
Andrew Knizner
For three years, it has been clear that he was going nowhere and that Carson Kelly, now Andrew Knizner, have been ready for full playing time. Despite Knizner starting more this year, the way the team has handled his situation is admittedly awful.
Kelly (a bigger trade chip) helped bring Paul Goldschmidt to the team after it was clear he wasn’t going to start anytime soon in St. Louis. After playing the entire 2019 season at AAA at age 24, Knizner and his .821 OPS looked ready for time in St. Louis in 2020.
In the COVID-shortened year, he received just 17 plate appearances and the team yet again held onto him into 2021. His performance over 136 plate appearances hasn’t been great, but he’s also only played in six games in the past 28 days, starting five. Heading into 2022, I am once again asking the Cardinals to get something in return for the catcher heading into his age-27 season.