St. Louis Cardinals: Pre-Winter Meetings 2017 Position Predictions

2017 Record

All predictions are for naught if records don’t improve, right?  If these additions- and these standing pat- fall out just as I predict here, then I feel comfortable saying that the 2017 St. Louis Cardinals will be far better than were the 2016 St. Louis Cardinals.  Here’s why I feel this way…

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Let’s assume that each of the starting pitchers achieve the same number of wins as they did in 2016.  If that is true then Martinez will account for sixteen wins, Reyes will account for sixteen wins (these come from his statistical 162-game predicted average due to his limited MLB experience), Lynn will account for twelve wins (from his 2015 statistics), Wainwright will account for thirteen wins, and Leake will account for nine wins.  These total to sixty-six wins.

The magic number for several years has been ninety wins.  If the starting rotation accounts for sixty-six wins, this leaves twenty-four games in question.  The powerful St. Louis Cardinals pen was good for exactly twenty-four games in 2016 (from the names listed in the previous slide).  Should these names and these stats remain consistent then the 2017 Cardinals should be looking at ninety wins.  Should any improve, then so shall the record.

All-in-all, I predict that the 2017 St. Louis Cardinals will finish the season in second place in the NL-Central behind the Cubs but that they will eclipse the 90-win mark and will play in the postseason as the first NL Wild Card.  Having said this, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this version of the St. Louis Cardinals to give the Cubs a run for their money.

Next: Minor League Prospect Stars

What do you think?  Will these players make the difference for the 2017 Cardinals?  Will these players instill trust in this team?  Let’s keep our fingers crossed for some great news out of the Winter Meetings.