Projected Cardinals Opening Day Squad following fresh acquisition and recent roster adjustments
Rewritten Article:
We're just over a week away from the start of the season, and the St. Louis Cardinals are shaping up both on the mound and in the field.
The recent signing of Phil Maton has bolstered the bullpen and shifted things up a bit. Yet, that's not all the Cardinals have been up to. John Mozeliak and manager Oliver Marmol's comments seem to be providing a peek into how other parts of the roster might take shape.
As it turns out, there are some notable differences from my Opening Day prediction last week, and today I'm spilling the tea on what seems to be the Cardinals' game plan for their 26-man squad.
I'll be outlining predictions for catcher, infield, outfield, utility, rotation, bullpen, and lineups against RHP and LHP
Catcher (2) - Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages
Barely missed - Jimmy Crooks and Gavin Collins
One area that hasn't seen much fluctuation is the catcher spot, where Herrera and Pages have secured their places with the team to begin the year. Expect these two to be the duo for the long haul, barring any injuries.
Truth be told, I've been pretty vocal about my preference for Herrera to start over Pages, and it seems the Cardinals are planning to give Herrera a shot to start the season. However, as baseball evolves, even the primary catcher doesn't catch as many games as they used to. I'm hoping to see Herrera behind the plate in 110+ games, but even that number is high in today's grueling schedule. In 2024, only eight catchers caught 110+ games, and as long as Herrera can stay healthy, he'll join them.
If Crooks puts up some mind-blowing numbers in Triple-A, he's got a real shot at pushing for a spot on the roster. But considering how much the Cardinals like their current catchers, they won't need to rush Crooks unless he absolutely forces their hand.
Enrichment Insight: To get a general idea of what the 2025 St. Louis Cardinals roster may look like, here's a glimpse:
- Andrew Knizner could be the primary catcher with his defensive skills.
- Ivan Herrera might serve as a backup catcher, showing strong receiving skills.
And now, let's discuss the infield, outfield, and more! Keep an eye out for future parts of this series!
Up next: Infield, outfield, and more!
- The St. Louis Cardinals are hopeful that Ivan Herrera will start as their primary catcher, accounting for 110+ games, based on their current roster planning.
- Despite impressive performances, Gavin Collins might find it challenging to displace either Ivan Herrera or Pedro Pages from the Cardinals' catcher lineups, as the team seems satisfied with their current catchers.
- According to the Cardinals' possible 2025 roster, Andrew Knizner could take the role of the primary catcher due to his exceptional defensive skills, while Ivan Herrera may serve as a backup with strong receiving skills.
- Future parts of this series will discuss the Cardinals' game plan for the infield, outfield, and the entire sports team, including their unique lineups for right-handed pitchers (RHP) and left-handed pitchers (LHP).
