Cardinals Opening Day Roster announced

The St. Louis Cardinals announced their Opening Day roster after a final round of roster cuts.

Being opted to the Memphis Redbirds roster are pitcher Maikel Cleto and outfielder Adron Chambers. Being assigned to the Cardinals minor league camp are catcher Rob Johnson, infielder Greg Garcia and outfielder Oscar Taveras.

The team made the decision to place their closer, right-handed pitcher Jason Motte, on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained right elbow. It is retroactive to March 22nd.

The Opening Day roster for the Cardinals is as follows:

PITCHERS (12 + 2 D.L.) – Mitchell Boggs, Randy Choate, Jaime Garcia, Joe Kelly, Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller, Edward Mujica, Trevor Rosenthal, Marc Rzepczynski, Fernando Salas, Adam Wainwright, Jake Westbrook.

CATCHERS (2) – Tony Cruz, Yadier Molina

INFIELDERS (7 + 2 D.L.) – Matt Adams, Matt Carpenter, Allen Craig, Daniel Descalso, Ryan Jackson, Pete Kozma, Ty Wigginton.

OUTFIELDERS (4) – Carlos Beltran, Matt Holliday, Jon Jay, Shane Robinson

Disabled List (4) – Chris Carpenter, Jason Motte, David Freese, Rafael Furcal

Carpenter and Furcal will be on the 60-day Disabled List by the time the season is over.

When David Freese comes back, I would expect that somebody gets send down to Memphis but I can’t even begin to guess who that will be. Adams is a maybe but he doesn’t need any more seasoning in Memphis. If anything, he would be trade bait for a short stop.

The big question for everyone will obviously be: Will Pete Kozma be the team’s shortstop come August 1, 2013? If Kozma has a redhot start to the season, the question is answered. It’s theoretically possible that the 2007 first round draft pick just happens to be a late bloomer.

Carrying Shane Robinson as a fourth outfielder is a good idea. With Carpenter’s ability to play first base, Allen Craig could always spell someone in the outfield while Descalso starts at second base.