St. Louis Cardinals: Ideal roster additions out of spring

The St. Louis Cardinals have promising names that could make them a stronger team but can they impress enough to break camp on the bench?
The St. Louis Cardinals would love to carry greater than 25 men into the regular season but alas cannot. This leaves question marks for several names who have been impressive this season. Looking at the bench, the following names are competing still: Greg Garcia, Adolis Garcia, Yairo Munoz, Carson Kelly, Luke Voit, Francisco Pena, and Harrison Bader.
Let’s take a quick look at the stats before diving into discussions.
Greg Garcia
Year | Tm | Age | GS | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | OppQual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | STL | 28 | 13 | 37 | 27 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 2 | .185 | .405 | .333 | .739 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.9 |
Adolis Garcia
Year | Tm | Age | GS | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | OppQual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | STL | 25 | 18 | 44 | 40 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10 | .325 | .364 | .525 | .889 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6.0 |
Yairo Munoz
Year | Tm | Age | GS | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | OppQual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | STL | 23 | 14 | 41 | 38 | 8 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | .368 | .415 | .579 | .994 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.9 |
Carson Kelly
Year | Tm | Age | GS | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | OppQual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | STL | 23 | 12 | 35 | 30 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | .100 | .200 | .167 | .367 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7.7 |
Luke Voit
Year | Tm | Age | GS | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | OppQual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | STL | 27 | 18 | 47 | 44 | 5 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | .273 | .298 | .386 | .684 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6.2 |
Francisco Pena
Year | Tm | Age | GS | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | OppQual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | STL | 28 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .250 | .308 | .250 | .558 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.5 |
Harrison Bader
Year | Tm | Age | GS | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | CS | BB | SO | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | TB | GDP | HBP | SH | SF | IBB | OppQual |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | STL | 24 | 17 | 46 | 43 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 | .256 | .304 | .395 | .700 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.1 |
Looking at these Spring Training stats, each have things that make them attractive for the opening day lineup.
While Greg Garcia has a low batting average for the Spring, his OBP makes him an attractive bench role. Add to this his left-handed batting and multiple infield position capabilities and it is difficult to cut him from the team. Oh, and he also is out of options so he either needs to make the team or receive a DFA.
Adolis Garcia is an interesting name since he can easily backup the outfield spots. He has also been impressive this season. The one thing that might keep him from breaking camp is his youth: it might serve him best to start in AAA.
Yairo Munoz has been the most impressive of the names listed here this spring. Additionally, Munoz has shown that he can play both the infield and the outfield and carries a respectable bat. He is likely the one to break camp on the bench along with Jose Martinez and whoever serves as catching backup.
Carson Kelly is still the assumed heir to the St. Louis Cardinals catching duties following Yadier Molina, but this moniker might be fading. Outside of his catching abilities, Kelly has been disappointing this spring at the plate. This might be to his demise at breaking camp.
Luke Voit would likely break camp with the St. Louis Cardinals if it weren’t for Jose Martinez. That said, Voit has been impressive at the plate and- if the St. Louis Cardinals were in the American League- would be a great designated hitter. Alas, this isn’t an option for National League teams yet. Yet.
Francisco Pena has been impressive this spring at both the plate with a bat and with his glove behind the plate. He may have usurped Carson Kelly and could be the name to break camp with the big squad.
Harrison Bader has made some outstanding plays in the outfield this spring. His numbers at the plate aren’t bad either. Sadly, the St. Louis Cardinals aren’t likely looking for another outfielder so this might stand in his way.
Here’s my final thoughts on these names: I look to see the St. Louis Cardinals break camp with Yairo Munoz and Francisco Pena. This means that I look for Greg Garcia to receive a DFA, pass through waivers (albeit he might get grabbed elsewhere) and then sign a minor league deal, and I see the others starting in Memphis.
One more thing, I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Kelly and Voit shopped in trades.