3 St. Louis Cardinals position battles to keep an eye on

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These three position duels on the St. Louis Cardinals are worth monitoring during Spring Training.

With Spring Training about to start, the St. Louis Cardinals have a few questions on the roster that they'll need to address, and among those are battles for playing time at three positions. I'll also add my predictions of who will emerge as the frontrunners at these positions.

Center field

Tyler O'Neill created a stir when the Cardinals mentioned he would be vying for the team's starting center field job, which Dylan Carlson handled last year. O'Neill mainly played left field, a position that is likely to go to Jordan Walker when he receives his seemingly inevitable promotion this season.

The Cardinals are trying to light a fire under Carlson, who scuffled to a tune of .236/.316/.380 last season but whom the Cardinals remain high on. Injuries ravaged O'Neill's season, and he will try to return to the All-Star caliber form he showed in 2021. O'Neill's injury history could make center field a risky proposition given its more demanding nature, and while his fielding routes aren't crisp, his elite speed makes up for it.

Prediction: O'Neill plays most of the games in center field. I think the main reason for this is that Walker will be the left fielder in the future, and I don't see Carlson having as high a ceiling as O'Neill. If Walker replaces one of the outfielders, it seems more likely that it's Carlson, and O'Neill would have the benefit of having played in center field more often if that occurs.

Designated hitter

Nolan Gorman is expected to man the keystone most of the season, but his defensive shortcomings could necessitate him to serve as the designated hitter for several games. He'll have competition for that role, as Juan Yepez and likely eventually Jordan Walker will also earn reps at the position. Paul DeJong could see time at this spot as well after losing his starting shortstop role to Tommy Edman last season.

Prediction: Yepez will earn most of the starts at designated hitter. His fielding is far below average, and he has shown he is a dangerous hitter. Walker and Gorman are too young for them to be pigeonholed as frequent designated hitters, and while DeJong could bounce back this year, I can't see him receiving much time at the position early in the season because of his struggles the last two seasons. He'll need to prove himself.

Left-handed reliever

The Cardinals possess plenty of options for southpaws competing for bullpen spots. Zack Thompson had a productive rookie season and could earn a spot, as could Genesis Cabrera, who had a down season last year and was hampered by a leg injury. Packy Naughton flashed strong control and is another option.

Prediction: Thompson and Cabrera earn spots in the bullpen to start the season. Thompson is a former first-round draft pick, and a career in the bullpen could be considered a disappointment. It's possible the Cardinals send him to Memphis if they want him to become a starter, but a relief role seems more feasible. Cabrera's 2021 season should give him some grace and a longer leash in the bullpen. Naughton will likely be the first one from Memphis called upon if there's an injury or ineffectiveness.

These are probably going to be the three most interesting positions members of the Cardinals will compete for. Even with several players in the World Baseball Classic, Spring Training should be a good way to see how it all shakes out.

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