LDN - Sports

St. Louis Cardinals - PlayerWatch

[October 04, 2016] RHP Mitch Harris (right elbow surgery in June 2016) couldn't pitch this year because of nerve issues, and it is not known when he will be able to return. Harris was injured during spring training.

RHP Alex Reyes dazzled after being called up on Aug. 9 due to a plethora of injuries to the pitching staff. Given a role as a piggyback reliever at first, Reyes eventually joined the rotation down the stretch and was the team's second-best starter behind Carlos Martinez at the end, posting three wins over the Chicago Cubs and another at San Francisco with seven scoreless innings. Reyes went 4-1, 1.57 in 12 outings and should be a candidate for the rotation next year.

RHP Seung Hwan Oh was supposed to serve as a setup man for Rosenthal but became the closer in late June and finished the year with 19 saves and a 1.92 ERA in 76 outings. Oh fanned 103 batters in 79 2/3 innings, living up to his nicknames of Stone Buddha and the Final Closer, and figures to go into the spring as the closer. In an offseason full of questionable moves and non-moves, Oh might have been the best signing of general manager John Mozeliak.

RHP Jordan Walden (right shoulder strain) hasn't pitched since April 2015, and there is no indication that he will be able to come back any time soon. He tried to rehab this summer but had to cut it short.

RHP Lance Lynn (Tommy John surgery in November 2015) is on track to go full speed in spring training. Lynn made three rehab appearances in August but elected to wrap it up after that, even though some thought he could help the St. Louis bullpen in September.

INF Matt Carpenter was on pace for a 30-homer, 100-RBI year from the leadoff spot when he sustained a right oblique injury July 6 and had to sit out a month. Carpenter wasn't the same hitter after returning, but still finished at .271 with 21 homers and 68 RBI in 129 games. He also walked 81 times, becoming the only National League player to walk at least 80 times in the last three years.

INF Jedd Gyorko might have been GM John Mozeliak's second-best transaction behind RHP Seung Hwan Oh. Acquired from San Diego for OF Jon Jay, Gyorko surprised everyone by popping a career and team-high 30 homers in only 400 at-bats. What's more, 17 of those homers either tied games or gave St. Louis a lead. Gyorko jacked an NL-high 23 homers after the All-Star break, more than making up for a .243 average and sketchy defense, although it wasn't his fault that manager Mike Matheny asked him to play so often at shortstop.

[to top of second column]

RHP Trevor Rosenthal came into the season as the team's lockdown closer and lost his job before the calendar hit July, the result of too many walks and too many blown saves. It turned out Rosenthal was pitching with shoulder pain and wound up on the 15-day DL. When he came back in September, albeit in a low-leverage role, he looked much better and gave St. Louis three key innings in a critical win Oct. 1 over Pittsburgh. He finished 2-4 with a 4.46 ERA, but will figure into the late-inning mix next year.

RHP Seth Maness (Tommy John surgery in August 2016) probably will miss the first part of next year. Maness was an important part of the bullpen from the middle part of 2013 through the 2015 season with his ability to induce double-play balls.

LHP Tyler Lyons (stress reaction in right knee) should be able to return for spring training. Lyons missed the season's last two months, costing the staff a valuable swingman who can fill every role from situational lefty to starter.

LHP Marco Gonzales (Tommy John surgery in April 2016) might be able to return during the first half of next season.

SS Aledmys Diaz was thrust into a starting spot early in the season because of injuries to Jhonny Peralta and Ruben Tejada and established himself as a foundation piece. Diaz batted .300 with 17 homers and 65 RBI and represented the team at the All-Star Game, identifying himself as a player capable of stepping up in pressure situations. Diaz could eventually profile as a third baseman if the Cardinals opt to trade for a better defender at shortstop, but his bat will play for years to come.

C Yadier Molina turned back the clock somewhat down the stretch, finishing at .307 for the fifth .300-plus season of his career as he hit in the third spot at season's end. Molina bopped 38 doubles, homered eight times and knocked in 58 runs while making a career-high 146 starts. While Molina threw out just 21 percent of attempted basestealers, Cardinal pitchers did a brutal job holding runners on, so not all of that was Molina's fault.

Back to top