ST. LOUIS – Exactly one month from Wednesday, the St. Louis Cardinals will open up their spring training game schedule. With baseball season drawing closer, it’s time to start thinking about roster construction.
Barring any injuries or unforeseen circumstances, the regulars in the St. Louis Cardinals’ starting lineup and the five-man rotation seem pretty clear. The depth pieces that round out this year’s team, particularly the bench and the bullpen, remain to be determined.
When you take the starting rotation and starting lineup out of the picture, the Cardinals will essentially be looking to fill up around 12 of 26 big-league roster spots come Opening Day. Four or five are likely set aside for bench players. The rest will consist of bullpen arms.
Which backup position players and relief pitchers might start the 2024 season in St. Louis? Let’s dive into the possibilities…
Bench – Position Players
The Cardinals will likely want some combination of experience, positional versatility, and unique traits (like speed or contact) to form the bench. Considering the team’s current 40-man roster and this spring’s non-roster invitees, here are a look a potential bench options…
LIKELY ON OPENING DAY ROSTER
Iván Herrera (C), Matt Carpenter (IF), Alec Burleson (1B/OF), Dylan Carlson (OF)
POSSIBLY BREAK CAMP ON OPENING DAY ROSTER
Pedro Pagés (C), Luken Baker (1B), José Fermín (2B/SS), Buddy Kennedy (2B), Michael Siani (OF)
LONGSHOTS
Jimmy Crooks (C), Jared Young (1B), César Prieto (2B), Thomas Saggese (2B/SS), Moisés Gómez (OF), Victor Scott II (OF)
Last week’s signing of Matt Carpenter gives the Cardinals a little more clarity on the makeup of the bench after St. Louis traded outfielder Richie Palacios to the Rays. Herrera, Burleson and Carlson are all under 25 and can handle larger opportunities in the case of an injury or lineup change.
The Cardinals may opt for one more bench bat out of spring training, but don’t expect many big surprises for hitters out of spring. Fermín or Kennedy would give St. Louis a little more reassurance for a young middle infield core (Brendan Donovan, Nolan Gorman and Masyn Winn) that might need rest later in the season.
Bullpen – Relief pitchers
The Cardinals envisioned changes to the bullpen this offseason after a bullpen that finished among the league’s worst in ERA and blown saves, and they’ve added several new arms this winter. How exactly this plays out with shaping up the bullpen remains to be seen.
The Cardinals will want some left-handed pitchers, but also guys who can mop up innings or change the pace from what the rotation offers. Considering the team’s current 40-man roster and this spring’s non-roster invitees, here are a look a potential bench options…
LIKELY ON OPENING DAY ROSTER
RHP: Giovanny Gallegos, Ryan Helsley, Andrew Kittredge
LHP: John King, JoJo Romero
POSSIBLY BREAK CAMP ON OPENING DAY ROSTER
RHP: Ryan Fernandez, Andre Pallante, Nick Robertson
LHP: Matthew Liberatore, Drew Rom, Zack Thompson
LONGSHOTS
RHP: Gordon Graceffo, Adam Kloffenstein, Michael McGreevy, Kyle Leahy, Riley O’Brien, Sem Robberse, Guillermo Zuñiga
LHP: Packy Naughton, Connor Thomas
Gallegos and Helsley are currently the favorites for the eighth and ninth innings based on their experience, but the Cardinals considered more of a closer-by-committee approach at certain points last year. Kittredge is a former All-Star who the Cardinals acquired for Palacios earlier this month. King and Romero saw their roles grow after strong finishes last year and give the Cardinals flexibility.
In theory, this leaves around three spots up for grabs in the Cardinals bullpen come spring. Fernandez could be St. Louis-bound with a strong spring as a Rule 5 pick who the Cardinals must roster on Opening Day or place on waivers.
Pallante has a decent chance among the cuspers if his health and performance align in spring. St. Louis will have important decisions to make as to whether Liberatore, Rom, and Thompson, all who started at points last year, should start the year in a relief role or otherwise likely as a starting pitcher in the minors.
