Some items out of the Cardinals’ camp…
- Righty Luke Gregerson is dealing with a minor hamstring problem and didn’t travel with the team for today’s Spring Training road game, Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports (Twitter link). Gregerson has been limited to just three outings this spring due to a minor oblique injury, and while the severity this new issue isn’t known, it can’t be a good sign with less than a week before Opening Day. John Mozeliak’s recent comments about the Cardinals’ plans for a flexible approach to the ninth inning has brought further lack of clarity to Gregerson’s role, as he was initially slated to be the team’s closer when signed to a two-year, $11MM deal in December. Dominic Leone, another offseason acquisition, has recently been mentioned as a potential candidate for saves, plus the Cardinals have been reportedly interested in Greg Holland, who still remains unsigned as we approach the end of March.
- Yairo Munoz has made the 25-man roster, MLB.com’s Joe Trezza and others reported. Munoz was acquired from Oakland as part of the Stephen Piscotty trade and wasn’t expected to contend for a big league job this spring, but Munoz forced the issue by hitting .375/.423/.625 over 52 plate appearances. This red-hot bat and Munoz’s capability of playing virtually every spot on the diamond gave him the edge for a bench job over Harrison Bader and Luke Voit, who were optioned to Triple-A. Munoz will be one of several multi-position players on the St. Louis roster as the Cards plan to regularly juggle their lineups to keep everyone fresh and regularly receiving playing time.
- As part of a piece about Yadier Molina’s durability for The Athletic (subscription required), Bernie Miklasz observed that the Cardinals’ recent assignment of top catching prospect Carson Kelly to Triple-A means that Kelly won’t accumulate the MLB service time he would’ve received had he won the job as Molina’s backup. This could make Kelly more attractive to potential trade suitors, as Kelly has just 102 days of service time accumulated and is controllable through the 2023 season. Of course, the Cards’ primary reason for the assignment is also valid, as they want Kelly to get regular playing time rather than see him sit on the big league bench, as the durable Molina is showing no signs of cutting back on his workload even as he enters his age-35 season. Molina is signed through the 2020 season, so there will inevitably continue to be speculation about Kelly as a possible trade chip.
This has got to be a wake up call to Mo to sign Holland. If he does that the Cards will be serious contenders for the division with that Monster offense they should have
I wish but he won’t
Disagree strongly.
Holland isn’t really an upgrade over the carousal of relievers in the pen and isn’t worth the draft pick compensation and signing bonus losses.
If the Cards have everyone simply repeat their 2017 in 2018, Holland would have been the teams 6th best reliever.
fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&…
That isn’t worth the price, especially with strong arms coming like Mayers, Lucas, Hicks, Helsey, etc.
Leone is as good as Holland….imho
Lyons can close if Leone stumbles
Reyes will be around after that….could handle the 9th.
Cards should sign Rosenthal for 2019…RIGHT NOW…..
I hope Leone can continue being effective, but his advanced stats were kind of alarming last year
Which one’s? He carried a low BABIP, but that came with a low xBABIP (weak contact)
10.36 K/9, 2.94 BB/9, 0.77 HR/9 in 70 innings isn’t weak. The .266 BABIP should end up around .280-.290 range with those contact rates (only 17% line drive rate against).
Should give him around a 3.00 ERA/FIP
Yep, you’re correct. He had a great season last year and the numbers backed it up. He had troubling numbers in the past though, and the question is if last year was an outlier or not.
His troubling numbers came with injuries and limited innings.
His 2 season that logged more than 60 innings both under 2.60 ERA and great K rates.
His seasons under 30 innings logged were atrocious. And it wasn’t due to being ineffective it was injury plus he was 23/24 years of age.
I think he’s more on the side of last year than the previous 2.
You could say year one no one knew him then they knew the next 2 with very very limited innings. Which even if true he was still developing.
If he was on the other side of 20 it would be more alarming and if he actually logged innings in those down years.
Totally agree Jfactor…The cardinals have plenty of people to fill that spot…personally with the way Mayer’s is throwing I have no problem with this injury
“Minor hamstring problem” “Severity of this injury is unknown” So…which is it? 😛
Carson Kelly is a trade just waiting to happen. He’s not going to gain anything rotting on the bench behind Yadi. Mo PLEASE trade Carson Kelly so he can start his MLB career.
Mo isn’t going to trade Kelly. He was sent down for playing time Plus he can still fine tune his defense and pitch calling. He’s good but he’s not ready for the majors yet. Atleast not this season.
For once MO go into the season with a surplus. Holland can be great asset.
And a great liability.
I like the fact they have such a talent and flourish of talent in that bullpen that 3 or 4 guys heading to AAA would be stars on most teams. Quite a luxury.
Stars
Hey goat, weren’t you the one who said that Munoz was a worthless throw in in the piscotty trade awhile back? I guess if he was on cubs he’d be a future all star, though right?
I still believe he’ll be at best, a mediocre utility player. I don’t think one spring should make you overlook a whole minor league career.
But anyways, you actually think guys sent to AAA Nashville would be stars on other teams?
It’s AAA Memphis…imo Flaherty and Bader are going to be stars and would be on other teams…you can argue Bader with me but Flaherty would be a #1 prospect and a star on most teams
And if you include Reyes with that…although technically he wasn’t sent down to AAA, as he is staying in Jupiter to Rehab but you know he will pitch in the minors before…then yea the Cardinals have about 3 players who would be stars on other teams
Well I’m sure that’s the case then since you believe that.
So what do you believe? Because if you go by his spring, you’re more than likely going to be disappointed
I don’t know if you’ve been to MLBTR a lot, but themed is a troll, so that’s why I said that. But Bader isn’t even a top 100 prospect, so expect him to be a star in 2018 is unrealistic
I said you could argue Bader….but not Flaherty…and Reyes obviously has to overcome the TJ but I’d bet on him…Bader and Garcia could start in more than a couple outfields in the Majors….stars maybe not but time will tell
Ya I think Reyes will be great in the majors soon as well. I’m really excited for him
These cardinal fans are delusional
We can be, like any other fans of any other teams
So will Yairo take Greg Garcia’s time then? I know Voit and Bader were optioned, but the writing has to be on the wall at this point.
Maybe after this year but Garcia is still a better defender imo and he’s a left handed bat. Our only one off the bench if I remember correctly
Holland would be good on a one year deal.
If not the closer, then an 8th inning set up reliever with veteran leadership.
With the pitching coach Maddox, Holland would likely be more fundamental and consistent. No risk on a one year deal.
I think that Holland would be an interesting pickup after the June draft, when he no longer has draft pick compensation, as an alternative to trading for relief help IF it is needed…and IF Holland is available. Otherwise, I think they should roll with what they have. Draft pick isn’t worth the marginal upgrade that Holland might provide.
Cards AAA affiliate Memphis Redbirds as currently rostered would beat out about 10 Mlb teams got record and could finish third place in al central.