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St. Louis Cardinals: Evaluating All the Infielders in This Year’s Camp

By Patrick Karraker

Mar 6, 2015; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong (16) signs some autographs prior to a spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2015; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong (16) signs some autographs prior to a spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Greg Garcia St. Louis Cardinals
Jul 30, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Greg Garcia (35) celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning run against the Colorado Rockies 9-8 at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

On the Bubble

Greg Garcia

Garcia, who hit .240/.337/.387 in 87 big-league plate appearances last year, has a very good shot to make the roster if the Cardinals keep 13 position players and 12 pitchers. The problem facing Garcia is that the Cardinals might opt to keep an extra bullpen arm, which would shorten the bench to four players. With Brayan Pena, either Matt Adams or Brandon Moss, Tommy Pham, and Jedd Gyorko virtually locked into roster spots already, Garcia is the easiest player to drop from the roster.

The advantage that Garcia owns in being able to play second base, third base, and shortstop is somewhat negated by the newly-acquired Gyorko being able to do the same things. With Pena being able to switch-hit and both Adams and Moss hitting lefthanded, he doesn’t exactly provide an advantage as a lefthanded hitter, either.

Garcia would provide extra padding in the infield, and he’ll surely be needed at some point, as Gyorko is the only bench player assured of a spot who is capable of playing any of second, short, or third. With the Cardinals possessing so much bullpen talent this year, though, it’s easy to see how they’d send him to Memphis to start the year, especially since Mike Matheny tends to be rather conservative with the use of his bench players.

Next: Not Likely

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