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7 players who could contend for the Cardinals' final bench spot in 2024
With the departure of Richie Palacios, someone else gets to try and make St. Louis's roster out of Spring Training.
On January 5th, the St. Louis Cardinals probably closed the books on their offseason with the trade of Richie Palacios. In exchange for the young utility player, the Cardinals brought in reliever Andrew Kittredge. Kittredge, a former All-Star, will slot in toward the back of the bullpen. His high-leverage experience will be an excellent addition to a bullpen that was one or two pieces shy of being good.
With the second trade for bullpen help this offseason, Mozeliak brings in a player with high-leverage experience and an All-Star pedigree. #STLCards bullpen figures to be set for the season, and the offseason book seems to be closed. A very strong rebound after an abysmal season. pic.twitter.com/X27hJPy8BZ
— Thomas Gauvain (@thomasgauvain) January 5, 2024
Palacios's departure creates an open roster spot for someone else on the roster. His ability to play multiple outfield and infield positions was vital, and hopefully, the team is able to find that production within its own minor-league pipeline.
After the 2023 Trade Deadline, the Cardinals have a long list of capable players who can provide at the highest level of domestic baseball. Today, I'm going to identify a collection of players who could slot into the final roster spot in 2024 and help the team.
I will try my best to make a case for each player, but some are more obvious fits. For example, while Luken Baker has clearly earned an MLB roster spot, his one-dimensional approach defensively could hamper his case. For what it's worth, FanGraphs Roster Resource page lists INF/OF Jared Young as the team's twenty-sixth man.
Luken Baker
Let's jump right in with Luken Baker. Baker is a strong offensive player. He has a career .264/.344/.486 slash line in the minors and his most recent showing in AAA Memphis (thirty-three home runs in just eighty-four games) bolsters his case to be the team's backup first baseman/designated hitter.
The issue for Baker arises in his ability to only play first base or designated hitter. The Cardinals have plenty of players already who can do that. Paul Goldschmidt, Alec Burleson, and Willson Contreras can all fill that void, and the team needs players who can play shortstop in a pinch, especially if Masyn Winn, Tommy Edman, or Dylan Carlson underperform or get hurt. Baker is on the 40-man roster.
Jared Young
The Cardinals claimed Jared Young off waivers from the Chicago Cubs on November 6, 2023. Young turned twenty-eight in July, and he has only logged sixty-nine plate appearances in the majors. He has posted a .269/.342/.437 slash line in his minor league career.
For what Luken Baker lacks in positional versatility, Young more than makes up for it. He has logged time at multiple positions including left field, first base, and second base. He has primarily played first base, but in a pinch, Young can spell most anyone excluding shortstop and center field. His inclusion would be a low-risk, low-reward move that allows the Cardinals to maintain options on other prospects. He is on the 40-man roster.
Buddy Kennedy
Buddy Kennedy was acquired by the Cardinals through waivers from the Oakland Athletics. His acquisition deepened the team's middle infield options in the farm system. Kennedy, twenty-five, has spent time with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Oakland Athletics organizations during his minor league career. He can play both second base and third base.
In 417 Triple-A plate appearances for the Diamondbacks' affiliate, Kennedy slashed .318/.444/.481. He walked more times than he struck out, and he finished the season with a 133 wRC+. The right-hander didn't perform as well in the majors, but the potential is clearly there. He is on the 40-man roster, so roster manipulation isn't necessary should he open camp with the major league squad. It is likely Buddy Kennedy claims the final spot in my opinion.
Jose Fermin
Familiarity breeds contempt, and Cardinal fans are quite familiar, and contempt, with Jose Fermin. Out of necessity last year, Fermin appeared in twenty-one games for St. Louis, garnering sixty-one plate appearances. A .235/.339/.255 slash line gave him a 76 wRC+, one of the worst on the team. Fermin, however, did have a respectful K rate (13.1%).
Jose Fermin is able to play can play all infield positions including shortstop. His positional flexibility would be the biggest factor in his chances of breaking Spring Training in St. Louis rather than Memphis. While he didn't play shortstop last year in St. Louis, he has played the position in the minors before.
Fermin would be another low-risk, low-reward player to start the season in St. Louis, but the Cardinals know what to expect from him at least. He is on the 40-man roster, but I don't think he's the best player the team has to offer for the final bench spot.
Moises Gomez
Moises Gomez went from being the best hitter in all of the minor leagues to a player who runs the risk of being cut from the Cardinals' organization. In 2022, Gomez had the best season of his career. He slugged .624 on the season, and he hit thirty-nine home runs. Gomez is able to play both corner outfield spots, but his defense isn't his calling card.
The issue for Moises Gomez comes in two facets: first, he can't play anywhere on the infield. The Cardinals have ample outfield depth between Lars Nootbaar, Jordan Walker, Tommy Edman, Dylan Carlson, and Brendan Donovan. Having another player who can ONLY play the outfield doesn't help. Second, Gomez isn't who he once was. He has high strikeout rates, and he didn't hit well enough last year to outweigh those maladies.
Gomez is on the 40-man roster, so his promotion shouldn't require much manipulation. I don't think it is likely that Gomez makes the MLB roster out of Spring next year, but he has an outside chance.
Pedro Pages
The Cardinals' promotion of Pedro Pages back in November was noteworthy. His inclusion on the 40-man roster booted Andrew Knizner off the team, and it spoke volumes about the team's desire to let Ivan Herrera get some run in the majors. Pages had an .805 OPS in AA Springfield in 2023, and he is developing well defensively.
Pages is known as an excellent blocker and receiver, and he has received strong reviews across the board for his defensive abilities. His bat finally caught up to his glove this past year. Should the Cardinals continue to try Willson Contreras at positions other than catcher next year, Pages could be a backup to Ivan Herrera.
Pages' inclusion on the MLB roster next year would complicate things, but there is a scenario in which the Cardinals carry three catchers on the major league roster next year. He is on the 40-man roster at the moment.
Thomas Saggese
Thomas Saggese would be the surprise pick, but he would also be the most exciting pick to take the last roster spot next year. Saggese was acquired at the Trade Deadline from the Texas Rangers, and he was absolutely unstoppable in the minors last year. Saggese won the Texas League MVP award in 2023, and he was a key piece in the Springfield lineup after the Deadline.
Thomas Saggese slashed .331/.403/.662 for AA Springfield in just thirty-three games. His ten home runs and 168 wRC+ were strong enough to earn him a promotion to AAA Memphis for the final weeks of the season. Saggese struggled in Memphis, but he at least got his toes wet. There is a little concern about his strikeout rates (27.2% for his minor league career), but should he slug over .600, the team will take that exchange.
Saggese isn't on the 40-man roster, so that would require some roster manipulation to give him the ability to play in St. Louis next year. He is likely the longest shot to break Spring Training with the MLB team, but it would be exciting to see him in St. Louis, and it would say a lot about the franchise's belief in him. He is able to play every position on the infield; this defensive versatility plays in his favor.
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