St. Louis Cardinals: Plan-B for the 2018 Cardinals

How would the St. Louis Cardinals adjust their plans should a catastrophe strike the catching position?

St. Louis Cardinals’ Plan-B: Despite both arms being in casts — the only thing that would prevent Yadi Molina from playing 130+ games — he lifts Carson Kelly up on the Budweiser Terrace like Simba at Pride Rock.

Interestingly, 2018 feels like the first year in a long while that Molina isn’t the Cards’ biggest injury concern. He’s a couple of years into his improved conditioning regimen, and — most importantly — he’s now backed up by baseball’s number-2 catching prospect, Kelly, who is himself backed up by rising prospect Andrew Knizner.

Kelly struggled with the bat in limited duty in 2017, but his history suggests he would improve as an everyday player.

Of course, Yadi is the heart and soul of the team, and losing him would be a significant blow to the lineup — and the pitching staff, for that matter. However, Kelly’s high “floor” and Knizner’s emergence suggest that Plan B is A-okay for catchers.