This time around, I will be evaluating pitchers’ performances
that played for the St. Louis Cardinals in terms of how they played this year, as I will dole out their 2018 grades for them. In addition, I have decided to also rate
players’ ability, and for the younger players their potential based on the 0.5
to 5 star rating system largely based on projected 2019 WAR.
This is the second installment, as the third part is where I
will rate organizational prospects. Team
recommendations are listed below. Statistics are courtesy of Fangraphs.
 |
| Miles Mikolas had a terrific 2018 season, as he won 18 games and earned a trip to the 2018 All-Star Game. |
SP Miles Mikolas - A
2018 (MLB): 18-4, 2.83 ERA, 200.2 IP, 6.55 K/9, 1.30 BB/9, 0.72 HR/9, 4.3 WAR
The Cardinals made a small gamble to sign him after he
pitched very well in Japan, and the move paid off big time. Mikolas won 18 games and posted a 2.83 ERA,
and he also made the All-Star team. He
was one of the league’s best pitchers, and he showed expert control and command
of his pitches. Look for him to have a
similar good year as well in 2019.
2019 Expectations: Very good starter
2019 Player Rating: 4 stars
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56525221/usa_today_10253154.0.jpg "Picture courtesy of Kelley L Cox of USA Today Sports and minorleagueball.com") |
| Jack Flaherty quietly had a solid 2018 season, and he will look to build off of that in 2019. |
SP Jack Flaherty - B
2018 (MLB): 8-9, 3.34 ERA, 151 IP, 10.85 K/9, 3.52 BB/9, 1.19 HR/9, 2.3 WAR
He had a good rookie season campaign, as the young 22-year
old pitcher struck out 182 batters in 151 innings, and he also had a 3.34
ERA. He is a strikeout pitcher that has
quality stuff, though he will need to work on his control and on keeping the
ball in the ballpark more. But 2019
should be a fun one for Flaherty, as he could be a future All-Star in the
making if he stays healthy.
2019 Expectations: Very good starter
2019 Player Rating: 3.5 stars (4.5 star potential)
 |
| Carlos Martinez is a two-time MLB All-Star, and he overcame injuries to end the 2018 season on a strong note. |
SP Carlos Martinez - B
2018 (MLB): 8-6, 3.11 ERA, 5 SV, 118.2 IP, 8.87 K/9, 4.55 BB/9, 0.38 HR/9, 2.2 WAR
Carlos Martinez, or more affectionately known by Cardinals’
fans as “Tsunami,” had been the team’s best pitcher for a couple of years, as
he has had three solid seasons before he ended up getting hurt in the middle of
the year. In a race to get him back to
try to get to the playoffs, Martinez ended up pitching out of the bullpen and
was the team’s closer towards the end of the season. However, there are now concerns about his arm
and whether or not he can go back to being a starter, compounded by that his
walk rate was at his highest this year.
Regardless, he should be an effective pitcher when healthy.
2019 Expectations: Good starter
2019 Player Rating: 3 stars
SP Michael Wacha – B-
2018 (MLB): 8-2, 3.20 ERA, 84.1 IP, 7.58 K/9, 3.84 BB/9, 0.96 HR/9, 0.8 WAR
Wacha was starting to rediscover his groove as he had been
pitching fairly well into he got hurt midway through the year, which ended his
season. He’s a tall strikeout pitcher
that has a lethal fastball and changeup combination, and he’s starting to use
his curveball more. He’ll need to locate
his pitches more to reduce his walk rate, but the biggest question is if he can
stay healthy the whole year to log more innings than he’s pitched in the past
three years.
2019 Expectations: Above average starter
2019 Player Rating: 3 stars
SP John Gant – B-
2018 (MLB): 7-6, 3.47 ERA, 114 IP, 7.5 K/9, 4.5 BB/9, 0.71 HR/9, 1.2 WAR
He was a pretty good fill-in starter for the 2019 campaign,
and it was thought that if the Cardinals were to make the playoffs, that he
would have a chance to be a playoff starter had the team made the
postseason. Gant had a respectable 3.47
ERA, and he has the ability to strike people out. However, he will need to locate his pitches
more to reduce his walk rate. He is a
versatile pitcher that can start or come out of the bullpen, as that can be an
asset for the Cards in 2019.
2019 Expectations: Spot starter/Long man
2019 Player Rating: 2 stars
SP Luke Weaver – D+
2018 (MLB): 7-11, 4.95 ERA, 136.1 IP, 7.99 K/9, 3.56 BB/9, 1.25 HR/9, 1.3 WAR
After having a very good 2017 rookie season, Weaver had a
rocky 2018 season, as his ERA climbed to 4.95, his strikeout rate plummeted,
and his walk and homers rate allowed skyrocketed. Weaver still is a strikeout pitcher that has
a good fastball and changeup combination, but he may need to improve his third
pitch to get hitters out more. He’ll
need better command of his pitches, or he might end up out of the rotation in
2019.
2019 Expectations: Spot starter/Long man
2019 Player Rating: 2 stars (2.5 star potential)
 |
| It's uncertain how many innings Adam Wainwright can go in 2019, but he will likely be a Cardinals' Hall of Famer someday. |
SP Adam Wainwright – C+
2018 (MLB): 2-4, 4.46 ERA, 40.1 IP, 8.93 K/9, 4.02 BB/9, 1.12 HR/9, 0.5 WAR
Once a dominant starting pitcher that was relied upon to be
the ace of the team, Wainwright now seems almost to be a shell of his former
self. He still has a devastating
curveball that can really get hitters out, but he no longer has the velocity
that made him such a stellar pitcher in his heyday. Still, he is a smart pitcher that still can
strike players out, and he has enough command to be able to pitch as either a
starter or in the bullpen. He also has
closer experience, so he can fit in anywhere as that can be an asset for the
Cards in 2019.
2019 Expectations: Spot starter/Long man
2019 Player Rating: 2.5 stars
SP Austin Gomber – B- (B- in the MLB, B+ in AAA)
2018 (MLB): 6-2, 4.44 ERA, 75 IP, 8.04 K/9, 3.84 BB/9, 0.84 HR/9, 0.8 WAR
2018 (AAA): 7-3, 3.42 ERA, 68.1 IP, 10.01 K/9, 2.63 BB/9, 1.19 HR/9
He is a versatile, left handed pitcher that can start or
come out of the bullpen, and he can strike some batters out. He initially played well when he first came
up, though he started to falter late in the year. He will need to gain a better sense of
command in the big leagues to consistently get outs, but he could help the
Cardinals in any role next year.
2019 Expectations: Spot starter/Long man
2019 Player Rating: 1.5 stars (2.5 star potential)
RP Brett Cecil - F
2018 (MLB): 1-1, 6.89 ERA, 32.2 IP, 5.23 K/9, 6.89 BB/9, 1.38 HR/9, -0.7 WAR
He was a power left handed pitcher that was acquired to
apparently help the Cardinals’ bullpen, as he also previously had some closer
experience. However, he had a terrible
2018 season that was riddled with walks, homers allowed, and a stunning lack of
strikeouts induced.
It’s surprising that Cecil wasn’t released or designated for
assignment when the Cardinals made moves to send underperforming bullpen
pitchers out the door into the exodus, and that he didn’t go with them was a
head scratcher. If he stays with the
Cards in 2019, maybe he’ll pitch like he did with the Blue Jays, but don’t hold
out much hope that he can.
2019 Expectations: DFA/Lefty specialist for another team
2019 Player Rating: 0.5 stars
RP John Brebbia – B+
2018 (MLB): 3-3, 3.20 ERA, 50.2 IP, 10.66 K/9, 2.84 BB/9, 0.89 HR/9, 0.7 WAR
He had a very good 2018 season, as he excelled as a
strikeout pitcher in the bullpen for the Cardinals, and he also had solid
command of his pitches. But WAR didn’t
seem to rate him nearly as well, as that metric seems to think that he was
helped out by being in a pitcher-friendly ballpark, as he didn’t allow many
homers despite predominantly being a flyball pitcher. Still, Brebbia’s strong year in 2018 will
likely mean he will have a good chance to get an increased role in 2019.
2019 Expectations: Bullpen pitcher
2019 Player Rating: 2.5 stars
RP Mike Mayers – B-
2018 (MLB): 2-1, 4.70 ERA, 51.2 IP, 8.54 K/9, 2.61 BB/9, 1.22 HR/9, 0.3 WAR
He had his ups and downs throughout the 2018 season, but it
seems that he has made big strides since when he first came up in 2017. He is locating his pitches better, striking
more hitters out, but he will still need to keep the ball in the ballpark
more. Most likely, he’ll be with the
Cards in the bullpen in 2019.
2019 Expectations: Bullpen pitcher
2019 Player Rating: 2 stars
 |
| Jordan Hicks is a flamethrower that can throw 105 MPH. Look for the Cards to rely on him in 2019. |
RP Jordan Hicks - B
2018 (MLB): 3-4, 3.59 ERA, 6 SV, 77.2 IP, 8.11 K/9, 5.21 BB/9, 0.23 HR/9, 0.5 WAR
He had a decent rookie season, as the young fireballer first
made waves by showing people that he can regularly throw 105 MPH in the
majors. He even was asked to close at
times. However, his strikeout rate,
while good, is nowhere close to where it should be for a player that throws as
hard as he does, and his walk rate was still very high. But he did have a respectable 3.59 ERA and 6
saves as a rookie, and he could perhaps one day be the closer of the future.
2019 Expectations: Set up man
2019 Player Rating: 2.5 stars (4.0 star potential)
CL Bud Norris – C-
2018 (MLB): 3-6, 3.59 ERA, 28 SV, 57.2 IP, 10.46 K/9, 3.28 BB/9, 1.25 HR/9, 0.2 WAR
It was a roller coaster ride of a season for Norris, as he
started off pitching well in the first half as the closer, but his play tapered
off significantly in the 2nd half. Norris did get 28 saves in 2018, but he
faltered significantly as the year on, as he didn’t seem to have the endurance
to remain in that role for the whole year. That he wasn’t a great teammate in the
clubhouse as he’s been mentioned in hazing scandals doesn’t help, either.
2019 Expectations: Closer
2019 Player Rating: 1 star
P Daniel Poncedeleon – B+ (B+ in the MLB, A- in AAA)
2018 (MLB): 0-2, 2.73 ERA, 33 IP, 8.45 K/9, 3.55 BB/9, 0.55 HR/9, 0.7 WAR
2018 (AAA): 9-4, 2.24 ERA, 96.1 IP, 10.28 K/9, 4.67 BB/9, 0.37 HR/9
He first made a splash late in July by pitching 7 no-hit
innings on the road against Cincinnati.
He showed a good ability to start and come out of the bullpen, and he
can strike hitters out and keep the ball in the ballpark. His versatility could prove to be an asset
for the Cards in 2019.
2019 Expectations: Spot starter/Long man
2019 Player Rating: 1.5 stars (2.5 star potential)
P Dakota Hudson – B- (B- in the MLB, A- in AAA)
2018 (MLB): 4-1, 2.63 ERA, 27.1 IP, 6.26 K/9, 5.93 BB/9, 0.0 HR/9, 0.1 WAR
2018 (AAA): 13-3, 2.50 ERA, 111.2 IP, 7.01 K/9, 3.06 BB/9, 0.08 HR/9
Hudson had a good 2018 season, and he had a solid 2.63 ERA
in the bullpen for the Cardinals.
However, he may have been a bit lucky to the BABIP and strong defense
out there, as he also walked hitters at a very high rate, while also not
striking many hitters out. He’s a
groundball pitcher that will keep the ball in the ballpark, but the real
question is how much upside does he have in the long term for the Cardinals.
2019 Expectations: Bullpen pitcher
2019 Player Rating: 2.5 stars (3.5 star potential)
P Tyson Ross – B- (B- with St. Louis, C with San Diego)
2018 (w/STL): 2-0, 2.73 ERA, 26.1 IP, 5.13 K/9, 3.42 BB/9, 0.34 HR/9, 0.3 WAR
2018 (w/SDP): 6-9, 4.45 ERA, 123.1 IP, 7.81 K/9, 3.79 BB/9, 1.17 HR/9, 0.7 WAR
The former 13 game winner had an up and down year with the
Padres before being claimed by the Cardinals, and it was a good bargain
basement acquisition for the Cards. Ross
did a good job of inducing groundballs and keeping the ball in the park, and he
had a 2.73 ERA during his time with the Cardinals. It’s uncertain if he’ll remain with them, but
his ability to start and come out of the bullpen could be an asset to teams in
2019.
2019 Expectations: Spot starter/Long man
2019 Player Rating: 2.5 stars
P Dominic Leone – C+
2018 (MLB): 1-2, 4.50 ERA, 24 IP, 9.75 K/9, 3.0 BB/9, 1.13 HR/9, 0.2 WAR
It was an up and down year for the 26-year old hurler, and
he also spent considerable time on the disabled list. But Leone started to pitch better as the year
wore on, as his strikeouts were up, and he showed better command of his
pitches. He didn’t have the amazing year
that was expected out of him, but he pitched well enough to be in the
Cardinals’ bullpen in 2019.
2019 Expectations: Bullpen pitcher
2019 Player Rating: 2.5 stars
P Matt Bowman – D-
2018 (MLB): 0-2, 6.26 ERA, 23 IP, 10.17 K/9, 4.3 BB/9, 1.57 HR/9, -0.1 WAR
He had a surprisingly good first two seasons for St. Louis
in the bullpen after being selected in the Rule 5 draft away from the Mets a
couple of years ago. However, he then
struggled in 2018 before getting injured for the rest of the season. His strikeout rate was at an all-time high,
but he struggled with his location and command, which resulted in a 6.26 ERA
this season. He’ll compete for a bullpen
spot, but there are no guarantees if he’ll make the squad.
2019 Expectations: Bullpen pitcher, though not necessarily for
the Cardinals
2019 Player Rating: 1.5 stars
P Tyler Lyons – F+
2018 (MLB): 1-0, 8.64 ERA, 16.2 IP, 10.26 K/9, 4.32 BB/9, 1.62 HR/9, -0.2 WAR
After having a successful 2017 season, the left-hander really
struggled in 2018. He did strike hitters
out well, but he had trouble with his command, as he was walk prone and also
prone to allowing the long ball to the opposition. Things reached an all-time low for him when
he was designated for assignment and no one claimed him, leaving him almost no
choice but to accept a demotion to AAA.
Maybe Lyons could reach the majors again someday, but he can’t afford to
pitch as badly as he did this past season.
2019 Expectations: Shuffling between AAA and the majors in
the bullpen
2019 Player Rating: 1.5 stars
P Tyler Webb - C-
2018 (MLB): 0-1, 4.43 ERA, 20.1 IP, 6.64 K/9, 3.98 BB/9, 1.33 HR/9, -0.2 WAR
Amidst the frenzy of shuffling of bullpen pitchers late in
the year, Webb was called up. He
produced mixed results in the majors. He
put forth a 4.43 ERA, but he didn’t strike batters out at a high rate, and he
had trouble keeping the ball in the ball park.
2019 Expectations: Shuffling between AAA and the majors in
the bullpen
2019 Player Rating: 1.5 stars
P Chasen Shreve - C (C with St. Louis, C with the Yankees)
2018 (w/STL): 1-2, 3.07 ERA, 14.2 IP, 9.82 K/9, 5.52 BB/9, 1.84 HR/9, -0.2 WAR
2018 (w/NYY): 2-2, 4.26 ERA, 38 IP, 10.89 K/9, 4.26 BB/9, 1.89 HR/9, -0.2 WAR
In another bid to shore up the bullpen, the Cardinals traded
Luke Voit to get Shreve, and other prospects which one of the ended up being
Giovanny Gallegos. Shreve is a strikeout
pitcher that had some struggles with his location and command, but he ended up
having a sub-4.00 ERA for the Cards in 2018.
2019 Expectations: Bullpen pitcher
2019 Player Rating: 1.5 stars
P Luke Gregerson – D-
When the Cardinals acquired him from the Astros, it was
thought that it would have been a subtle move to shore up the bullpen, as the
former Cardinals’ draftee had closer experience on the World Series
championship team.
However, Gregerson really struggled in 2018, as he had an
uneventful 7.11 ERA for the Cardinals this year. His numbers were down across the board, as
the strikeout pitcher had trouble consistently getting outs, and he struggled
with his location and command. He’ll
need to bounce back to have a better 2019.
2019 Expectations: Bullpen pitcher, though not necessarily
for the Cardinals
2019 Player Rating: 1 star
 |
| Alex Reyes has been the Cardinals' prized prospect for years, but it's uncertain if he can stay healthy for a full year in 2019. |
P Alex Reyes – B- (B- in the MLB, B+ in AAA, score downgraded due to injury)
The young fireballer has been the prized prospect in the
Cardinals’ organization for many years now, and he’s pitched well for the Cards
whenever he is up in the majors.
The problem is that, he just can’t seem to stay healthy or
pitch a full year there. He pitched 4
scoreless innings in his lone 2018 major league start, and then ended up on the
disabled list for the rest of the season.
Once considered to be a young Felix Hernandez ace of the staff type of
pitcher, the question is now if Reyes can stay healthy to be on the team for
most of the season.
2019 Expectations: Spot starter/bullpen pitcher, likely will
spend some time on the disabled list
2019 Player Rating: 2.5 stars (4.0 star potential)
P Giovanny Gallegos – B- (B- in St. Louis, C with NY Yankees, A in AAA)
2018 (w/STL): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.1 IP, 13.5 K/9, 0.0 BB/9, 0.0 HR/9, 0.0 WAR
2018 (w/NYY): 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 10 IP, 9 K/9, 2.7 BB/9, 1.8 HR/9, 0.0 WAR
2018 (AAA): 2-1, 2.64 ERA, 44.1 IP, 11.6 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, 0.2 HR/9)
The Cardinals acquired the 27-year old bullpen pitcher in a
trade involving Voit in which they also added Shreve, and Gallegos is a
fireballer that has had enormous success in AAA. He pitched well in limited innings for the
Cardinals, and he could potentially get a bullpen spot in 2019.
2019 Expectations: Bullpen pitcher
2019 Player Rating: 1 star (2 star potential)
No longer in the organization:
P Sam Tuivailala* - B
(B in St. Louis , B- in Seattle)
2018 (w/STL): 3-3, 3.69 ERA, 31.2 IP, 7.39 K/9, 3.13 BB/9, 0.85 HR/9, 0.1 WAR
2018 (w/SEA): 1-0, 1.69 ERA, 5.1 IP, 6.75 K/9, 1.69 BB/9, 0.0 HR/9, 0.1 WAR
He had another pretty good season in the bullpen for the
Cardinals before getting traded to the Mariners, as the young fireballer posted
a 3.41 ERA in 2018. His strikeout
numbers still weren’t great for someone who can throw in the triple digits, but
he showed solid command of his pitches, and a consistent ability to get
outs. However, he’s had trouble staying
healthy, which may limit his upside in the future.
2019 Expectations: Bullpen pitcher
2019 Player Rating: 2.5 stars
P Greg Holland* – F (F in St. Louis, B in Washington)
2018 (w/STL): 0-2, 7.92 ERA, 25 IP, 7.92 K/9, 7.92 BB/9, 0.36 HR/9, 0.0 WAR
2018 (w/WSH): 2-0, 0.84 ERA, 21.1 IP, 10.55 K/9, 4.22 BB/9, 0.42 HR/9, 0.3 WAR
He was easily the Cardinals’ worst acquisition this year in
2018, as they basically signed him off the couch late in March and paid him $14
million, and it cost them a draft pick in the process to have him in their
bullpen.
Holland missed all of spring training before making the
opening day roster, and he was very rusty when he pitched for the Cards, and he
couldn’t quite seem to ever shake it off.
He had an abominable 7.92 ERA, as he couldn’t strike hitters out nearly
at the whopping roate he did with the Royals or Rockies, and he walked a lot of
hitters in the process. It was only when
the Cardinals DFAed him and when he signed with the Nationals where Holland
started to regain the pitching success he had at his former stops.
2019 Expectations: Set up man
2019 Player Rating: 1 star
P Ryan Sherriff* – D- (D- in MLB, D in AAA)
2018 (MLB): 0-0, 6.35 ERA, 5.2 IP, 4.76 K/9, 3.18 BB/9, 1.59 HR/9, -0.1 WAR
2018 (AAA): 0-1, 6.75 ERA, 4 IP, 9.0 K/9, 2.25 BB/9, 2.25 HR/9
At the start of the year, it was thought that he would earn
some meaningful innings this year with the Cardinals after having a promising
2017, as the lefthanded pitcher had pitched well in AAA as well as in spring
training. But this year, he struggled to
stay healthy and he did not pitch well in the majors, as he struggled to strike
anyone out, and he had lots of trouble keeping the ball in the ballpark despite
being a groundball pitcher. The
Cardinals designated him for assignment, and he is currently a free agent.
2019 Expectations: AAA bullpen pitcher, or bullpen pitcher
for a team overseas
2019 Player Rating: 0.5 stars
P Preston Guilmet* - F+ (F+ in St. Louis, F in Toronto, B+ in AAA)
2018 (w/STL): 0-1, 22.50 ERA, 2 IP, 13.5 K/9, 0.0 BB/9, 9 HR/9, -0.2 WAR
2018 (w/TOR): 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 8 IP, 5.63 K/9, 4.5 BB/9, 4.5 HR/9, -0.3 WAR
2018 (AAA): 0-0, 1.60 ERA, 11 SV, 33.2 IP, 9.9 K/9, 1.6 BB/9, 1.3 HR/9
The 31-year old reliever spent most of the year in AAA,
where he pitched very well there, and he dominated out of the bullpen at that
level. But he couldn’t translate that
production to the Cardinals, where he struggled mightily in the majors, while also
having significant trouble getting outs for the Blue Jays as well. There’s a good chance that Guilmet has
probably topped out as an overall player, as he might not get too many
opportunities in the majors in the future.
2019 Expectations: AAA Closer
2019 Player Rating: 0.5 stars
Likely 2019 Pitchers’ Group
SP Miles Mikolas – 4 stars
SP Jack Flaherty – 3.5 stars (4.5 stars potential)
SP Carlos Martinez – 3 stars
SP Michael Wacha – 3 stars
SP Luke Weaver – 2 stars (2.5 star potential)* - 5th spot is in flux
P John Gant – 2 stars
P John Brebbia – 2.5 stars
P Jordan Hicks – 2.5 stars (4.0 star potential)
P Chasen Shreve – 1.5 stars
P Adam Wainwright – 2.5 stars
Likely Going to the Minors to Start the Year:
P Alex Reyes – 2.5 stars (4.0 star potential)* - will likely rehab to start the year
P Dakota Hudson – 2.5 stars (3.5 star potential)
P Austin Gomber – 1.5 stars (2.5 star potential)
P Daniel Poncedeleon – 1.5 stars (2.5 star potential)
Pending Free Agents:
P Tyson Ross (UFA) – 2 stars
CL Bud Norris (UFA) – 1 star
CL Bud Norris (UFA) – 1 star
P Tyler Webb (UFA) – 1.5 stars
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