The St. Louis Cardinals are going to have to make some very tough decisions this upcoming offseason.
After what has been without a doubt an underwhelming 2023 campaign for the Cardinals, the club will need to go back to the drawing board this offseason. St. Louis' biggest hole on the roster it needs to fill certainly is in the starting rotation but there is other work to do. One position of interest certainly is at catcher.
St. Louis got exceptional offensive play from Willson Contreras in his first year with the club but there is room for growth defensively. Andrew Knizner and Iván Herrera both also provided solid offensive play but also could be better defensively. Contreras is penciled in as the club's starter in 2024, but the backup spot will need to be decided. With the three-time All-Star on the injured list, Knizner and Herrera already are competing for a spot with the club for next season, according to the St. Louis Post Dispatch's Derrick Goold.
"While not always in the same clubhouse or on the same roster, Knizner and Herrera have spent a lot of time together — or at least have been mentioned together in recent years. Separated by five years in age, they are bonded by their arrival in the majors as backup catchers, first to stalwart Yadier Molina and, this season, to starter Willson Contreras.
"Their overlapping careers meant competition between the Cardinals’ current catchers, Knizner and Herrera, for playing time would be inevitable. Barring a trade, that contest is developing. With Contreras on the injured list, the remaining games are theirs to split. One of the most compelling competitions of spring has a preview during this fall."
At this point, it would be very surprising to see both Knizner and Herrera on the club's roster in 2024. St. Louis will be busy this offseason and there could be trade interest. Knizner already has been linked in a possible trade this offseason and those rumors likely will only build. It's unclear who will remain, but Knizner or Herrera could find themselves playing elsewhere next season. St. Louis has just six games left and the catcher competition is one of the biggest things to look out for.
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