What the St. Louis Cardinals should do if Juan Yepez isn’t ready

The popular name being discussed with the new designated hitter spot for the St. Louis Cardinals seems to be Juan Yepez. But should they have a backup plan in place?

Following the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system lately has been a whirlwind of excitement. No doubt the team has some great talent on the way and the future of Cardinals baseball appears bright. One name that is generating a bunch of attention is Juan Yepez.

Yepez is a primarily first baseman, offense-first player. With Paul Goldschmidt holding down first base for the foreseeable future, Yepez’s role with the team was clouded. But now, with the likely adaptation of the designated hitter role in the National League, his role seems set.

Many are pointing to Yepez as the favorite for the DH spot, and he sure seems to be that. However, the hype around the young slugger seems a bit excessive at times. Yepez, while full of potential, has never taken an at-bat in the majors. To pencil him in as the DH and give him 500+ at bats right out of the gate seems like a risk.

If that’s the route the Cardinals go, that’s fine. But having a solid backup plan is essential. The offense was average for most of the season, at times worse and other times better. During the impressive 17 game winning streak which propelled them into the playoffs, it all seemed to click for the team.

But the offense is kind of “top heavy”, in my opinion. After Nolan Arenado and Goldschmidt, and the meteoric rise of Tyler O’Neill as a possible star, the offense was not a strength. Others, like center fielder Harrison Bader, had a great season with the bat. But can Bader repeat? Can Dylan Carlson take another step forward? What about the shortstop position?

Not to mention the risks in the starting rotation. A few cracks in the pitching make a great offense more important.

My point is, Juan Yepez should be a good player. The Cardinals offense should be solid. But with the new addition of the DH spot, the team has a great opportunity to add a more proven hitter.

There are options out there at multiple price points. Kyle Schwarber is a lefty power bat who would be an incredible bat to slot between Arenado and Goldschmidt. Jorge Soler and Joc Pederson are power hitters who both contributed to the Atlanta Braves championship last season. Former Cardinal Brad Miller is a versatile bat who would add a bench option and backup plan in place should Yepez need more time. Not to mention DH extraordinaire Nelson Cruz.

Yepez in 2021 hit .286 with 27 home runs. He sure looks ready, and I fully expect the Cardinals to slot him into the DH role and let him rip there.

But can we stop the hype train for a minute? Yepez hasn’t even gotten his feet wet yet in the bigs. The idea that he is ready to step up right away and that he is a sure thing is a risky idea. In what is likely the last season before Yadier Molina and perhaps Adam Wainwright retire, why not get a proven power bat to maximize the team’s chances for a championship in 2022?

Only 23 (his birthday is later in February), Yepez still figures to fixture in the Cardinals’ long-term plans. But maybe that time can start in 2023, when fellow prospects like Nolan Gorman, Matthew Liberatore and Ivan Herrera figure to play prominent roles.

The Cardinals appear to have a solid future in place. However, for 2022, adding a more proven hitter should be the play. While Schwarber would be my pick, the Cardinals seem highly unlikely to commit multi-years to a hitter this offseason. Especially after sitting out on the free agent shortstop bonanza.

How does that saying go? “Hope is not a strategy”? The Cardinals are seemingly hoping that Yepez, or other internal options, can be an impact player from day one as a DH.

They also thought they had enough pitching depth last season and were scrambling for innings wherever they could find them by the summer.

Too much talent is a good issue to have. The Cardinals should pick up an established MLB hitter to be their designated hitter for 2022. The future can wait.