The Cardinals lost one of their top hitters on Friday afternoon. Catcher/designated hitter Iván Herrera landed on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. It’ll be more than a minimal stay with a chance to cost him upwards of a month.
Herrera was diagnosed with a Grade 2 strain, the team informed reporters (link via Katie Woo of The Athletic). That involves some measure of tearing and is of moderate severity. There’s a wide range on the timeline. St. Louis said Herrera could be sidelined anywhere between two and six weeks. Thomas Saggese is up from Triple-A Memphis to take his spot on the active roster.
It’s the second IL stint of the season for the 25-year-old Herrera. A bone bruise in his left knee cost him a month between early April and the second week of May. Herrera has raked when healthy. He’s batting .320/.392/.533 and has already established a career high with eight home runs in only 171 plate appearances. Herrera has made 13 starts behind the dish while getting the DH assignment on 28 occasions.
The Cardinals have carried three catchers since Herrera’s first IL stint, which is why they were able to recall an infielder as the corresponding move. That has freed them up to use Herrera as a DH without worrying about overworking him. Pedro Pagés has a much lighter bat but has superior defensive marks. Pagés was already playing fairly regularly and will be the clear #1 catcher for the time being. Yohel Pozo will back him up. Nolan Gorman, Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker and Saggese could all rotate through the DH spot.
Herrera has hit great and is a big loss. But carrying 3 catchers, one of which is not named Contreras, is silly. So the roster will be better constructed without him.
I disagree, Herrera is a guy who can carry the offense. He’s what they’ve been looking for, a guy you build around
He’s a really good hitter. LIKE I SAID its a big loss. But hes not a great fit on the roster being a catcher the team doesn’t actually want catching.
He’s part of the next core, him and Saggase, they both rake. While it’s not ideal neither was carrying Jose Martinez but he hit
Martinez was another guy who was a mess to roster because of the lack of defense. I think he could be part of the next core sure but until Contreras is gone the roster is messy.
Ah good old Contreras. It was kinda a bone head move to sign a catcher for 5 years when you have one at double AA people were saying was Yadiers heir… but I’m not a GM or a owner trying to keep 37,000 in the stands. Obviously they know how not to recntly
Yeah. Messy for sure…
I don’t think hes a 925 OPS guy moving forward but hes a good hitter. 825 perhaps. He’s Rafael Devers lite. He can hit but the defensive value is very limited. The bat is a huge boost to the offense but his lack of defensive ability creates a bit of a mess on the roster, especially with Contreras on the same team another catcher you don’t want catching.
To quote Marmol earlier this year, “If you can hit, we’ll find a spot for you”
When you have guys like Herrera, Contreras, Gorman and Burleson and only one DH spot it doesn’t work.
Herrera has proved 3 things since his promotion to the Big Leagues.
(1.) The guy can hit.
(2.) At this point, Herrera can not stay Healthy enough to stay on the field and be effective for the Cardinals.
(3.) Herrera is a liability and question mark on Defense ——— Besides DH, where does he play??
Is Herrera a good enough hitter to counter act his negatives of “Not being able to stay healthy enough yo stay on the field”. And is Herrera a good enough hitter to “take up the DH role and no one else being able to be placed in that position in the batting order permanently”????
Herrera has been healthy most of his career. You don’t know what you are talking about.
I Like Herrera!!!
Don’t get me wrong.
I love a contact hitter and that’s
What Herrera is!!!!
I Guess I didn’t get my point across correctly.
Maybe this can clear that up.
As he is hitting —- his bat has got to be in the lineup.
Where do you place him on defense so he can play every day??? Full time DH??
I understand why The Cardinals are hesitant to place him at catcher full time —- because of his throwing vs opponents running game.
In other words—- I’m asking —- Does his hitting offset, or out weigh, his catching inefficiency???
All he’s done is hit at every level and a lower than average age at each stop. His hit tool is very much legit. There’s nothing flukey about it. The only question he ever had was whether his great bat to ball skills would translate to consistent HR power and the early returns are very encouraging. He’s got above average foot speed actually too, so he can probably play LF as well as or better than Burleson does with an off season of reps.
Except that all of them except Burleson actually provide defensive value of some sort. Burleson is the only one that doesn’t really fit without trading Arenado.
I’m glad Pozo is finally getting the run he earned.
He has such a great story – Living out of his car with his wife to afford his son’s medical treatment. I’m just glad his actual play backs it up too. Makes it that much more special
Not to burst your bubble, but his name was also involved in a pretty awful incident when he was a Rangers prospect in 2016.
Yea looking this up really is some gross stuff on baseball.
And he was cleared of all charges. You forgot to add that.
Why does Pedro look like fat Andy pages
I come here for informative comments. Thank you.
When are we going to see Jimmy Crooks?
You say, “Gorman, Burleson, Walker and Saggese could all rotate through the DH spot.” I ask, WHY, why would you consider DH’ing a .200 hitter? If he’s playing RF, he has to bat. If he’s resting on a given day, why DH your worst hitter? This management team boggles the mind.
Burleson—- a .300 hitter with Pop —— has got to be in the Cardinals line up every day at either a corner outfield position, 1st base, or DH!!!
I agree —— No low .200 hitter should be rotated in Burleson’s place!!!!
Burly is currently head over heels better offensively and defensively than Walker and leaps and bounds better than strikeouts artist Nolan Gorman!!
Rough injury for a catcher.
Excellent hitter
Cant stay healthy