Latest Cardinals Roster Decision Suggests Ongoing Lineup Conundrums Ahead
Getting Ivan Herrera Back: The Cardinals' Strategic Move
Looks like the St. Louis Cardinals will soon welcome back Ivan Herrera, their versatile catcher, and everyone's curious about their approach. Will they limit his duties, or will they mix things up?
Well, they've decided to opt for a mix-up!
According to the MLB transactions page (first spotted by our very own Scott Plaza and later confirmed by Jeff Jones), the Cardinals are sending down DH Luken Baker to Memphis, in anticipation of bringing back Herrera for their series against the Washington Nationals commencing this Friday.
With Baker out, Herrera steps into the DH spot, at least for now.
At first glance, Baker's stats might seem underwhelming (posting a .690 OPS in 34 at-bats), but he truly shines in his main role: he's got a fantastic .848 OPS against lefties – the best mark on the team for players with at least 20 opportunities.
But Baker's role was pretty limited. He only started versus left-handed pitching, and rarely got subbed in during the late stages of a game.
On the other hand, Herrera is back from his knee injury, and there are concerns about how much his knee can handle at first. Especially when it comes to the catching duties, which are quite demanding. Even before his injury, the Cardinals were grappling with determining how often Herrera should catch versus other positions, given his arm's deficiencies.
Instead of opting for Pedro Pages or Yohel Pozo now, the Cardinals are going for added flexibility. Bringing Herrera on as DH mean they can utilize his bat, especially against left-handed pitching, more frequently. Herrera's bat was an absolute force to start the year, boasting .381/.458/1.048 with four homers and 11 RBI in just 21 at-bats.
The Cardinals can afford to be patient with Herrera's knee recovery, and simultaneously work on enhancing his arm strength. Once Herrera's knee is fully healed, however, the Cardinals need to put him back behind the plate.
Why? Because the more time Herrera spends in a DH role, the fewer at-bats will be available for Alec Burleson and Nolan Gorman. Burleson's been on a hitting streak, and the Cardinals want him to keep swinging. Plus, they're eager to see Gorman work through his offensive struggles. And with more vets like Willson Contreras, Nolan Arenado, and others in the lineup, keeping their feet fresh is essential.
The Cardinals have always appreciated Pages' defensive prowess behind the plate, while Pozo has been nothing less than productive with his bat since joining the roster. So, expect them to be cautious when introducing Herrera back into the mix. Yet, as soon as Herrera's ready, the Cardinals might turn back to Baker, unless Pozo continues to hit at a high rate.
In the upcoming series against the Washington Nationals, Ivan Herrera will take DH Luken Baker's spot, providing the Cardinals with added flexibility to utilize Herrera's potent bat, especially against left-handed pitching. However, as Herrera recovers from his knee injury, the Cardinals will need to carefully manage his duties at the plate to ensure adequate at-bats for Alec Burleson and Nolan Gorman, who are currently on a hitting streak and exhibiting offensive struggles, respectively.
