ST. LOUIS CARDINALS 2012
For 2011 Opening Day roster, click HERE. For End-of-Season roster, click HERE.
*Players on the 40-man roster: BOLD.
*Players who are injured: +
*Players who are Out of Options: ##
*Baseball America '12 pre-season prospect rankings: BLUE #
*Baseball Prospectus '12 pre-season prospect rankings: GREEN #
'MLBDepthCharts Magazine' includes this roster projection feature but includes additional info, such as player age, 2011 level and stats, 2012 salary and contract info in an easy-to-read, printer-friendly pdf file and excel spreadsheet.
*40-man roster total (39)
*Projected 2012 Payroll: est. $111,997,500, according to MLBDC Magazine
OPENING DAY ROSTER (*indicates left-handed batter **indicates switch-hitter)
Starting Lineup (Click HERE for last 7 lineups)
1 SS Rafael Furcal**
2 RF Carlos Beltran**
3 LF Matt Holliday
4 1B Lance Berkman**
5 3B David Freese
6 C Yadier Molina
7 CF Jon Jay*
8 2B Daniel Descalso*
Bench
C Tony Cruz BA#20
3B Matt Carpenter* BA#12 BP#10
IF Tyler Greene ##
OF Erik Komatsu*
OF Shane Robinson
Starting Rotation
1 RHP Kyle Lohse
2 LHP Jaime Garcia
3 RHP Adam Wainwright
4 RHP Lance Lynn BA#7
5 RHP Jake Westbrook
Bullpen
CL RHP Jason Motte
SU RHP Fernando Salas
SU LHP Marc Rzepczynski
MID RHP Scott Linebrink
MID RHP Kyle McClellan
MID LHP J.C. Romero
LR RHP Mitchell Boggs
Disabled List
Position Players
IF/OF Allen Craig + UPDATE 4/2 - placed on 15-Day DL, retroactive to March 26th (recovery from knee surgery)
IF/OF Skip Schumaker* + UPDATE 4/2 - placed on 15-Day DL, retroactive to March 26th (strained oblique)
Pitchers
RHP Chris Carpenter + UPDATE 4/2 - placed on 15-Day DL, retroactive to March 26th (bulging disc in neck/nerve irritation in shoulder)
Optioned to Minors
C Bryan Anderson*
1B Mark Hamilton*
3B Zack Cox* BA#4 BP#7
RHP Brandon Dickson BA#22
RHP Chuckie Fick
RHP Eduardo Sanchez BA#8
LHP Samuel Freeman BA#30
Major League Free Agents
Position Players
C Gerald Laird (11/17: signed w/DET)
1B Albert Pujols (12/8: signed w/LAA)
IF Nick Punto** (12/14: signed w/BOS)
IF Ryan Theriot (1/27: signed w/SF)
OF Corey Patterson* (1/30: signed w/MIL)
Pitchers
RHP Octavio Dotel (12/8: signed w/DET)
RHP Edwin Jackson (2/2: signed w/WAS)
LHP Arthur Rhodes
Minor League Free Agents
Position Players
1B/OF Nick Stavinoha (11/9: signed w/HOU)
IF Freddie Bynum*
IF Eric Duncan* (11/16: signed w/KC)
IF Donovan Solano (12/2: signed w/MIA)
OF Daryl Jones* (11/9: signed w/CIN)
Pitchers
RHP Bryan Augenstein (1/25: signed w/TB)
RHP Jeff Lyman
LHP Rich Rundles
Lost off waivers
RHP Adam Ottavino BA#26 UPDATE 4/3 - lost off waivers to Rockies
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
OFFSEASON PREVIEW posted 10/29/2011
In late August, the Cardinals were 10 games out of the Wildcard race and just about everyone paying attention had all but ruled the team out of the playoff picture. But someone forgot to tell manager Tony LaRussa and his team that their season was over. They won 21 of their last 29 regular season games to earn a playoff berth on the last day of the season and then knocked off the NL East Champion Phillies in the NLDS, the NL Central Champion Brewers in the NLCS, and the AL Champion Rangers in the World Series. Many would argue that it has been one of the most exciting two months of baseball EVER. And the Cardinals are a big reason for that.
After all that excitement, Cardinals fans might be ready to relax and focus on something else besides baseball for a couple of weeks. But they'll have to wait. Albert Pujols, who may be the greatest hitter of his era, is a free agent and while many people believe he'll stay in St. Louis, Cardinals fans will have to sweat it out until the situation is resolved. Winning another World Championship doesn't hurt the chances that Pujols, 32 in January, re-signs. The $200M+ contract he is likely to command might hurt their chances. If he is willing to accept a deal that may not be the highest bid but he considers fair, then the future Hall of Famer could very well finish his career with the team that drafted him.
 |
The return of Wainwright solidifies the rotation.
Picture courtesy of Icon Sports Media, Inc.
|
Re-signing Pujols isn't the only line of business for GM John Mozeliak. After the Cardinals pick up the $7M club option on catcher Yadier Molina, they'll need to decide who their double-play combination will be in 2012. Ryan Theriot, Skip Schumaker, Daniel Descalso, and Tyler Greene are all options and Rafael Furcal would like to return, although he's unlikely to have his $12M club option exercised. The 34 year-old could return at a reduced salary. Post-season hero Allen Craig should have a regular role next season and second base might be the only spot available if Pujols returns. The rest of the lineup appears set with Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday, and World Series MVP David Freese leading the way.
When the team recently exercised Adam Wainwright's club options for the next two seasons, it ensured that Mozeliak won't have to worry about one area of his ball club. Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia, Kyle Lohse, and Jake Westbrook are likely to fill out the starting rotation and free agent Edwin Jackson is unlikely to return. Lance Lynn and Kyle McClellan are also around to give the team some starting depth, although both are projected to pitch out of the 'pen. Shelby Miller, who may be one of the top five pitching prospects in the game, now has 16 Double-A starts under his belt and could be ready to join the rotation in 2013.
Jason Motte was another unlikely post-season hero, as he didn't become the team's closer until the last month of the regular season before saving five games in the playoffs. He'll return with a group of young and talented pitchers who will be trying to bridge the gap to him in the 9th inning. Marc Rzepczynski, who had 13 holds after being acquired from Toronto in the Colby Rasmus deal, figures to be the main left-hander out of the 'pen. Eduardo Sanchez (5 Sv, 7 Hld) and Fernando Salas (24 Sv, 6 Hld), who each had success in late-inning roles during the season, figure to be in the mix for setup roles along with McClellan and Lynn. Octavio Dotel also pitched well after coming over from Toronto but there might not be any room for him. He has a $3.5M club option. Another left-hander is probably a must for LaRussa, if he returns as manager (he has a mutual option for 2012).
•UPDATE 11/1 - Dotel and Furcal had their club options declined. Nothing was reported on Molina but there was no chance they weren't going to exercise his club option.
•UPDATE 11/12 - Mozeliak is projecting Descalso as the team's starting second baseman, while he "wouldn't mind" a Descalso-Greene combo in the middle infield.
•UPDATE 12/8 - Pujols has agreed to a ten-year deal with the Angels so the Cardinals will move on without their longtime superstar. Berkman will likely play first base. Craig was penciled in as the starting right fielder but he is expected to miss the start of the season after knee surgery.
•UPDATE 12/10 - Furcal has agreed to return on a two-year deal, likely making it a certainty that Theriot is non-tendered in the next few days.
•UPDATE 12/22 - Carlos Beltran has agreed to a two-year, $26M deal.
•UPDATE 12/8 - Pujols has agreed to a ten-year deal with the Angels so the Cardinals will move on without their longtime superstar. Berkman will likely play first base. Craig was penciled in as the starting right fielder but he is expected to miss the start of the season after knee surgery.
•UPDATE 12/10 - Furcal has agreed to return on a two-year deal, likely making it a certainty that Theriot is non-tendered in the next few days.
•UPDATE 12/22 - Carlos Beltran has agreed to a two-year, $26M deal.
Offseason Needs: None
Potential Position Battles: TBD
Tweet
Posts
38 comments:
If Freese and Craig are deemed to be outright successes, though still considered "young players," then Tyler Greene ought to be given every opportunity to succeed also.
His AAA stats match those of Freese or Craig.
In light of what McGwire did with them, I would speculate that Greene could hit .275, 20HR, slug
just under .500, drive in 80 runs or more in 500 PA, and steal over 30 bases with a 85% success rate. That would be much better than any SS available on the market. I think that Greene can be a very fast J.J. Hardy type SS.
Agreed. I remember hearing that they were planning on giving him regular playing time over the last month of the season to see what he can do but I think they changed their minds once they realized they could still have a shot at the playoffs.
As much as an icon that Albert Pujols is, his body language and spiel suggest that he is far too expensive for the Cardinals. He is age 32 and more than a few speculate that he is actually 34 or older which may be an explanation for his "down" year in which, for the first time he did not hit .300 or drive in a 100 runs. And for the first time, I see holes in his swing as he seems to be taking a lot of pitches, especially breaking balls, that he used to be able to hit better than he does now.
I think that Albert is a victim of his own success and is convinced that his value is worth more than ever... when the opposite is true... The World Series showed that despite his monster Game 3, he was absolutely terrible in the other six games, going 1 for 19...an .052
average... this is not the kind of production that you want to pay a premium for.
In my opinion, the Cardinals can replace his production with a healthy Ron Craig and a healthy David Freese with the development of Matt Adams in the future.
... lol who is Ron Craig?
You talkin bout Torty?
Yeah, I meant Allen Craig...
Nick Stavinoha signed with HOU
I don't care about the other minor league free agents but it sucks we didn't keep Eric Duncan. He looked like he had a lot of promise at 2nd base. Hope we at least keep Dotel and Rhodes in the bullpen. They were money for us in the playoffs.
A lot of intrigue in this lineup now.
I really like the idea of Holliday going back to the number 3 spot in the order after albert's departure. Thats where he was in Colorado during his monster seasons, and to me he never seemed completely comfortable hitting in the clean up spot. Especially because Berk is the utmost prototypical 4 hitter I have seen with the Cards in some time.
I don't think they are done making moves with the lineup either. A right handed outfielder than can play all 3 positions would be extremely nice as would a return of THE SHREDDER!!!
I think the thing that is the most exciting about all of this is the fact that once he is healthy, Allen Craig is finally a starter! The guy has mashed at every level he has played at and finally earned a starting gig. Can't wait to see him take advantage of it
Jaime Garcia is a left handed batter....
* or ** only apply to position players. Don't think it matters much for pitchers. They're labeled with RHP or LHP, which is more important for them.
It's interesting how they've got a ton of 1B prospects that don't hit for much power. . . They weren't really thinking very clearly in the event Pujols left. At least Beltran should provide some of the value that's missing in the line up
Kepinger would be a good fit at 2nd, or as a back-up. Because they have a lot of lefthanded hitting infielders right now, and kepinger hits for a pretty high average.
Re: post-Pujols era
Berkman is the 1B in 2012. Matt Adams looks like the 1B of the future, starting as early as 2013. He had 32 HR's in Double-A in 2011. Wasn't getting much love from scouts before the season but he is now.
Lance Lynn will be on the opening day roster. I would bet anything on it. Boggs or McClellan will get traded at some point
Ideally, Boggs or McClellan is in the long relief role with Lynn in middle relief to start the season. If there's no room, I think they'll have him setup or close in the minors until there is a spot. Trading Boggs or McClellan makes sense on paper but it doesn't hurt to have bullpen depth. Surviving the entire month of March without any relievers going down to injury is pretty tough to do.
Any news on Allen Craig's status or are we still looking at a late april mid may return?
A line up of
Furcal
Craig
Beltran
Holliday
Berkman
Freese
Molina
Descalso
or
Furcal
Beltran
Holliday
Berkman
Freese
Craig
Molina
Descaso
that looks pretty incredible to me if they can field that a couple of times a week.
Craig and Freese in the lineup together is something all Cards fans can't wait to see
Probably won't know too much until Spring Training when they see how he's progressing. No need to rush it though. They have plenty of firepower without him. Beltran and Furcal worry me with their injuries but if they're healthy, this lineup should be one of the best in the NL.
Victor Marte is listed as a minor league free agent, but the Cardinals have him listed as a spring training invitee.
Had him listed in both sections. Added him to the Spring Training invitees without realizing he was in the minor lg FA section. Thanks!
Jeff Lyman is a minor league free agent, but Cory Rauschenberger is not
Just wanted to tell you that you do a great job with this website. It's become one of my favorites pretty quickly. I love the offseason mock-up, and I can't wait for the cardinals' minor league depth chart projections!
Thanks! I'll hopefully have the Cardinals' projections done in about 2 weeks.
Greene the frontrunner at 2B as of now? His AAA numbers are very similar to those of Freese and Craig while his SB numbers are quite exciting to a Cardinals team that has had nothing of the sort in that department over the last decade
Don't know if he's the frontrunner. He hasn't really hit at the big league level and he has competition in Descalso and Schumaker, both left-handed hitters. I can see Greene getting more AB's this time around but don't see him as the regular unless he has a huge spring or gets really hot at some point during the season.
First off, just wanted to say I love this website. You do a great job Jason. Also, just thought I'd let you know: Adam Ottavino, who you have in the Starting Pitcher category, has been put in the bullpen, and is working as a reliever exclusively. I think they've given up on him being a starter, and they're hoping he'll thrive in a relief role.
Thanks for the tip! Always appreciate info on under the radar moves, such as that one.
Love the site!
There are a couple of questions regarding the final roster spots at this point. Descalso's glove makes him invaluable off the bench and I wouldn't be surprised to see him used similar to last year. Matt Carpenter might have a leg up on a bench spot with Schumaker going down. Has played 3B and corner OF this spring, obviously making him more attractive. Mark Hamilton's lack of playing time would lead you to believe that he has already been passed by Matt Adams on the depth chart perhaps. Komatsu just might have played his way into staying with the birds. Craig is on the fast track to maybe being ready by mid april. Bench will be very light hitting and extremely left handed heavy until he comes back
Its so hard to put Lynn in AAA. He is such a valuable asset that could represent a shut down 8th inning guy or solid 6th starter/long man. I think they will find a spot for him somehow
just some food for thought
Good point on Hamilton. To be honest, I've had him on the bench since early in the offseason and haven't been paying much attention to his spring performance. Carpenter makes more sense, because of the versatility.
Sounds like Lynn is the #6 starter, so I'm guessing he'd be in the AAA rotation, staying stretched out if Carpenter avoids the DL. If Carp misses time, obviously, Lynn would be the #5 starter.
Thanks for all the feedback!
Definitely makes sense, his versatility is quite an asset
I just don't see Jon Jay hitting sixth in front of Molina even with the potential for consecutive lefties hitting in front of the pitcher. Molina is much more of an RBI man. Jay only hit .238 with men in RISP last year and has never been known as a potential run producer.
Thanks George. I like the lefty breaking up Freese and Molina. I did do the research, however, and while there aren't a lot of lineups with Jay and Molina this spring, Molina did hit ahead of Jay against a RHP a few days ago. Change made.
Lance Lynn may not be giving up that rotation spot very easily. Electric stuff if he can handle the workload.
He has showed that he can in the past at AAA, Lynn is a valuable arm. His 16 strike out playoff performance at the end of 2010 is still a resonating point as he has taken off from there.
I like the switch of Greene as the starting 2B. it has appeared that way all spring and now he has finally been hitting the ball well over the last week or so to support that. Today he hit leadoff with the regular starters behind him and Furcal hitting eighth. Probably just to get him some extra at bats but I believe it was significant.
Nothing seems for sure yet but Craig appears to be in line for opening day baring no set backs. Mo said today, "Everything is on the table with him," Mozeliak said. "The way he's progressing, there is a higher probability that he is on our Opening Day roster right now. He is moving along."
Boy that bench looks so much nicer with Craig in there instead of Robinson
Not all bad on a day that Carp is deemed destined for the DL to start the year. Hopefully this isn't a trend, win a world series and then lose Carpenter. They can be careful with him this time because of organizational depth that was not there in '07, but typically if Carpenter is healthy the Cards can do great things. If not, who knows
Sanchez was optioned because of three factors
I believe:
1. He has plenty of options left, and Scott Linebrink has an opt-out clause in his contract if he gets cut from camp. They can keep both if they send Sanchez down.
2. Although Sanchez has good K numbers, he's also been wild throughout spring training, with 5 walks and 4 hit batters already. I've read they want him to go to Memphis so he can get consistent innings and work on his control.
3. I think I read somewhere that Linebrink has been trying to get himself ready for the season, and not trying for the strikeout so much, so he exerts less energy. He looks good though, hitting all his spots, and pitching to contact.
Thanks for the feedback! I think that's what the response was on Twitter, as well. He has the most ability as a late-inning reliever, but the inconsistent control makes him a question mark with the game on the line.
Descalso might have a leg up on Greene for the second base and lead off spot, maybe in a platoon with Greene taking the spot against LHP. He has a .434 on-base percentage with a team-high 12 walks and a .294 batting average.
Furcal batting 8th...?
It's not certain but he was there often the last few weeks. We'll see if they keep him there on Opening Day.
Post a Comment