Ras Nootvaar He has yet to play in a game this spring as he returns from heel surgery. Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat noted yesterday that left fielders tend to start the season on the injured list. The schedule for his season debut is not yet clear.
Nootbaar was likely to be placed on the injured list after the Cardinals announced that Haglund had undergone surgery to address bilateral heel deformity. Due to health uncertainty, the veteran outfielder appears to have come off the trade block over the winter. Nootbaar was loosely tied to the Rangers, Mets, and Pirates at various points throughout the offseason. There was too much uncertainty about his health outlook for the Cardinals to have a strong enough return to move him.
The Cardinal has arbitratory control over Nootbaar for two years. The left-handed hitter has posted above-average offensive numbers in his first three and a half years in MLB. He hit a career-worst .234/.325/.361 over 583 plate appearances last year. Nootbaar is making $5.35 million this season and could likely be moved by the deadline if he stays healthy.
Nootbaar’s injury made the Opening Day left field job available. The Cardinals were in the market for a right-handed outfielder late in the offseason, but failed to land an MLB player. they signed Nelson Velazquez On a minor league contract. He’s hitting .333/.440/.524 with four walks and two strikeouts in 25 plate appearances this spring. They are also recruiting a utility infielder. Thomas Sagues and Jose Fermin Outfield work in camp. One of those players could split time as a left-handed hitter. nathan church As a makeshift left field platoon.
One idea that wasn’t considered: Having a highly-rated outfield prospect. Joshua Baez On the opening day roster. The Cardinals optioned the 22-year-old to Triple-A Memphis yesterday. Báez had a great camp, going 7-21 and hitting three home runs in 10 games. But Báez has no Triple-A experience, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see him start the season in the minor leagues.
Báez, a former second-round pick, struggled early in his minor league career. He was firmly placed on the prospect radar last season. Báez had a .287/.384/.500 slash and 20 home runs between High-A and Double-A. Even more impressively, he appeared in more than 34% of his plate appearances during his first three professional seasons, reducing his strikeout rate to a league average of 21.4%. He plans to continue his impressive spring training by maintaining an improved contact rate in his first appearance as a Triple-A pitcher.
St. Louis also chose to grab a prospect. Jimmy Crooks and leonardo bernal Over the weekend. it leaves Ivan Herrera, pedro page and Johel Pozzo Three catchers were included in the 40-man roster. The St. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote that the team plans to have all three on its Opening Day roster. Page will be the primary option behind the dishes, with Pozo filling the traditional backup role. Herrera will likely spend more time as a designated hitter than a catcher, but the Cardinals aren’t going to completely remove him from the position.
