scott](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=scott-003vic&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)
II

Here’s where it gets interesting. If Winn starts the season in Memphis and Edman
is the guy at short, you now have an open competition for centerfield. Carlson is
the best option, with Nootbaar penciled in at left. If Carlson can’t get the spot
and [Alec Burleson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/burleal01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)
has a great spring, I could see Noot in center and Burleson starting in left. Siani
is the 5th outfielder, and probably won’t be in serious competition.

The wild card is Scott; the speedster could hit is way onto the roster. If fact,
the Cardinals anticipate him being up before the end of the season. He could take
Siani’s 40-man spot if he hits out the gate and establishes himself as ready.

**Second BaseFavorite: [Nolan Gorman](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gormano01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)

Option: Brendan DonovanLong-Shot: [Jared Young](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/youngja02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br),
Buddy Kennedy, Jose Fermin, Thomas Saggese

I believe that Gorman will see most of the time at second this season, allowing 
Donovan to move around a little more. I also see both getting some significant time
as the DH (see the next battle). Both of their bats should be playing every day.

Young, Kennedy, and Fermin will be fighting for late inning replacement duty and
the occasional spot start. Like shortstop, Saggese is a wild card, but has a lesser
chance here with Gorman and Donovan more established than Winn is.

**DHFavorite: Brendan Donovan
Option: Nolan Gorman, [Matt Carpenter](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/carpema01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br),
[Willson Contreras](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/contrwi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)
Long-Shot: [Luken Baker](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bakerlu01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br),
Alec Burleson

I touched on the Donovan/Gorman dynamic a little above, but they’ll be the primary
options for DH at bats. You’ll see Carpenter with the spot start here and there.
Contreras will also see some time, as I don’t think the front office will trust 
him any more than they did this past season (although they’ll probably handle it
better).

Baker and Burleson are the long shots, with Burleson getting more at bats than Baker.
I’ve pretty much written them off as a DH this season.

**CloserFavorite: [Ryan Helsley](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/helslry01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)

Option: [Andrew Kittredge](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/kittran01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br),
[Giovanny Gallegos](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gallegi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br),
[JoJo Romero](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/romerjo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)
Long-Shot: [Keynan Middleton](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/middlke01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br),
[Riley O’Brien](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/obrieri01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)

In a perfect world, a closer by committee would work; the Cardinals have multiple
guys that could be situational closers. Unfortunately, the game has not evolved 
to the point where this idea works. Helsley has the most experience and comes into
camp as the incumbent; we all know he’s struggled to make it through a full season
and has had some fits of inconsistency. I can see a situation where Kittredge is
a challenges for the role in camp; he’s got the experience, but needs to prove he’s
fully healthy as well.

Gallegos and Romero will see their opportunities for saves, but they won’t be the
main guys. I also think Middleton could grab a handful. O’Brien is the guy to watch;
if he can get his command to an acceptable level, he could be the guy by the end
of year.

**Bench RolesFavorite: [Ivan Herrera](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/herreiv01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br),
Matt Carpenter, Alec Burleson, Dylan Carlson
Option: Luken Baker, Buddy Kennedy,
Michael Siani, Jared Young, Jose FerminLong-Shot: Thomas Saggese, Victor Scott II

There are some givens with the bench: you know Herrera is your backup catcher; Carpenter
will be your clubhouse guy who gets the occasional start at DH; Carlson and Burleson
are your extra outfielders.

After that, it gets murky. Baker has a great bat, but he’s limited to first and 
DH; those positions are set though, so his value is minimal to this team. Kennedy,
Young, and Fermin are pretty much interchangeable positionally, so it would be redundant
to carry 2 of them, let alone all 3. Siani is a defensive replacement in the outfield,
but if you have Carlson on your bench, he’s expendable.

You need 2 of the last 4 to really set themselves apart in camp, unless you one 
of your utility guys can get a little outfield work on top of their infield versatility.

**Rotation OrderFavorite: [Sonny Gray](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grayso01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)#
1
Option: [Miles Mikolas](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mikolmi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)#
2, [Steven Matz](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/matzst01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)#
3, [Lance Lynn](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lynnla01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)#
4, [Kyle Gibson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=gibsoky01,gibson004kyl&search=Kyle+Gibson&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)#
5Long-Shot: [Zack Thompson](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/thompza02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br),
[Matthew Liberatore](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/liberma01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br),
[Drew Rom](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/romdr01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)

I think the rotation is a given, unless one of the 2-5 guys completely falters and/
or someone like Thompson or Liberatore are completely lights out this spring. Both
could very well happen. The real question is how you order them after Gray; Mikolas
was a #2 caliber pitcher a few years ago, but not last season. Matz showed flashes
of a mid-rotation guy before his season ended early. If they can lock in their spots,
everyone would be more comfortable with Lynn and Gibson as a true #4 and #5 starter;
if they can’t lock their spots, you’ll have Gray and 4 back of the rotation pitchers
which isn’t good.

The other option, which is too far out for the Cardinals, would be a six-man rotation;
maybe do a piggy back system with Thompson and Liberatore and get 3-4 innings from
each in a given day. If Gray is looking like a [Cy Young](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/youngcy01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-02-20_br)
candidate again, you could have him on normal rest and adjust the other 5 around
his schedule.

**Next up…**
I’ll be back tomorrow with my top 50 Cardinals prospects.

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