Offseason Subtractions: Daniel Descalso, Mark Ellis, Tyrell Jenkins, Justin Masterson, Shelby Miller, Jason Motte, Pat Neshek, Audry Pérez, A. J. Pierzynski, Jorge Rondón
Point team prediction: 88-90 win range, 1st place
Starting rotation should be fun to watch if healthy. Pretty much you need Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha, and John Lackey healthy. I think both Wainwright and Lackey will be healthy. It may take time to see if Wacha is healthy or not, if he isn't, you have Marco Gonzales who started 5 games last season, who could take his spot or if he were to get hurt. The no.5 spot is Carlos Martinez to lose.
Adam Wainwright, Lance Lynn, Michael Wacha, John Lackey, Carlos Martinez.
If anyone has trouble or gets hurt in the minors you have Marco Gonzales, Tim Cooney, Tyler Lyons, and maybe Zach Petrick ready.
Bullpen, I don't see the Cardinals going with three lefties. Right now the three lefties are Randy Choate, Sam Freeman, and Kevin Siegrist. If Sam Freeman does well in spring training, I could see him and Siegrist as the two lefties out of the bullpen, with the Cardinals cutting ties with Randy Choate, even though he's owed $3 million. The Cardinals have cut players who they owed money to in the past like Ryan Franklin, and Ty Wigginton. Sam Freeman is also out of options. So if he were to be sent to Memphis, he would need to clear waivers first. I have a feeling if that were to happen some team would claim him.
On another note Carlos Villanueva is in camp on a minor league deal. He's capable of pitching out of the bullpen, and making spot starts. Pretty much all he needs to do to earn a spot in the bullpen is show that he can pitch. It's a smart signing, when he's a pretty good pitcher out of the bullpen. He can eat innings along with Matt Belisle. Both Villanueva, and Belisle are capable of making a bullpen start if need be too. Last season while out of the bullpen Villanueva had an era of 2.64. 2.99 FIP, 24.1 K %, 6.8 BB % in 58 innings. I also think he can serve as a mentor for Carlos Martinez in someways, because both of them are from the Dominican Republic.
That's not too bad to have two innings eaters out of the bullpen. As for closer Trevor Rosenthal, he should be better. The Cardinals and him pretty much know what pitches he needs to work on. And if he gets overworked and needs a day off, Jordan Walden can take a day or two closing.
Trevor Rosenthal, Jordan Walden, Kevin Siegrist, Sam Freeman, Seth Maness, Matt Belise, Carlos Villanueva.
Starting lineup, should be better. Just because offense had a down year, doesn't fully mean all the players will have another down year. The MLB as a whole had an offense drought. It wasn't just the Cardinals. Jason Heyward could end up being what the Cardinals needed. Kolten Wong should be able to improve more in 2015, he should what he's capable of. And pretty much is a spark plug to the Cardinals offense.
As for the bench pretty much the true locks are Tony Cruz, Mark Reynolds, and Randal Grichuk. Is Peter Bourjos still safe with Stephen Piscotty being close? He almost made the team last season out of spring training. Who ever wins that spot, leaves one bench spot left. Pete Kozma (out of options), Ty Kelly, Dean Anna, Greg Garcia, and Aledmys Diaz could be options for the last bench spot. If I had to pick someone to win it, for now it would be Ty Kelly. I even kind of think Diaz could end up being in the MLB sometime in 2015. What if he were to have a great camp though?
Sleeper: Jason Heyward
I think him getting out of Atlanta will help him out, and get his career taken off. He still has the talent to be the player people think he is capable of being. I think the Braves messed him up pretty much hitting him all over the lineup, when players usually like sticking in one spot. That seems to be where players do best in, once they find one spot. Look for Heyward to bat 2nd in the Cardinals 2015 lineup.
Fantasy Stud: Yadier Molina
I went with him last season, and I'll go with him again. He's lost 20 pounds already this offseason, so that should help him stay healthy. I still think if he had been healthy last season, his numbers would have been better.
Rookie to watch for: Stephen Piscotty, he should be in the MLB at some point in 2015. Could he be in the MLB to stay once he does come up? Time will tell.
All in all this team will still be competing for the NL Central title again. They still have the right tools in place to win the NL Central, even with the Cubs making moves. The NL Central should be fun this season, for the first time in while.
