By Rob Rains
JUPITER, Fla. – Whenever a friendly conversation turns into a discussion about the Cardinals, the question usually starts out like, “So what does Rob think about (fill in the blank)?”
With the Cardinals reaching the halfway point in their 30-game spring training schedule this weekend, it seems like a good time to try to answer some of those questions.
Here and 10 thoughts and observations about the current state of the team:
- Victor Scott II deserves to be the starting center fielder.
Scott has looked like a different players this spring, more aggressive and more confident. He is hitting the ball hard, he is bunting for hits and his defensive play is much improved. He has been one of the team’s two best players all spring. If it really is a legitimate competition this spring to see who deserves to start in center, there is no question Scott has won the job. Michael Siani, as good as he defensively, has not hit and Lars Nootbaar is not as good defensively as either Scott or Siani in that spot.
- There is a lot of good young pitching on the way.
The list starts with Quinn Mathews but it doesn’t end there. Tekoah Roby is finally healthy for the first time in three years and Tink Hence is progressing as well. None of the three is likely to begin this year in St. Louis, but they could all be there by the end of the season. With three of the current starters set to be free agents this off-season, it isn’t hard to look forward and imagine that those spots filled by Mathews, Roby and Hence in 2026.
- Willson Contreras will be fine at first base.
He might not be a candidate for a Gold Glove, but Contreras has looked comfortable at his new position. He has made all of the routine plays and should become even more acclimated to the spot as the season continues. If the move can help Contreras stay healthy, and keep his bat in the lineup, then it definitely was a good change for him and the team. Contreras and Scott II have been the two best hitters so far this spring.
- Matthew Liberatore has been the best pitcher in camp.
In his first seven innings this spring Liberatore has not allowed a hit and has retired 21 of the 22 hitters he has faced, walking the only one he didn’t retire. With the eighth-inning role open after free agent Andrew Kittridge signed with the Orioles, Liberatore definitely looks as if he will be part of that key mix to get the ball to closer Ryan Helsley along with Ryan Fernandez and JoJo Romero. Filling that role should make Liberatore more valuable than if the team tried to just him to pick up innings in the middle of a game.
- It’s still early but it might be time to worry a little bit about Nolan Gorman.
If there is one Cardinals’ player to pay closer attention to the rest of the spring, it might be Gorman. The actual results of at-bats this time of year don’t matter as much as the “process” but the team is hoping Gorman starts to show how he is benefitting from all of the work he put in over the winter with new hitting coach Brant Brown. They want him to concentrate on hitting the ball more up the middle and to left center, believing that will show he is staying on the ball better and still will allow him to pull the ball and hit home runs when he gets a pitch when he can do that.
- Nolan Arenado’s presence is going to force some tough roster and lineup decisions.
One of the reasons Gorman bears watching is because of Arenado. The plan over the winter was for Arenado to be someplace else and Gorman at third, getting 500 plus at-bats, but with Arenado back, the trickle-down effect has moved Gorman back to second and the DH spot – with other lineup moves also being dictated by Arenado’s presence. If Gorman plays second, Brendan Donovan likely moves to left, which could move Nootbaar to center instead of Scott or Siani. If Gorman is the DH that will take at-bats away from Alec Burleson, who by the way led the Cardinals in RBIs last season. Somebody’s at-bats are going to get squeezed and somebody who would have made the team without Arenado here will be left off the roster.
- J. Wetherholt will be a major-leaguer sooner than later.
Less than a year ago Wetherholt was playing for West Virginia. The seventh overall pick in the amateur draft last July has made a big impression on the Cardinals’ major-league staff and has benefitted greatly from his time in the major-league camp. Wetherholt has only played shortstop this spring but likely will get work at both second base and third base in the minor league season as he organization tries to identify his long-term position in the majors, which won’t be shortstop as long as Masyn Winn is on the team. After playing at low Class A Palm Beach last year following the draft, it will be interesting to see if the Cardinals move Wetherholt to high A Peoria to begin this year or jump him all the way to Double A Springfield.
- Michael McGreevy deserves a spot in the rotation, but whose spot will he take?
The Cardinals came into camp with a projected five-man rotation of Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde, Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz and Andre Pallante – and that could still be the way they begin the year. In his two games, however, McGreevy has followed up his success at the end of last season with impressive results, retiring 15 of the 16 hitters he has faced. For him to start, the Cardinals will either have to go with a six-man rotation, bump someone else to the bullpen or make a trade.
- Luken Baker needs to be in the major leagues – if not with the Cardinals, then team should trade him.
There is no reason why Baker should have to go back to Memphis. He has nothing left to prove at the Triple A level. If he gets squeezed out of a roster spot for the Cardinals, they should do the honorable thing and trade him to a team which would be able to keep him in the big leagues. The move of Contreras to first base changed what seemed to be the originl post-Paul Goldschmidt plan of platooning Burleson and Baker at first, and also letting them be used as a DH. It seems kind of doubtful the Cardinals will want to carry three players whose primary position would be first base but Baker might force them into doing that.
- The ABS challenge system is proving to be very popular, and likely is a year away from being used in the regular season.
Players who have been at Memphis last season or played in the Arizona Fall League were familiar with the system but for the veterans this has been a new experience. All seem to like it, except for Toronto’s Max Scherzer. The system is quick, easy to understand, and helps gets the call right – which should be what everybody wants. It should not replace the use of umpires calling balls and strikes, but using the available technology to call a few borderline pitches correctly should have everybody’s approval.
Follow Rob Rains on X @RobRains
Photo of Victor Scott II by the Associated Press
