Cardinal Speculations: Strategies for Cardinals to Address Positional Overcrowding for Victor Scott II

St. Louis Cardinals Caught in a Youthful Jam

The St. Louis Cardinals are finding themselves in a conundrum as the 2025 season approaches. It's not just one issue, but a multifaceted predicament that they need to navigate deftly.

From an organizational perspective, they're caught between competing now and gearing up for the future. Now, this Cardinals squad could splash the cash, but splashing it hasn't exactly paid off for them in the past. Straddling this middle ground isn't exactly ideal for a storied franchise.

From a player perspective, the Cardinals have a plethora of young stars to choose from to round out their roster. positions, save center field, are all locked down. The identity of the center fielder will set off a domino effect on the rest of the roster.

Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages will share duties behind the plate. The infield will be dominated by Willson Contreras, Nolan Gorman, Masyn Winn, and Nolan Arenado. The corner outfield spots will be occupied by Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, and Jordan Walker. This leaves Alec Burleson, Jose Fermin, Michael Siani, and Luken Baker on the bench.

Victor Scott II has thrown a wildcard into the mix.

Scott's spring performance has been nothing short of spectacular. He's batting an impressive .359 with a 1.149 OPS, notching three home runs, seven walks, and five stolen bases. His performance this spring has forced the front office to consider keeping the 24-year-old outfielder on the major league roster when training camp ends in less than a week.

However, making Scott the starting center fielder brings added complexity. This would move Lars Nootbaar to left field, Brendan Donovan to second base, and Nolan Gorman to the designated hitter spot. Plenty of playing time would be lost with Alec Burleson and Luken Baker would see less action. The ripple effects of keeping Scott on the roster are significant and far-reaching.

How does a team tackle this logjam? If the Cardinals are serious about giving their young players a chance in 2025, shouldn't Scott and Burleson, who combined for 21 home runs and a 106 wRC+ last season, be integral parts of the team? Sending Scott to Triple-A Memphis would undoubtedly leave fans disgruntled. Was there ever a real competition for the center field job if Scott is demoted? Was it already decided back in February that Michael Siani or Lars Nootbaar would occupy the center field role in 2025?

That's not necessarily the case. Throughout the offseason, we've heard about Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, and Lars Nootbaar as keys to the team's success. More recently, Alec Burleson's name has been added to the mix. Given the current roster setup, there's no way that all four of these players — plus Victor Scott II — can see at least 500 plate appearances each in 2025.

Something's gotta give for these young guns to get their time in the sun.

Solutions to unravel the St. Louis Cardinals' roster knot

Trading For a Solution

Clearing Spaces: Trading veterans or underperforming players could open up coveted roster spots for rising talents like Jordan Walker or Nolan Gorman
Targeted Acquisitions: Acquiring a veteran center fielder with defensive prowess can enable young players to develop in other positions

Platooning for Balance

Leveraging Advantages: Utilize platoon systems to maximize player strengths in center field. For instance, Alec Burleson and Lars Nootbaar could share time based on the opposing pitcher’s handedness
Role Specialization: Identify specific roles for players like DH or late-inning defensive replacements, ensuring everyone gets playing time without disrupting the starting lineup

Lineup Flexibility

Experimenting with Lineups: Try different lineup configurations to find the best fit for the young players. Additionally, moving players around can provide them with more at-bats and defensive experience
Positional Versatility: Encourage positional flexibility among players to make the roster more adaptable and resilient

Development in the Minors

Continued Development: Keep some of the young players in Triple-A to continue their development, especially those who require consistent playing time
Call-Ups: Regularly promote players who perform well in the minors to the big leagues to fill temporary voids created by injuries or slumps

Adjusting Front Office Strategy

Re-evaluating Roster Composition: Review the roster composition to ensure it aligns with the veteran players versus young talent
Future Planning: Assess long-term implications of decisions. If young players aren't receiving enough playing time, sending them to the minors might be beneficial for their growth without stunting their progress.

The St. Louis Cardinals are considering trading veterans or underperforming players to open up roster spots for rising talents like Jordan Walker or Nolan Gorman.
A possible solution for the Cardinals is acquiring a veteran center fielder with defensive prowess, allowing young players to develop in other positions.
To maximize player strengths in center field, the Cardinals could utilize a platoon system, such as using Alec Burleson and Lars Nootbaar sharing time based on the opposing pitcher’s handedness.
The Cardinals might also experiment with lineup configurations, moving players around to find the best fit for young players, provide them with more at-bats, and offer defensive experience.