St. Louis Cardinals: Taking a Look at Former Cardinals in 2016

Jon Jay

Jay was a valued member of this team for a total of six seasons, he came up through the Cardinals’ system and was a key cog in the 2011 World Series team. However, Jay had overstayed his welcome on this team, and that is not his fault. He had a rough injury in 2014 that he ultimately had surgery on in the offseason, coming into the 2015 season his injury was not properly rehabbed (imagine that).

That led to him being on the opening day roster when he really should have been rehabbing the injury more, then he was put on the DL in May and the injury was still not ready to be played on and he was called up about 20 days later and immediately placed in the startling lineup. This was stupid and the organization paid for it, as Jay was put on the DL once again in July, and he missed the entire month of July and August.

Jay came back to the team in September and was given way too many opportunities to get right, while Tommy Pham who was producing at a much higher level rode the bench. It was a bad decision then and while the team got away with it, ultimately winning the division, it still is a bad decision. Jay was put on the postseason roster for seemingly no reason, but after the team’s loss to the Cubs, Jay was traded a couple months later.

Jay was tossed to the outfield lacking San Diego Padres for IF Jedd Gyorko who should figure into the Cardinals’ middle infield bench role. Jay however, should figure into being the starter for the Padres in center field, and I will expect him to be back to his normal ways. In fact he already has a couple of hits in Spring Training and the Padres expect him to be in the running for their leadoff role, a role that he played for the Cardinals at times. If his OBP is back up over .350, that will be a good spot for him, especially in that spacious ballpark.

Ultimately, while Gyorko does have the power expectation and will be with the Cardinals longer than Jay likely will be in San Diego, the Padres may get the better end of the deal. However, there is no room for Jay on this team, and it was time for him to go, as he simply isn’t better than the four options the Cardinals have in house for the outfield. Here’s to him recovering and helping the Padres out this season.

Next: The disappointment