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What are the plans?

With Willson Contreras’ positional switch, the Cardinals turn to Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages as their catching duo.

The time Contreras missed last season because of two separate injuries (a left forearm fracture and a fractured right middle finger) gave them chances to share the duties for extended runs.

Herrera, 24, batted .301 with an .800 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) in a career-high 72 major-league games after beginning the year as the backup to Contreras. Herrera spent nearly three weeks on the injured list because of lower back tightness and, upon his activation, was assigned to Class AAA for more than a month before being recalled in late August. He displayed progress in the preparation and game planning that comes with the position.

Pages, 26, bounced between the majors and Class AAA in April when Contreras dealt with a bruise on his catching hand but remained in the majors from early May through the end the season after Contreras went on the injured list because of a left forearm fracture. Pages led the Cardinals’ 2024 catching trio in games at the position with 66 during his stay. Viewed as a defense-first catcher, Pages ranked among the top 25% of big-league catchers in pop time and was rated in the 67th percentile in framing, per Statcast.

What to watch for?

Who gets the bulk of the playing time could come down to a preference for defensive upside or an added thump to the lineup.

While Pages threw out the runner on 14 of the 75 stolen base attempts he faced, Herrera threw out four of the 59 attempts against him. Herrera used his offseason to go on a throwing program aimed at increasing his arm strength.

And while Herrera produced a 124 OPS+ (a 100 OPS+ is considered league average) last season, Pages had an OPS+ of 82 and batted .238 across with a .657 OPS in his first 218 plate appearances in the majors.

Outside of Contreras, who isn’t expected to return to catching, Pages and Herrera are the only players on the Cardinals’ 40-man roster with major-league catching experience. They have combined to appear in 164 big-league games. Neither has caught 90 or more games in a single season of professional baseball.

Behind Herrera and Pages, Jimmy Crooks ranks as the Cardinals' top catching prospect and is the closest to reaching the majors. But the 23-year-old has yet to get a full run in Class AAA after spending 2024 in Class AA, in which he won Texas League MVP honors.

Sonny Gray again headlines the starting rotation 

What are the plans?

The Cardinals' rotation is bolstered by veterans and is led by opening day starter Sonny Gray.

In year one of a three-year deal, Gray went 13-9 in 28 starts with a 3.84 ERA in 166 1/3 innings. The three-time All-Star struck out 203 batters, putting him fourth in the NL in strikeouts and second in strikeouts per nine innings.

Gray is joined by experienced hurlers Erick Fedde, who was a trade deadline acquisition last summer, Miles Mikolas and Steven Matz. Mikolas is the longest-tenured rotation member.

Andre Pallante rounds out the starting staff and is the youngest of the group. The 26-year-old slid into the rotation at the end of last May and sported a 3.56 ERA in 20 starts after struggling as a reliever to begin 2024.

What to watch for?

Gray and Fedde both took a step back in the second half of last season. Gray had a 4.59 ERA in his final 11 starts after posting a 3.34 ERA in his first 17. After getting traded, Fedde went from sporting a 3.11 ERA in Chicago to a 3.72 mark in St. Louis.

Gray also will look to limit home runs given up after allowing 1.14 per nine innings, his highest mark in a season since 2021.

Fedde, Mikolas and Matz each are entering the final year of his contract. While Mikolas has a no-trade clause, Fedde and Matz could become trade candidates if the Cardinals sell this season and if the club’s pitching prospects push their way to the majors.

Matz, as well as Mikolas, will look for bounce backs.

A back injury held Matz to 44 1/3 innings last year, and inconsistencies led him to a 5.08 ERA. He’s missed time on the injured list in each of his first three seasons as a Cardinal.

Although Mikolas continued to be durable (he led the club with 32 starts and 177 2/3 innings), the two-time All-Star’s ERA (5.35) was the second highest among qualified big-league pitchers.

This year will mark Pallante’s third season as a primary starter in professional baseball. His 111 1/3 innings last year were a career high and mark just one of two seasons which he reached 100 or more innings.

Prospects Michael McGreevy and Gordon Graceffo have major-league innings and could remain starters in the big leagues, giving the Cardinals depth to pull from. Starting prospects Tekoah Roby and Tink Hence are on the 40-man roster, but neither has pitched above Class AA. Both were limited by injuries in 2023 and 2024. Top pitching prospect Quinn Mathews has fewer than 20 innings in Class AAA. He isn't on the 40-man roster. 

Record-holder Ryan Helsley leads a youthful bullpen 

What are the plans?

The Cardinals' bullpen enters the season with All-Star closer Ryan Helsley at the back end of it, a core of returning names and a veteran who joined the club in spring training.

Helsley comes off a year in which he set a club record with an MLB-leading 49 saves. The fire-balling righty made 65 appearances, posted a 2.04 ERA and struck out 79 batters while working in a traditional closer’s role.

Phil Maton signed a one-year deal in mid-March that made him the club’s first major-league free agent signee before opening day. He brings another veteran presence to a youthful relief core.

Lefties JoJo Romero, John King, and Matthew Liberatore had solid showings in 2024. Romero set career highs in ERA (3.36) and innings (59) as did King (2.85 and 60 innings), who became one of MLB's best groundball getters. As a reliever, Liberatore had a 3.69 ERA and provided flexibility in covering multiple innings.

To round out the righties, Rule 5 draftee Ryan Fernandez remained in the majors for all of 2024 and maintained a 3.51 ERA as a rookie. Chris Roycroft, who debuted last May, flashed upper 90s mph velocity and a sinker tough on righties. Kyle Leahy had a 4.07 ERA in 48 2/3 innings and offers multi-inning flexibility.

What to watch for?

Helsley enters the final year of his current contract and could be sought-after at the trade deadline if the Cardinals make him available to other teams.

Romero finished third in the National League in holds (30) after using the end of 2023 to show he could handle high-leverage spots. He provides a left-handed option to bridge to Helsley or one who could work in save situations should Helsley be traded or sidelined by injury. 

In his second season, Fernandez could also be primed for high-leverage innings from the right side.

How Romero manages the workload will be a key as he finished the second half of 2024 with a 5.40 ERA in 18 1/3 innings.

Maton has 411 regular-season innings and 28 innings of postseason experience for a late-inning role ahead of Helsley. Maton held a 3.66 ERA with two teams (the Rays and Mets) last season. His one-year deal also provides some flexibility for a club that could sell in a transitional period.

Liberatore could find himself in key relief spots if he stays in the bullpen. The lefty who came up as a starter remains in conversations for a staring role.

Right-handers Roddery Munoz, Riley O’Brien, Ryan Loutos, and Matt Svanson will begin the year in the minors. Munoz, O’Brien, and Loutos previously have reached the majors.

Left-handed options at DH and a bench with versatility

What are the plans?

As the backup to first baseman Willson Contreras, Alec Burleson will receive at-bats in a designated hitter role that also could yield opportunities for second baseman Nolan Gorman, and even Contreras on days he doesn’t play the field.

In his first full workload in the majors last season, Burleson batted .269 with 21 home runs, 78 RBIs and a .420 slugging percentage in 152 games. Burleson’s bat-to-ball skills kept him to a 19.2% whiff rate and a 12.8% strikeout rate that ranked in the top 4% of major leaguers, per Statcast.

Gorman, who will get the bulk of his playing time at second base should Brendan Donovan return to starting left field duties, brings power potential if he can cut down on the strikeout rate that led to a demotion to the minors at the end of 2024.

Off the bench, Luken Baker offers a right-handed bat that could provide some thump in pinch-hit scenarios given his back-to-back seasons in Class AAA with at least 30 homers.

If the Cardinals use Lars Nootbaar in center field, Michael Siani would find himself on the bench as a sure-handed defensive replacement whose glove could make an impact in close games.

Jose Fermin brings versatility on the bench considering his experience around the infield and addition of outfield defense.

What to watch for?

Although Burleson, 26, led his club in RBIs and was one homer shy of tying for the team lead in homers, the grind of a full season led to a decline in the second half. Burleson batted .242 and had an on-base plus slugging percentage of .626 in 63 games after the All-Star break. He batted .288 with an .814 OPS in 89 games before the break. He didn’t homer in 25 games in September.

Cutting down on his 34.5% chase rate could help Burleson take a step forward in his development.

While Baker has swatted his way through Class AAA pitching, he’s managed a .198 batting average and slugged .341 in 54 games as a major leaguer. He’s used his spring to prepare for late-game spots as a pinch-hitter that might await in in 2025.

Offensively, Fermin has batted .155 in 66 games for his big-league career. A contact approach could help him find consistent results at the plate from a bench role.

Jose Barrero, a non-roster invitee to camp who would require a 40-man roster spot, and Michael Helman offer utility backgrounds that could serve in bench roles should there be an opening in the majors.

Outfield has a familiar core with Jordan Walker, Lars Nootbaar

What are the plans?

The Cardinals outfield brings a returning core from 2024.

Lars Nootbaar brings experience at all three spots. Nootbaar was limited to 109 games because of separate rib and oblique injuries. When healthy, he batted .244 with a .342 on-base percentage.

Jordan Walker enters his third season in the majors as St. Louis’s starting right fielder. The former top prospect batted .201 in 51 games in the majors and hit .263 with a .753 on-base plus slugging percentage across 84 games in the minors.

Once regular playing time came his way, Michael Siani displayed center field defense that ranked among the league’s best.

When Nolan Gorman starts at second base, utility defender Brendan Donovan projects to hold down a spot in left field where he played 105 games (91 of which were starts) in 2024 and finished as a Gold Glove finalist. He did not commit an error on 167 total chances in the field as he batted .278 with 14 home runs, 73 RBIs, and a .342 on-base percentage.

What to watch for?

Nootbaar figures to be a regular in the Cardinals’ lineup and could patrol center field if they steer their outfield alignment in favor of offense. Nootbaar brings strong batted ball and plate discipline metrics, but injuries have kept him to fewer than 120 games in a single season.

While Siani showed a defensive skillset that was errorless and totaled plus-16 outs above average — the latter of which tied Siani for the third most by a center fielder, per Statcast — he batted .228 and has yet to find consistency at the plate while in the majors.

In right field, Walker will look to take the next step forward as a major-leaguer. The 22-year-old is a piece of the young core the Cardinals have committed major-league playing time to. Between the minors and majors last year, Walker hit 14 home runs. Four of those came in the majors where he slugged .366.

Within the club’s 40-man roster, Victor Scott II, their opening day center fielder last season, offers promise given his combination of speed and defense in center. Playing every day and getting at-bats would be a priority for Scott in the majors. Matt Koperniak adds to the corner outfield depth and brings a track record of hitting at every level in the minors.

Alec Burleson also provides corner outfield experience but looks to remain mostly at first base and at the designated hitter spot.

Willson Contreras becomes starting first baseman

What are the plans?

Following his commitment to remain a Cardinal in the offseason, Willson Contreras is positioned as the club’s starting first baseman. The former catcher takes over at the spot after former National League MVP and Gold Glover Paul Goldschmidt left in free agency following six seasons in St. Louis.

Since becoming a Cardinal in 2023, the 32-year-old Contreras has slashed .263/.367/.468 in 209 games. Two separate injuries (a fractured left forearm and a fractured right middle finger) limited him to 84 games in 2024. Despite that, Contreras belted 15 homers, 17 doubles and accumulated 3.0 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), per Baseball Reference. Contreras’ 3.0 WAR tied him for the second most by a Cardinal last season.

After playing primarily the corner outfield over his first three seasons since his MLB call-up in 2022, Alec Burleson slots in as the immediate backup to Contreras.

What to watch for?

Now that Goldschmidt dons Yankee pinstripes rather than the Birds on the Bat, how the Cardinals’ first base defense shapes up without the four-time Gold Glove award winner will be key.

The move away from catching comes after Contreras rose through the minors as a catcher and spent eight big-league seasons behind home plate. He has appeared in 11 games (four starts) at first base over his MLB career. Contreras last started a big-league game at first base in the 2019 season while he was with the Chicago Cubs.

Offensively, the switch could help keep Contreras in the lineup more often. It could also help him tap into even more power. Contreras used his offseason to tack on an additional 10 to 12 pounds of muscle now that he has moved away from the rigors of catching.

Burleson, who drove in a team-high 78 RBIs and hit 21 homers a season ago, appeared in more games at first base than he did in the outfield while at East Carolina University but enters the season with just 38 games at first base in the major-leagues.

Luken Baker’s experience at first base adds depth behind Contreras and Burleson, but Baker is more likely to fill a designated hitter or pinch-hitter role while he is in the majors.

Nolan Gorman, Brendan Donovan to handle second base duties

What are the plans?

The Cardinals looked to clear playing time at third base for Nolan Gorman and at second base for Brendan Donovan when they explored trading third baseman Nolan Arenado, but a deal did not come to fruition over the winter.

Still, the two young infielders will remain regulars who can handle second base duties, though Gorman could wind up with the bulk of the playing time there considering Donovan’s versatility to play other positions.

Gorman, 24, has started at second base for the Cardinals on the last two opening days. He led the Cardinals in games played at that position last season, 105. He hit 19 homers, batted .203 and had a strikeout rate (37.6%) that was the second highest across the majors among players with 400 or more plate appearances, per FanGraphs.

Donovan’s 49 starts at second base last year were his most in a season since reaching the majors in 2022. A utility Gold Glove award winner in 2022, Donovan was primarily a left fielder a season ago and was a finalist for a Gold Glove at that position. He has spent time at second base in spring training.

What to watch for?

Gorman flashed power potential in 2023 when he led the Cardinals in homers (27 in 119 games), but swing-and-miss struggles led him to be optioned to Class AAA and end the season there. He’ll look to cut down on his 38.7% whiff rate, which was in the bottom 1% of major leaguers, to take the next step forward in his development in the majors that the Cardinals are looking for now.

Defensively, Gorman had a minus-four in Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and minus-six outs above average (OAA) while Donovan has plus-one DRS and plus-one OAA, per FanGraphs.

If Arenado were to be traded or if he is sidelined by injury for an extended stretch, Gorman figures to slide over to third base and Donovan could assume a regular role at second base. Gorman primarily was a third baseman in his time in the minors and has received innings at the position during spring training.

Infield prospect Thomas Saggese, who debuted in the majors last season, could be called upon for second base duties if there is playing time for him with the big-league club. He can play multiple positions.

Masyn Winn aims for stronger base-running, more power at shortstop

What are the plans?

Coming off a rookie year that ended as a Gold Glove finalist, Masyn Winn returns as the Cardinals’ starting shortstop for a second full season. He will be 23 on opening day and comes in as a key piece of the club's young core.

A careful workload in the early days of last spring training helped him remain constant in the Cardinals’ lineup all season.

Following a 37-game stint in the majors in 2023, last year Winn batted .267, hit 15 home runs, stole 11 bases and had a .730 on-base plus slugging percentage in 150 games. His 157 hits were second-most among rookies in the majors. By the start of last June, Winn became the Cardinals’ primary leadoff hitter. He batted .246 from that spot.

The 14 defensive runs saved by Winn paced all major-league shortstops, per FanGraphs. The rocket-armed fielder finished with plus-three outs above average and ranked in the top 5% of major leaguers in arm strength.

What to watch for?

Winn looks to be a bigger threat on the bases, to provide a bit more power from atop the lineup and has his sights set on being in the lineup every day.

He’ll also look to find a stronger second half of the season.

Winn batted .284 and had a .332 on-base percentage in 88 games before the All-Star break but hit .247 and reached base at a .291 clip after it. Over 23 games in September, he slashed .196/.2354/.382.

Though he collected 109 hits in 102 games as a leadoff hitter, Winn had an on-base percentage of .290 in 470 plate appearances from the top of the order.

Jose Barrero, once the Cincinnati Reds’ top prospect and their opening-day shortstop in 2023, gives the Cardinals a versatile defender to back up Winn. He could receive the bulk of playing time there if Winn were to miss an extended stretch. Barrero, 26, has played 139 MLB games and batted .186.

Infield prospect Thomas Saggese has a background as shortstop and 40-man roster status, but the 22-year-old utilityman would only be in the majors if there is opportunity for ample playing time.

Nolan Arenado holds down third base, but for how long?

What are the plans?

Nolan Arenado returns for his fifth season as the Cardinals' third baseman following an offseason in which the team tried to trade the eight-time All-Star amid their organizational shift.

The five-time Silver Slugger award winner will look for a bounce back campaign at the plate after batting .272 with 16 home runs, 71 RBIs and a .394 slugging percentage in 152 games.

A season after his run of 10 consecutive Gold Glove award wins as the National League’s top defensive third baseman ended, Arenado totaled six defensive runs save and had a plus-nine in outs above average, per FanGraphs. He was named a finalist for the defensive honor but came up short of winning it, with San Francisco's Matt Chapman prevailing.

Nolan Gorman and Brendan Donovan provide backup options at third base for Arenado, who, excluding the pandemic-shortened 60-game season in 2020, hasn’t played in fewer than 144 games since 2015.

What to watch for?

Though he still is a Cardinal, Arenado’s long-term future with the club remains uncertain. He has a full no-trade clause in his contract, which he used over the winter to prevent a deal that would have sent him to the Astros.

He’ll look for a rebound season after missing out on his first All-Star Game since 2014.

During his down offensive year, Arenado's slugging percentage was the lowest in a single season since he reached the majors in 2013 with the Rockies. He had an OPS+ of 101 ­­(an OPS+ of 100 is considered league average) and saw declines in average exit velocity (ninth percentile) and hard-hit rate (12th percentile), per Statcast.

The 33-year-old's expected slugging percentage dropped from ranking in the 70th percentile of major leaguers in 2023 to being in the 20th percentile last season.

Gorman, who would have been positioned for starts at third base had Arenado been traded, is slated to play second base. He came up through the minors as a third baseman and could fill in for Arenado if he's absent for days off, injury, or if he were to be traded.

Donovan, a utility Gold Glover, also could take on third base duties but his versatility could lead him to playing time in left field, where he was a finalist for a Gold Glove last year, or second base.

This article is part of the St. Louis Cardinals season preview section, which will be in print on Sunday, March 23.