Saturday, March 11, 2023

St. Louis Cardinals 2023 Season Preview


 











Offseason additions: SP Adam Wainwright (re-signed), C Willson Contreras, C Tres Barrera, RHP Wilking Rodriguez, RHP Guillermo Zuniga, LHP Anthony Misiewicz, LHP Andrew Suarez, infielder, Jose Fermin, infielder Taylor Motter, infielder, Juniel Querecuto, and OF Oscar Mercado.

Offseason subtractions: 1B Albert Pujols (retired), C Yadier Molina (retired), SP Jose Quintana, OF Corey Dickerson, and OF Ben DeLuzio. 

Point team prediction: 88-91 wins (NL Central Champions, lose in NLCS). Oliver Marmol will be heading into his second season as the Cardinals manager. Marmol had a good season in his first year as the Cardinals manager, leading them to 93-69 record and winning the NL Central for their first time since 2019. The Cardinals didn't fair too well in the Wild Card round, being swept in 2 games by the Philadelphia Phillies. Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols both retired after the season. The Cardinals will look different without Molina behind the plate for the first time since 2004. To replace Molina, the Cardinals signed Willson Contreras from the Chicago Cubs. 

Lineup: 

RF: Lars Nootbaar

LF: Jordan Walker

1B: Paul Goldschmidt 

3B: Nolan Arenado

C: Willson Contreras 

CF: Tyler O'Neill

DH: Juan Yepez/Nolan Gorman (depending on the pitcher)

2B: Brendan Donovan 

SS: Tommy Edman


Bench: 

Tres Barrera (he seems to have impressed the Marmol)

Taylor Motter (until Maysn Winn is ready, I think Paul DeJong will be traded or cut loose if he doesn't start hitting).

Dylan Carlson


Starting rotation:

Jack Flaherty, Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz, Jordan Montgomery, Adam Wainwright


Bullpen:

Ryan Helsley, Giovanny Gallegos, Jordan Hicks, Wilking Rodriguez, Genesis Cabrera, Drew VerHagen, Jake Woodford, and Andre Pallante. 


Fantasy Stud: Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado 


Prospects to watch: Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn

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