St. Louis Cardinals: 4 possible players to promote in September

Wait till next year

Ivan Herrera

If the Cardinals decide that they’re too far out of contention to reasonably attempt a playoff push, promoting Herrera would be a no-brainer. The only player on the 40-man roster yet to make his major league debut, Herrera is the heir apparent to Yadier Molina, and while he has not performed especially well at the plate this season in Double-A Springfield, he should have a cup of coffee with the team if only to be able to learn from Molina.

If the team is trying to contend, though, Molina is going to get as many appearances behind the plate as possible, and with Andrew Knizner as Molina’s primary backup, Herrera would receive very few chances to play. It would be better to give the two coveted roster spots to players whom the Cardinals would actually utilize.

Angel Rondon

Rondon hasn’t pitched quite as poorly as many others in Memphis this year, and it’s worth seeing if he could fit into the Cardinals’ future plans. Rondon, the Cardinals’ 2019 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, has only appeared in two games in the major leagues this year. Unlike players such as Oviedo and Waddell, Rondon is a riskier promotion because of his lack of experience, but he might have a higher ceiling than the others. He’s precisely the player the Cardinals should give some opportunities in September if they’re hoping to contend in 2022.

The Cardinals’ choices of players to promote is hardly exciting outside of Herrera, and if they want to contend, they’ll need to stay healthy in September and receive production not only from established players, but also from the guys they bring up. But if the Cardinals are willing to let this season go and retool for next year, they have a chance to give some less experienced players a longer look.