JUPITER, Fla. — When it comes to their starting shortstop, the Cardinals have not hidden their intentions or even tried to change the conversation with the usual platitudes of spring training because why deny the obvious — they want rookie Masyn Winn to seize the job.
It’s the backup plan they’re now discussing.
Winn did not participate in batting practice the past two days because of tightness in his upper body. He has participated in all other drills — whipping throws during cutoff-and-relay practice Thursday — and expects to be back swinging as soon as Friday, he said. Winn’s absence, however, underscores how the Cardinals do not have an obvious long-term alternative in camp other than Tommy Edman, who is set to start in center field when he recovers from offseason wrist surgery.
“We’re having that conversation daily, right now, just amongst our staff,†manager Oliver Marmol said. “What’s best, right? For Eddy to be able to know I’m playing center and really focus on that position. But there are situations where he’s going to have to pop in and play short just from what’s our best defense overall. If Masyn is out of the game, it’s Tommy there, and DC (Dylan Carlson) goes in defensively in center.
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“There are other options we’re also talking about,†the manager continued. “We’ll explore them over the next couple of weeks and then feel a lot better about it as we break.â€
Some of the options in play are out of camp. The shortstop free-agent market shifted Thursday as Tim Anderson reportedly reached an agreement with the Miami Marlins for $5 million to be their starting shortstop. The Cardinals were not involved in the bidding for Anderson, their interest being elsewhere in the market for a backup, not a starter. Infielder Gio Urshela reportedly signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal ]with Detroit. There still remains a handful of available shortstops, including two experienced Gold Glove Award winners in Nick Ahmed and Brandon Crawford. Former All-Star Elvis Andrus is also unsigned.
Ahmed, 34, won back-to-back Gold Gloves for Arizona in 2018 and 2019. His first baseman for that first Gold Glove was Paul Goldschmidt, and his double-play partner several times during that season was Cardinals bench coach Daniel Descalso. He’s viewed as a glove-first, reliable shortstop who can handle the everyday rigors of the position. He started 56 games there for the D-Backs before being released a month before their pennant run.
A .234 career hitter, Ahmed is a right-handed bat, which the Cardinals could find appealing given how lefty-heavy their bench and backups could be.
One of the Cardinals’ leading left-handed bats, Brendan Donovan, has been bouncing between shortstop and second base during drills in spring training. On Thursday, Donovan and Winn shared shortstop for the cutoff-and-relay drills, and Donovan then repeated the work from second base.
Donovan had elbow surgery this past season, and he is now cleared to throw without hesitation or limitation. He said during the drills Thursday he let loose with a throw from shallow center field that felt good, closer to full strength.
Jose Fermin, a utility infielder, will get some looks at shortstop. The Cardinals intend to use rising prospect Thomas Saggese at shortstop some in spring training and are eager to watch how he looks in games. Marmol said the team wants to see “how he reacts to certain game situations, balls and backhands — just lay eyes on him.†Saggese, a middle infielder, played 13 games at shortstop in the minors in 2023, only four of them for the Cardinals after his trade from Texas.
The Cardinals do not have that pure glove-first shortstop in camp or identified in the upper levels of the organization. The shortstop position at Class AAA Memphis is open for competition — and a stride away from the majors.
The top defensive shortstops in camp are Winn and Edman.
Winn, 21, maintained his rookie eligibility but got a glimpse of the majors for 37 games late in the season. He hit .172 with a .467 OPS but showed in the field the athleticism, arm strength and knack required to excel at the defensively demanding position. The Cardinals have said they are willing to let Winn improve as a hitter “on the job†because of his defensive ability, and Marmol repeated Thursday there isn’t “a certain OPS†he has to have spring games to be the starter.
It’s showing he’s “taking steps in the right direction offensively,†Marmol explained.
They expect Winn to be their starter opening day at shortstop. They expect Edman, who is still a week or more from facing pitchers, to be ready for opening day and in center field. If either of them is unavailable to start at shortstop for a long stretch of games, the Cardinals would have to decide if they’re willing to lean on Donovan for that role or if they shop for the answer before the question becomes more than a hypothetical discussed in their offices at Roger Dean Stadium.
“That’s the conversation right now: Who else can do it, (and) is it in a pinch or can you stick them out there for weeks at a time and feel comfortable with it?†Marmol said. “And just understanding what that looks like. We have an opportunity to do that over the next couple of weeks.â€
Weekend pitching plans, etc.
Matthew Liberatore drew the home game assignment for Saturday’s doubleheader, split-squad opener to the Grapefruit League schedule. Zack Thompson will bus north and start the parallel game in Port St. Lucie, Florida, against the New York Mets. Each lefty is targeted for two innings in their first game outing. ... The Cardinals announced the fan ballot for the team Hall of Fame, and it’s only four names this season: Edgar Renteria, Matt Morris, George Hendrick and National Baseball Hall of Famer Steve Carlton. Morris, a 100-game winner for the team, has been a regular on the fan ballot throughout the years of the club’s Hall. ... Sonny Gray simulated two innings during his second live batting practice session against teammates, and he could be scheduled for his first Grapefruit league start as early as Tuesday against Boston. ... Top prospect Tink Hence is scheduled to appear in Sunday’s exhibition game against Houston. That same game is set to feature Gordon Graceffo and Wilking Rodriguez. ... Steven Matz, easing into the throwing program of spring, will face teammates Sunday in a live batting practice session.
See photos from the first week of Cardinals spring training workouts
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals pitchers and catchers are in camp for the first day of spring training on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024 in Jupiter, Florida. Many…
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals spring training in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024.
Lance Lynn and Sonny Gray were among a dozen pitchers working bullpen sessions at spring training in Jupiter, Fla. on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024.
Nolan Arenado has his first official workout at the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals' spring training in Jupiter, Fla. on Feb. 16, 2024.
The arrival of ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith alongside the first day of live pitching highlighted spring training in Jupiter, …
Rain abbreviates a Cardinals workout session at spring training in Jupiter, Fla. on Feb. 18, 2024. Before daylong showers rolled in Sonny Gray…
Cardinals players attend the first team meeting with the full roster at the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals’ spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on M…
ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals players and coaches enter the second day of full squad workouts at the spring training complex in Jupiter, Fla. on Tuesday…
The ºüÀêÊÓƵ Cardinals settle into camp as fans get close and drills are plentiful at spring training in Jupiter, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024.