The St. Louis Cardinals have set their roster for opening day, per MLB.com’s Jeff Jones, Derrick S. Goold of the St.Louis Post-Dispatch and others (Twitter links). John Nogowski, Austin Dean, Edmundo Sosa, and Jake Woodford will be on the roster, while Lane Thomas and Kodi Whitley become two of the final cuts. Goold lists the final opening day roster here.
Nogowski required a strong spring to make the roster, as the 28-year-old first baseman doesn’t bring a lot of utility to the roster. He did exactly that, however, slashing .379/.526/.586 in spring action. He’ll be the first right-handed bat off the bench. With Matt Carpenter on hand to serve as Paul Goldschmidt’s primary backup, it’s hard to imagine Nogowski seeing much action in the field.
The Thomas demotion might have the most impact, as without him, the Cardinals don’t have a true centerfielder on the roster. The Cards are all-in on rookie Dylan Carlson as their man in the middle until Harrison Bader returns from injury. Justin Williams and Austin Dean will be among the players replacing Carlson in right. Tommy Edman, who won the starting second base job, could also see time in right while Carpenter or Edmundo Sosa step in at the keystone. Starting left fielder Tyler O’Neill, meanwhile, is most likely to backup Carlson in center.
Woodford, 24, wins a spot in the bullpen on the strength of a 1.04 ERA this spring. Whitley, 26, heads to the minors to begin the season. Woodford can serve as a long man out of the pen, which may be important given the uncertainty in the back end of the rotation where Carlos Martinez, John Gant, and Daniel Ponce de Leon will take their turns until Miles Mikolas and/or Kwang Hyun Kim return. From the left side, Tyler Webb and Genesis Cabrera join Andrew Miller in the bullpen.
Can’t understand how Thomas didn’t make it…especially over Dean or Williams…true head scratcher
Dean was crushing it
So was Thomas and he is the best defensive option for CF…Thomas fell off a little at the end I guess but defensively he can play…But you have to hit to play…I guess I get those two only because they are running out of options
Is it “crushing it” when you’re hitting .216/.250/.270 with a 13:1 K:BB?
.212/.250/.273 isnt exactly crushing it. though i would keep him over Williams, granted.
Admit he wasn’t really crushing it but he was in the beginning…but defensively he is the best CF option
He made a bunch of god awful reads with his throws and cannot catch a warning track ball. Guy looked lost out there most of spring. I’m fine with giving Carlson CF duties with O’Neill having to step in maybe one or two games before Bader is back.
Williams as lefty bat is why he is starting in right field and on the roster.
Oscarstrash I have no idea what you are talking about…Thomas has been outstanding defensive wise in the outfield
Wait, what Jose Rondon didn’t make the team. He has been playing well during this spring training. On the other hand, I’m glad that Nogowski will be making his debut in the majors.
Sosa did cuz mo traded for him. Pure bs. Sosa suuuuuuucks
Sosa was not traded for. He has only been in Cardinal organization. Know your facts if you want to mouth off.
Your ability to recall facts suuuuuuucks and I’m sure your mom’s basement smells like bs.
Sosa made the club because he is out of options and can play all IF positions. The Cardinals did not want to take a chance losing him by trying to pass him through waivers.
There are a combination of factors including who has options and longer term upside. Thomas is actually considered a potential starter in CF if Bader comes back and fails. But until then Thomas needs reps in AAA. SO remember this isn’t the same roster they’ll have in September.
I thought the same about Thomas? Why didn’t he make it? Cardinals have been high on him for far to long to give his chance to Dean? Maybe regular at bats in the minors help Thomas and he gets called up when he slashes .300/340/600 in the minors?
Another note…I love Carpenter but its time to release him to the pasture…love what you did for the Cardinals Carp but your blocking players
Carpenter isn’t blocking anyone. He is fine as a backup corner infielder. As a starter yes he’s no good but as a bench bat in a year with no DH who cares?
He’s blocking players…Thomas and Rondon…like I said love carp but he is done…he hasn’t been good for awhile now
So 1-for36 isn’t good?
Again *I here the voice of Harry Doyle describing Carpenters spring…..
“One hit,that’s all He got, one goddamn hit?”
Good lord who is making these decisions? Need a center fielder. Defense matters this isn’t beer league softball. What’s the combined age of Nogowski and Dean? Thomas deserves a shot this is so silly.
I like it. Thomas hasn’t hit a lick. Tired of having non hitting outfielders. Hope one of those guys take advantage of their opportunities.
Yeah I’m fine with this. Let’s see who can hit enough to stick around when Bader comes back.
He’s a backup centerfielder. Not about hitting sometimes. Defense is real.
And both Carlson and O’neill both project as average or better in CF. Honestly, Lane Thomas has been gaffe prone even in the corners at times. I don’t think he’s any better than the other two. He takes bad routes.
Thomas didn’t “fall off a little” – he was 4 out of his last 31. He needed to do a lot more than that, & several other guys showed much more with the stick.
He had some hard luck but I think he deserved a spot because of his defense alone
Shocked they went with sosa, who has looked lost over rondon. Guess they were more worried about Issa not clearing waivers. Should just trade him. Also how does Whitley not make the team, guy looked great. Cabrera has looked pretty bad, but hes a lefty so……
Sosa is out of options. That is most likely the only reason he made the opening day roster.
If Carpenter continues his totally inept hitting into early-mid May, there’s an excellent chance he gets released, imo. Glad to see Nogowski get a chance. I believe that in the next CBA there will be a universal DH so he may have a chance at that if he continues to show some consistency. But this yr he’ll have to learn to PH & if Carpenter is released at some point, he can assume the backup role at 1B. Reg Carpenter-Cards are loyal to their long-time players, but I don’t see him making it through the entire season. That doesn’t take away what he’s meant to this franchise, though, & StL fans will always consider Carp a true Cardinal.
Carp has played about 2 seasons and 3 months of great offensive baseball, and a middling 7 1/2 seasons of average ball. Except for his games at 1B, all that time he’s been a defensive liability. Maybe we can dump him on the Angels for another PTBNL like we did with the useless Fowler. It’s time for Carp to go.
Dude he’s a career 127 WRC+ even after the past 3 seasons of futility. And he’s been an average or better defender at 2B (only one year), 3B, and 1B. Your revisionist history is just wrong. He’s an easy Cards HOFer.
Dude, career numbers describe what he was and not what he is now. The harry Doyle line from Major League describes him best now, this spring.
“One hit,that’s all he got, one goddamn hit?”
Understandable that the Cardinals probably didn’t want to risk losing Williams on waivers but Austin Dean? Is he a descendant of Dizzy and Daffy Dean? Does he have pictures of Shildt in a compromising position?
Goes to show not only how thin the Cardinals are in the Outfield but also how thin they are at making decisions. You cut you’re best defensive Outfielder for a career minor leaguer
There are plenty cases of late bloomers. Not everyone hits their stride at the same time. The Cardinals just experienced that with Jose Martinez. He couldn’t field worth a lick but had some good years with the bat. That’s really all they are looking for is a bat off the bench. O’Neil will be ok in center the Cardinals have to focus on offense if they are going anywhere this year. What’s the point of having a competition in spring training if you’re not going to give the spot to the those who earn it. It’s not like they passed over some keystone player here. If he falls off you send him down
Justin Williams wouldn’t have it waivers. He had another year. Soda is out of options
Sosa*
Damn iPhone
Dean can actually hit. He’s just a step above Jose Martinez on defense though apparently. Good bench bat, but that’s it.
Didn’t they pick up an option year on Williams?
Yes
Waiting to see if they work Nogowski in at right or left. A DH would be his best bet, though. Let’s go Cards!!
Roster spots don’t have much value for the redbird FO if Carpenter occupies a spot. I expect that Carpenter will eventually suffer an “injury” and be put on IL to spare him further humiliation.
Thinking injury also. It gives me a headache, maybe that will qualify as injury.
We can only hope he does a lot better when play actually counts.
I hate to see a player I like, lose it.
End-of-careers suck.
Let’s just get this season started! I’ve speculated and opined all I care to on the who’s and what if’s. The answers will come as the games are played. The Cardinals are patient and loyal. It frustrates me at times, but the results are undeniable. They will find a way to move on from Carpenter in a way that allows him to save face if/when it comes to that. It’s a long season(hopefully). The outfield will get sorted out based on production. There are no longer any contracts or agendas that supersede performance. If Thomas tears it up at AAA, he will get his chance. I hope they collectively hit enough to take pressure off the starting rotation until that gets sorted out. I’m excited about this team and this season!
Did I write this. Cause it sounds exactly like what I would say.
Cards ought to trade Lane Thomas. He can fly and is probably an upgrade in CF for a half dozen MLB teams (Bucs, Phillies, come to mind.). And let’s face it, by July, both O’Neill and Bader will be batting in the .220s.
Bader will be much lower.
It’s been a long time since we have seen a Cardinals team field a true offensively threatening lineup. I really hope they can turn it around this year and be one of baseball’s highest run-producing teams. Fingers crossed
In clarification, I want to be excited about watching the Cardinals again.
If the Cards have a weakness, it’s a lack of proven depth. They have a shaky rotation even after Mikolas and Kim return. They have a shaky offense aside from Goldy and Arenado. After passing on Wong their defense up the middle is diminished. I love the team and have been a long time fan (since 1951) and appreciate the long stretch of post season excitement they have given us even though in the past decade that post season excitement has been crushed early by other teams with greater depth too often. I agree it’s time for another winning season and hope that our young players can mature into a bunch of scrappy competitors who fit together like a glove, making each other a better team because of it. Still, I think we need a big mid season pickup to improve our rotation if we will have a chance in the post against teams like LA, SD, ATL., Nat’s. who all have spent big to develop their depth.
Go Cards. Give Arenado a good reason to not exercise those opt out clauses.
Why are they keeping Bader on the team when he’s proved he can’t hit?
DeJong is another easy out . Through him a forehead high 90mph FB and he’ll make an idiot of himself every time.