St. Louis Cardinals: With two weeks left, who’s in negative WAR?

ATLANTA, GA - MAY 16: Manager Mike Shildt of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on in the fifth inning of an MLB game against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park on May 16, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 16: Manager Mike Shildt of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on in the fifth inning of an MLB game against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park on May 16, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /
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St. Louis Cardinals
CINCINNATI, OH – JUNE 8: Yairo Munoz #34 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates his second inning home run against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on June 8, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

Yairo Muñoz: -0.3 fWAR, -0.4 bWAR

Muñoz signed as an international free agent with the Oakland Athletics. He made his professional debut in 2012 when he played for the Dominican Athletics of the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League. In addition to the infield, Muñoz played as a center fielder in AAA in 2017, opening up the prospect of Munoz being the next “super-sub”.

On December 14, 2017, the Athletics traded Muñoz and Max Schrock to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Stephen Piscotty. During 2018 spring training, the Cardinals had him working out at shortstop, center field, right field, and second base.

Muñoz also hit well last spring, .375/.423/.625 with 18 hits and three home runs, scoring 13 runs with 9 RBIs over 48 at-bats in spring training. So the Cardinals chose Muñoz over Harrison Bader and Luke Voit for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

He finished his 2018 rookie campaign batting .276 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs in 108 games, spending time at six different positions. Most importantly, he turned in a healthy WAR for a sub: 1.5 rWAR.

However in 2019 Muñoz never got untracked offensively and his super-sub role was eclipsed somewhat by rookie Tommy Edman. Munoz is still only 24-years old. And since his trade value is limited by his negative WAR, it will be interesting to see what the Cardinals will do with him in the off-season. If the Cardinals play in a one-game playoff, he may make the roster just for his fielding versatility.