7 Cardinals fighting for their jobs the rest of the season

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The St. Louis Cardinals worked to make moves at the trade deadline to bolster their pitching organization-wide. Which Cardinals will fight the rest of the season to keep their jobs with the Cardinals?

The Cardinals have a lot of big decisions to make over the next few months. Who will stay with the organization, and who will the team use to make moves to improve the team next season? As has been the case for several seasons, this off-season starting pitching will be the primary need for John Mozeliak and the company.

Which players will use the next few weeks to earn their roster spot for next season with the Cardinals? Which players will play to make themselves appealing for other teams the Cardinals could trade within the offseason?

Dylan Carlson

Carlson was expected to be one of the players leaving the Cardinals at the trade deadline. Luckily for the Cardinals, they did retain their talented outfielder. It's a lucky thing because he is one of the more talented outfielders on the roster, patrolling centerfield with Gold Glove potential.

Remaining with the Cardinals this summer, Carlson will be able to show off his skills in the outfield and improve some at the plate. This can help the Cardinals in the long run, making him their centerfielder. It could also complicate things in that Lars Nootbaar has played some at the position.

While Nootbaar can play anywhere in the outfield, Carlson's other option is right field which is a position currently occupied by top-prospect Jordan Walker. The problem being this is the first full season Walker has played in the outfield. And it hasn't been great, but because he is the organization's top prospect, he does receive the bulk of the playtime.

Another problem? Carlson was placed on the 10-day injured list with a foot injury. Not good for his journey to remain a part of the Cardinals.

Once he is able to come back, Carlson will continue working to improve at the plate and show without a doubt he is the team's best option at center field. Otherwise, with improvement at the plate, the Cardinals could deal him for starting pitching.

Much like the fan base, it does feel like there is some apprehension in dealing Carlson. He could become another Cardinal the organization gave up on too quickly.

Andrew Knizner

For several seasons, Knizner has been the backup to legendary Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina. In other words, Knizner was the backup to a man who did not like not playing. It has been hard to Knizner much playing time, but this season has been a bit different.

Knizner is still the team backup for Willson Contreras. He, however, has had a difficult season in that he and the pitching staff had a difficult time adapting to no longer having Molina around. Knizner did receive a bulk of the playing time while Contreras worked with the pitchers on what they needed from him.

Once Knizner got a handle on things, Knizner did return to the backup role. Things took a weird turn this season though. Knizner had to go on the injured list due to a serious groin injury. During that time, the backup became Ivan Herrera, once thought to be Molina's heir. And this time around, Herrera showed why he was thought to be Molina's heir.

While Knizner has returned from the injured list, this left Herrera going back to AAA Memphis.

Knizner is having his best season offensively, too. He's hitting .255/.275/.483 with six doubles, nine home runs, 22 runs scored, and 26 RBI. He is arbitration eligible in 2024 and doesn't hit free agency until 2026.

Herrera hasn't even completed a half-season with the Cardinals. During his eight games with St. Louis this season, he hit .348/.423/.391 with a double, three runs scored, and an RBI.

With many talented catchers in the minor league system, the Cardinals may be forced into a decision this offseason. Do they keep both Herrera and Knizner? Or do they trade one of the catchers for starting pitching? Would the Cardinals keep the proven backup in Knizner or take a gamble on their young prospect in Herrera?

Dakota Hudson

It's a surprise that Hudson is even being considered here. Earlier this season, Hudson was one of a string of arms plugging away in Memphis. He was demoted to Memphis after a frustrating 2022 season. Many thought that was probably it for Hudson with the Cardinals.

Think again.

In his last seven games, he is 3-0 with a 4.50 ERA in 26 innings. He's given up eight walks and struck out 19 batters. He had an impressive start against the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 2. He went seven innings of two-hit baseball. He struck out seven batters in that game.

It's nice to see him improve over where he was last season. If he battles and continues to have impressive starts, he could catapult himself back into the Cardinals rotation. It would be great to see him continue his comeback.

Matthew Liberatore

The 23-year-old lefty had his most impressive start on Aug. 10 against the Rays. The team that traded him to the Cardinals for Randy Arozarena. One of the most controversial trades by John Mozeliak. And Liberatore did a great job proving to his many doubters on the Internet what a good pitcher he can be for the Cardinals.

He pitched eight innings, giving up two hits, no runs, no walks and striking out seven batters.

Liberatore often struggles through his outings, but he is motivated to pitch well. Let's hope Liberatore keeps it up and carries that motivation throughout this season and into Spring Training. Liberatore is most definitely fighting for a spot on the 2024 rotation, and his outing against the Rays proves he is more than capable of being a dependable arm for the Cardinals.

Tyler O'Neill

If anyone has turned things around for the better, it has to be Tyler O'Neill. Since his return from the injured list, he has shown to be the Gold Glove-caliber left fielder the team has missed. And most importantly, we have seen glimpses of his real offensive threat.

O'Neill has five hits, three home runs, and four RBI in his last seven games.

Many believe he should have been traded. But O'Neill has come back with confidence, hitting with power and showing off his flashy defense. It's great to see he's being given the opportunity to prove he can be the player the Cardinals need him to be, and if not, move on. But he's being given the shot, and that's important after two seasons of struggle.

Willson Contreras

Contreras will enter his second season of a five-year contract worth $87.5 million. He will remain a St. Louis Cardinal. The question remains whether he will have the starting catcher duties secured or will he split duties with his backup and be the team's designated hitter.

Contreras has split time with Knizner and Herrera this season and has been the team's designated hitter. Several starting rotation members had a different trust level with Contreras than with Molina and complained to management. While he quickly worked to gain trust, he will be working with new pitchers throughout the rest of this season and into Spring Training.

Contreras will be working to remain the Cardinals' everyday starting catcher.

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Jordan Walker

As the top young star on the team, Walker will be in the lineup. While he has had some issues getting his swing righted this season, he's also struggled with his position in the outfield. He has had his moments, but watching him in the outfield mainly draws anxiety.

This is his first entire season playing in the outfield. He will work for the remainder of this season to improve. While getting out of his head and rested will be important this offseason, continuing to improve at the plate to get his swing corrected and improve his defense in the outfield will be just as important. To work on his skills, he should have one-on-one time with a former Cardinal, such as Matt Holliday, Jim Edmonds, Albert Pujols, or Mark McGwire.

Walker is going to be great. It would be good to see him have a productive offseason for a better 2024.

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