St. Louis Cardinals: Another roster move to be announced before game

The St. Louis Cardinals announced a roster move before the contest on Sunday by sending one to the disabled list and promoting a rising prospect. With the return of another player from the disabled list, the team looks to make another move today.

The St. Louis Cardinals made the right move on Sunday by sending Kolten Wong to the disabled list (a little more on that in a moment) and promoting rising star Paul DeJong. In his first MLB at-bat, in his debut as a pinch hitter, DeJong made a massive statement going yard while Wong watched and cheered from the bench (hopefully not clapping so he can rest that shoulder).

These are my thoughts on DL-ing Wong: this is long overdue and raises cause for concern. Why? This shoulder issue has been something that has affected him in the past and either (1) he didn’t admit that it was still hurting, or (2) the team’s medical staff is not equipped to make the appropriate recommendations.

I’ve been a touch worried about the medical staff for a while. Admittedly, I am not in the official meetings nor the examinations by the medical staff but I just feel that too often we have players who are injured, play through these injuries, and find themselves sent to the DL later than they should because the injuries never heal or reappear.

Back to the news… The St. Louis Cardinals are set to announce the return of Jose Martinez from the disabled list in order to man right field during the afternoon contest today against the Dodgers. This move requires a coordinating move.

One quick look at the lineup for today seems to hint at what that move could well be: sending Randal Grichuk to Memphis. Today’s lineup includes DeJong starting at second base (something he definitely deserves after yesterday’s performance) and Martinez getting the outfield start (supported by Dexter Fowler in center and Tommy Pham in left).

Let’s look at some numbers. Before he was placed on the disabled list, Martinez appeared in forty-eight at-bats and posted a slash of .313/.353/.458. Illustrating his need for a demotion (to regain his confidence or whatever), Grichuk has appeared in 167 at-bats and has posted a slash of .222/.276/.377.

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I have wanted to like Grichuk since the St. Louis Cardinals acquired him but he simply hasn’t measured up to the hope and hype. Does this mean that he is a lost cause? It is likely too early to tell and a trip to Memphis could well help with this discussion as it should show if he can regain his form or if the time has come to make a decision about him.

To add insult to injury, since his promotion, Pham has been on fire and is working hard to make sure that he remains with the St. Louis Cardinals. To that end, Pham has appeared in sixty-six at-bats this season with the Cardinals and has posted a slash of .333/.410/.621. His performance floods and already full outfield.

Once Stephen Piscotty returns, likely this week, the organization will be forced again to make a decision. The outfield will be stocked then with Pham, Fowler, Martinez, and Piscotty. Perhaps these are the four the team intends to carry but, there again, the team could well decide the time has come to part ways with someone (please part with Jonathan Broxton).

Next: What will be the Cardinals news to come?

Until that time, however, Martinez will replace Grichuk in St. Louis with Grichuk spending time with the better batting coach with the Memphis Redbirds (assuming this is indeed the announcement to come before the start of the game). What do you think? Let me know on Twitter and thanks for reading!