Five pressing issues the St. Louis Cardinals have yet to address or find solutions for
The St. Louis Cardinals have experienced a rollercoaster ride to begin the 2025 season, with their consistent offensive displays giving fans hope. After a stellar opening weekend, they stumbled in their next series before their first road trip. Their battery was tested during their stop in Boston, getting swept by the Red Sox before meeting up with their first NL opponents and division rivals, the Pittsburgh Pirates.
General Manager John Mozeliak's tenure is ending after the current season, paving the way for Chaim Bloom to take charge of an organization calling out for a major revamp. Mozeliak's presence during this transition limits Bloom's ability to start the revamp process, creating uncertainty about the team's direction. Before Opening Day, I wrote about questions the Cardinals need to answer, but the early stages of the season have added more that need immediate addressing.
What challenges remain for the Cardinals with Mozeliak still in charge?
1. Long-term catcher dilemma
Iván Herrera's impressive start to the season has sparked discussions about the Cardinals' current catcher pair and the priorities manager Oli Marmol needs to consider when setting the lineup day by day. Initially, it appeared a constant question would be offense versus defense in the batting order, but Herrera's power surge has made it challenging to deny him a daily spot in the lineup. Yet, Herrera has only played in seven of the team's nine games, with backup catcher Pedro Pages getting playing time due to Herrera's struggles in controlling the running game.
Although Herrera worked on his throwing during the offseason at Driveline, opposing teams have notably decided to test him with stolen bases, achieving success in all seven attempts. This puts Marmol in a tough position, forcing him to adopt a defensive mindset in crucial moments, causing a split among fans regarding his choices. The inability to control the running game is not solely Herrera's fault, as the pitchers must do their part in holding runners.
On Saturday, during a game against the Red Sox, Herrera suffered an apparent leg injury while running the bases, and he may have to spend time on the Injured List. With no other catcher on the 40-man roster, Pedro Pages will likely handle duties until Herrera returns. Pages, despite being nowhere near Herrera's offensive production, did put up a good spring at the plate.
Meanwhile, 23-year-old Jimmy Crooks trains in Triple-A, where he could become an everyday catcher as soon as next season. Crooks boasts above-average defensive skills and demonstrated his ability to excel at the plate in the minors so far. Despite missing out on MLB.com's top-100 prospect list, Crooks currently ranks as the organization's No. 4 prospect and has claimed the starting spot in Memphis. Defensively, Crooks has thrown out over 29% of base-stealers, a percentage that surpasses both Herrera and Pages.
The catching debate extends beyond the current duo, as the Cardinals aren't sure about Herrera's future behind the plate. With Willson Contreras stationed at first base, switching Herrera to that position is unlikely in the short term. Transitioning a young player to a full-time Designated Hitter role before exploring other options isn't usually advisable. This is a situation to monitor throughout the season, as long as everyone maintains their offensive production and the news on Herrera's injury isn't severe.
Bonus insight:
- The Cardinals face a dilemma between immediate needs and long-term planning, especially if Jimmy Crooks continues hitting at his current pace and Iván Herrera's recovery stumbles. Keep an eye on their performances during the season. Source
- Jen-Ho Marmol, the Cardinals' manager, is grappling with a challenging lineup decision due to Iván Herrera's impressive offensive performances, which have made it hard to deny him a regular spot in the lineup, while simultaneously addressing Herrera's struggles in controlling base runners.
- The Cardinals' catching situation may require immediate addressing, as the team is faced with a question of defense versus offense, particularly when it comes to the playing time distribution between Herrera and backup catcher Pedro Pages.
- In the long term, the Cardinals' catching dilemma is far from resolved, as they consider the future of Iván Herrera behind the plate, Willson Contreras' potential role at first base, and the readiness of Jimmy Crooks, a promising 23-year-old catcher in Triple-A, to handle MLB responsibilities.
- Given John Mozeliak's tenure ending after the current season, it remains to be seen how his departure will impact the Cardinals' scheduling and decision-making, as the team looks to address its catching concerns and continue their 2025 MLB season.
