6 Cardinals who are fighting for their futures in Spring Training

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After a season in which the St. Louis Cardinals went 71-91, the organization has made numerous changes to better their chances for a successful 2024 campaign.

The team has reintroduced several veteran voices into the fold to impress upon a young group how things are done in the Cardinals system. They are keeping up the traditions of the Cardinal Way. Not to say veering off from the Cardinal Way caused last season's disaster. Still, the organization bringing back key veterans indicates the team wants to get things back to the Cardinal Way.

The Cardinals brought in three new starting pitchers who are vocal leadership. Sonny Gray has had an instant impact on the pitching staff. Kyle Gibson is a hard-working guy who wants to put up innings and strikeouts. Lance Lynn returns to the organization as a fan favorite who is very vocal about the Cardinal Way and how to go about his business.

Matt Carpenter was brought back to the Cardinals after non-vocal leaders Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado insisted that someone with Carpenter's experience in the Cardinals system was needed.

Daniel Descalso, a Cardinals' 2011 World Series Championship team member, was hired on as bench coach to help manager Oli Marmol and the club. Descalso's experience could benefit players like Brendan Descalso, Tommy Edman, Thomas Saggese, and Masyn Winn, who fit a super utility mold.

Yadier Molina was hired as a special advisor to John Mozeliak, expecting he would help during Spring Training and the season as needed, even appearing in the dugout in uniform. While he hasn't arrived yet, Molina's appearance would benefit coaches, players, and executives. Molina has a respected voice that was missed in 2023. It will be good to have him back.

After all of the changes this offseason, who will be fighting for their place on the 2024 Cardinals this spring training?

Oli Marmol is fighting for his future in Spring Training

The 2023 season was miserable. The buck usually stops with the manager. John Mozeliak and the DeWitt family are giving Marmol the benefit of the doubt knowing they didn't spend to have the best available team for Marmol.

Mozeliak and the DeWitt's did some spending, but will it be enough? Most of the issues from 2023 had to do with communication. When he perceived an issue, Marmol quickly threw players under the bus - think Willson Contreras and Tyler O'Neill. Contreras took the brunt of not being Molina to a pitching staff member who wasn't prepared for life after Molina. O'Neill, who puts in the preparation work, was criticized for a perceived lack of hustle around the base paths on a night when it had been raining.

There were other issues regarding communication throughout the season. Publicly criticizing players is generally not a preferred tactic to make them do what you want. Negativity will get you nowhere. Marmol lacked that voice, like Molina or Albert Pujols, to discuss things with players out of the public view.

With Carpenter, Lynn, Gray, Descalso, and Molina around, Marmol and the players have a vocal person with the team in mind. This should help Marmol. There is a concern Marmol won't be able to help himself and revert to publicly criticizing players. The team didn't respond well to it before, and it shouldn't be tolerated going forward.

Marmol has been given some keys to help him going forward. The question remains if he will use those keys to benefit the team.

Alec Burleson is fighting for his future in Spring Training

Burleson got his shot last season when Brendan Donovan was injured. He became the guy to fill in when someone needed a day off or a left-handed pinch hitter. Donovan is healthy and finding his place on the team, which will likely include some time in the outfield. Carpenter's addition to the team throws another wrench in Burleson's plans to stay with the team, as he is a left-handed bat and can play any base position.

Burleson could use this opportunity to show he is worthy of a full-time slot in the lineup or at least a roster spot as a backup. He may be worthy of a full-time opportunity, but not with the Cardinals. Burleson has shown all he can do for the Cardinals. It would be interesting if he could show off enough to be included in a deal to get more starting pitching for the Cardinals.

Andre Pallante is fighting for his future in Spring Training

Pallante was an excellent find for the Cardinals in 2022. He did whatever was asked of him, from starting to relief work. He was slated to work out of the bullpen once he was promoted from AAA Memphis. He mostly struggled, and it wasn't fun to watch.

This offseason he worked with Tread Athletics to develop a sweeper pitch.

This looks sharp and as we get deeper into Spring Training, we should see the full potential of this new pitch in his arsenal.

Pallante was such a good pitcher in the 2022 season. Hopefully, 2023 was just a bad season, and he can bounce back to be an effective late-innings reliever with a devastatingly new sweeper pitch to effectively get batters out.

It's great to see Pallante put in the work to develop a pitch to make him a needed option for the Cardinals bullpen.

Matthew Liberatore is fighting for his future in Spring Training

Since his arrival in St. Louis, the expectation is that he will be the next great left-handed starter for the Cardinals.

While he had one epic start in 2023 against the Tampa Bay Rays, he's mostly struggled to get through starts after shifting between starting and relief. That can not be easy for a young pitcher to get acclimated to pitching in the big leagues.

Hopefully, Liberatore can make a good enough impression to find a role and stick to it, and if it's starting, that would be amazing for him after all of his hard work.

Michael Siani is fighting for his future in Spring Training

Siani could end up being the surprise of the spring. A left-handed centerfield, Siani is primed to be a surprise addition to the Opening Day roster. Tommy Edman is slowly getting ready for the 2024 season after an offseason surgery on his wrist.

Siani will compete with Dylan Carlson, who is ramping up for competition after surgery on his ankle. Another competitor for the center field job is top-prospect Victor Scott II, who they may keep in AAA Memphis to continue his development.

If Siani has a good Spring Training, he could surprise everyone by landing a coveted spot on the Cardinals roster as a centerfielder or bench option for the club. Either way, if Siani has a great spring, he could be rewarded for his hard work.

Masyn Winn is fighting for his future in Spring Training

Even Winn acknowledges the acquisition of All-Star shortstop Brandon Crawford should light a fire under him to get to work.

Mozeliak said the shortstop job is Winn's to have, but a veteran shortstop for backup was desperately needed as Edman is still recovering from wrist surgery in the offseason. Winn will tremendously benefit from having a player of Crawford's caliber around. Crawford is a two-time World Series champion, a three-time All-Star, and a four-time Gold Glove winner.

Crawford is the exact veteran voice Mozeliak and Marmol need around to help with the team's youngsters. Winn will benefit in the long term from the friendship he will develop with Crawford.

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