3 possible plans the Cardinals can have for Tommy Edman in 2024

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The St. Louis Cardinals have too many position players when everyone is healthy. The outfield can be filled with Lars Nootbaar, Jordan Walker, Tyler O'Neill, Dylan Carlson, Tommy Edman, and even Brendan Donovan in a pinch. The infield features Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt on the corner; Edman, Nolan Gorman, Masyn Winn, and Brendan Donovan can all play up the middle.

Each of these players deserves a starting spot, and many would be key cogs on other teams throughout the league. While some players haven't quite played up to their preseason projections, there is potential for each of these position players. While depth is usually a good thing, too much of a good thing can become challenging to handle.

Tommy Edman finds himself in the middle of this knotty conglomeration of talent. He is able to play at least three positions well and can be serviceable at two others. Edman plays a solid shortstop, has been showing off in center field, has an aptitude for second base (he won a Gold Glove there in 2021), and can play the corner outfield spots well.

This versatility and positional flexibility make Edman's 2024 season a confusing (problematic?) predicament for the Cardinals. While he isn't your prototypical centerfielder, he has shown the ability to make great plays in the grass. He is a steady force at shortstop, although the hope is that Masyn Winn can get his bat up to speed to take over that spot in 2024. Second base appears to be Gorman's for the future, and the corner spots are occupied by a rookie phenom and an international star.

Here are three possible routes the Cardinals can go with Tommy Edman for the 2024 season.

Play Him in Center

At the beginning of the year, calling Tommy Edman the starting center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals would have sounded ludicrous. He was our shortstop, not our center fielder. However, with a plethora of injuries to the Cardinals' outfielders, the athletic and speedy Edman was thrust into the middle of the outfield.

There were speed bumps early on, but he was able to learn the position relatively quickly having only logged 14 innings in center throughout his entire professional career. Edman adapted quite well to roaming the middle of the outfield. Through 283 innings in center field this year, Edman has logged a +5 Outs Above Average. He is in the 88th percentile in sprint speed, 93rd percentile in range, and 65th percentile in arm strength. While he isn't prone to throwing people out, he is capable of covering ground, thus limiting extra-base hits. Edman's middle-of-the-pack arm limits his outfield assists potential, as he only has 3 this year. His range decreases the need for him to use his arm, though.

TOMMY EDMAN APPRECIATION POST! pic.twitter.com/HhUMPSUnNc
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) September 8, 2023

Edman has been making web-gem plays all year long, most recently against Atlanta. Edman's potential in center field allows the Cardinals to save money this offseason. Rather than spending money on a defensive-minded fielder, the Cardinals can plug Edman in center and not worry about a thing.

Super-Utility Player

Should the Cardinals sign a center fielder, they can slot Edman in as a super-utility player and someone who can give a handful of players a night off. His ability to play both corner outfield spots, center field, and up the middle on the infield gives the Cardinals a lot of flexibility when it comes to roster construction.

Edman won a Gold Glove at second base in 2021, and he has only ever recorded a negative OAA twice, -2 this year at 2B and -1 in 2020 at 2B. Given his Gold Glove, it's reasonable to assume that Tommy Edman is more than capable at all positions he has played before. This means he can give any one of the outfielders a day off next year, he can fill in at shortstop if Masyn Winn struggles to adjust in 2024, and he can even spell Nolan Gorman or Brendan Donovan a break at second base.

Edman's ability to play 5 positions at an above-average rate gives Oli Marmol a lot of freedom with roster construction. By making him a super-utility player, Marmol can ride the "hot hand" next year. Marmol can also use Edman as a speedy replacement or defensive replacement late in the games next year when he isn't starting.

Trade Him for Pitching

As was previously stated, the Cardinals have a lot of depth on their roster. Edman may be most valuable as a trade piece to the Cardinals this offseason. He could be squeezed out of a starting spot if other players show off this spring or if the Front Office signs a center fielder. Opposing teams would love his versatility when paired with his league-average bat. While he won't carry an offense, he surely won't hurt one. Teams can slot Edman in as a starter at a variety of positions.

Edman's offensive profile may not be the most appealing to teams; for his career, he has a .265/.320/.411 slash line for an OPS+ of 101. He has walked at a 6.3% rate for his career, a bit below league average; however, he has struck out at 16.5% of his at-bats, 6% below league average. While Edman won't blow pitchers away, he can be a tough at bat. His speed helps him hit doubles and triples often, and he is known to swipe a bag or two a week. He has stolen 24 bases this year and stole 32 last year.

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Tommy Edman is arbitration-eligible for the next two years, so he won't be a free agent until 2026. Teams who trade for the 29-year-old Edman will have him in his athletic prime for at least two more years, and they'll have the chance to extend him. Edman could fetch the Cardinals a pitcher this offseason, something they sorely need. While he is very valuable for the Cardinals on their roster, Edman could bring in a player who may be more valuable for the team in 2024 and beyond.

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