5 players the Cardinals should consider selling high on

C Ivan Herrera

What's shameful about the 2024 Cardinals is that they had so many catchers succeed. Pedro Pages could have even been on this list, though he likely won't bring much in return. Between Pages, Jimmy Crooks, Ivan Herrera, and Willson Contreras, the Cardinals have four viable catchers for 2025 and beyond.

Herrera had a fantastic sophomore season last year. For a time, he was the team's primary catcher due to injuries to Willson Contreras. He slashed .301/372/.428 for a 124 OPS+ in 259 plate appearances. He hit only five home runs, but he was also able to log 12 doubles and a triple. For a time, Ivan Herrera was the Cardinals' best player offensively.

For as much flak as he gets for his defense, it's a bit over-criticized. According to Statcast, he was at -1 for catcher run value, a net zero on framing, -2 for stolen base prevention, and +1 at blocking. He's working on his defense all offseason, so those numbers will likely see some growth.

If the Cardinals intend on keeping Willson Contreras and Pedro Pages as his backup, dealing Ivan Herrera after the season he just had would be wise. Personally, I would rather the Cardinals keep Ivan Herrera and employ him partially as the team's designated hitter or occasional first baseman while spelling Contreras at catcher. However, last year's roster construction and player usage would indicate Oliver Marmol's preference toward Pedro Pages behind Conteras.

Herrera isn't a free agent until 2030. His team control paired with his plus offense from behind the plate make him a wonderful trade candidate. If the Cardinals are looking to deal from depth while acquiring necessary pieces for the future, Ivan Herrera fits the bill.