The Cardinals announced Friday that they’ve outrighted infielder Max Moroff and outfielder Justin Williams to Triple-A Memphis. Moroff posted a meager .125 OPS in a tiny sample (16 plate appearances) in 2021, while Williams managed only a .531 mark in 137 trips to the plate.
Though neither player has yet contributed much in the Major Leagues, Williams comes with the greater pedigree. After arriving in the Cardinals’ system (alongside Genesis Cabrera and Roel Ramirez) in the 2018 Tommy Pham deal with the Rays, the outfielder put together a sterling .296/.372/.484 line in the upper minors in 2019. He had a similarly strong line (.274/.307/.560) in a short stint in Triple-A this year, but he’s not managed to translate his tools into big-league production.
Moroff has appeared in parts of five big league campaigns, never appearing in more than 56 games in a given season. The switch-hitting utilityman owns a .175/.264/.301 mark in 260 cumulative big league plate appearances. Both Williams and Moroff will be eligible for minor league free agency.
Moroff = less off-fense. Still can’t figure out how he made it to the bigs.
Originally it was because he out up good Triple A numbers. Then he stopped doing that and it became his ability to competently play multiple positions.
Terrible full time player, but functional filler for a couple of games.
He was crushing AAA pitching last year in a tiny sample size. Last year was the year he could have possibly gotten hot enough to show some respectable numbers but he was one of the worst hitting Indians I’ve ever seen and we’ve had some scrubs
Williams will probably go back to Tampa and rake somehow.
Are you suggesting he become a landscaper in Tampa? Probably a steady income and year round work in that area. Maybe he could even rake at a baseball field if he were to be hired by a grounds crew. But what I saw of him with a baseball bat there won’t be much raking, and he runs more awkward than a robot.
Might hit some but does run more awkward than a robot.
Earlier this past season I wanted the Cards to play Lane Thomas over Williams. Never happened and Thomas ended up in Washington. Upon arriving there, Thomas became the Nats everyday CF and performed very well. Heck, unless Robles remembers how to hit, Thomas may play every day again in 2022. Cards never gave Thomas a chance.
I have to be honest, I didn’t believe you. I went and checked Lane’s Washington stats and I am astonished!
I will never doubt you again. 🙂
Glad to help. My motto is, “Nothing but the best for my pals!”.
Not saying Thomas could have supplanted Bader in CF, but at worst, he’d be a solid fourth outfielder in a case of an injury.
But, hey, they got Lester for him and he helped the Cards secure the wild-card so, at least for two months, it was a win-win for both teams.
Big question now, who fills the fourth outfielder role for the Cards this year? One option is Odubel Herrera who was just cut loose by the Phillies. Given his past baggage, he’d be a cheap sign. JMHO, there. Also, I like Tim Locastro. Doesn’t appear to be any room in the inn for him in the Bronx.
Still, my pick to win the NL Central in 2022 is St. Louis. Just don’t see the Brewers offense, especially with Yelich being a ghost of his former self, matching last year’s output.
4th OF is the least of their worries. O’Neill, Bader, Carlson are set everyday OF with O’Neill and Bader bats finally coming around and all 3 with outstanding defense. Nootbaar is a very solid 4th OF then there is Plummer, Capel, and Burleson. All are LH to complement the RH O’Neill and Bader. Burleson is the farthest from being major league ready, but the highest ceiling and in AAA to finish 2021.