The Cardinals' lineup without Brendan Donovan: A Deep Dive
The St. Louis Cardinals are in a full-scale rebuild, and the trade of Brendan Donovan is a significant part of that process. With Donovan's departure, the team's projected starting lineup has only three hitters over 27 years old, including the oft-injured Lars Nootbaar. This leaves Alec Burleson and Pedro Pages as the veterans, with both having just over three years of MLB experience. The team's next leader on and off the field is yet to be determined.
The Cardinals' starting nine, according to FanGraphs, consists of homegrown talent, with five of the nine starters selected in the first and second rounds. Despite the criticism of Mozeliak, these players are not minor leaguers; they are likely to find a major league taker if cut loose. The lineup's order and positions are up for discussion, with questions about who will play second and third base, who will be the designated hitter, and who will play the outfield.
The Cardinals have not settled on a player for the everyday designated hitter role, typically using a rotation for players to get half days off. The team could have used the DH spot to invest in a power hitter like Kyle Schwarber, but the options are limited now. The lineup's construction will be an extensive story, with the team heading north without a final settlement.
The leadoff spot is up for grabs if Nootbaar is not ready for the opener, with Masyn Winn and Victor Scott II as the table setters. The middle of the order is expected to be Ivan Herrera, Alec Burleson, and Nolan Gorman, with the bottom-third of the order yet to be determined. The Cardinals' desire to go lefty/righty could push Wetherholt down to sixth, with the DH spot filled by someone else.
The team's lineup could be an underrated part of the Cardinals, with low expectations due to the overall lack of experience and production. A year of seasoning for the other nine in the lineup around Wetherholt could see leaps across the order, including Jordan Walker hitting eighth.
The rest of the lineup is set, with Victor Scott II in the ninth hole, unless he gets a shot to prove his value at the top of the order. The team's focus will be on the games during Spring Training, with the pitching being the ultimate competition in Jupiter.
