ST. LOUIS -- Center fielder Victor Scott II is on the Opening Day roster, and so is fellow center fielder and defensive ace Michael Siani. Steven Matz, who started most of Spring Training, is on the roster as a reliever, while Matthew Liberatore, who relieved most of Spring Training, was added to the starting staff.
Following an arduous Spring Training filled with several position battles, the Cardinals have decided upon an Opening Day roster that they feel will allow them to compete in 2025 despite their stated intentions of keeping the focus on their young players.
¡°There¡¯s an edge to them that I am really excited about,¡± manager Oliver Marmol said. ¡°You talk to our guys individually or collectively, there¡¯s an edge to them and a relentless type of mentality to their approach, and there¡¯s a really good approach to how they¡¯re going about their work. I like the vibe and they¡¯re in a good spot. I like where this is headed.¡±
The decision to take Siani -- a savior defensively in center field last year -- meant that Jos¨¦ Ferm¨ªn and Jose Barrero will start the season with Triple-A Memphis. Relievers Chris Roycroft and Kyle Leahy made their first Opening Day rosters.
The one glaring omission is right-handed starting pitcher Michael McGreevy (St. Louis' No. 11 prospect), who impressed the Cardinals in 2024 when he made his MLB debut and went 3-0 in four big league games and was stellar this spring. He will start the season at Triple-A Memphis despite pitching five scoreless innings against the Mets last Friday to finalize his spring resume. The 24-year-old right-hander pitched to a 1.08 ERA over 16 2/3 innings of five spring appearances (four starts). He allowed just two solo home runs and struck out 12 hitters without walking one.
Here is the Cardinals' Opening Day roster.
Catcher (2): Iván Herrera, Pedro Pagés
The Cardinals believe so much in Herrera and Pag¨¦s that they moved Willson Contreras to first base. Herrera, 24, hit .301 with an .800 OPS last season, but he threw out just four of 59 baserunners. Pitchers love Pag¨¦s, but he must improve upon his .657 OPS from 2024 to be an everyday catcher.
First baseman (1): Willson Contreras
Contreras will switch to a position he¡¯s played just 11 times in his career and not since 2019. The impetus for the move was Contreras appearing in just 84 games last season because of injuries.
Second baseman (2): Brendan Donovan, Nolan Gorman
Donovan has been a do-everything master over the past three years. The Cardinals want Gorman getting 550 to 600 at-bats in what they hope will be a massive bounce-back season.
Shortstop (1): Masyn Winn
Winn, who just turned 23 on March 21, cleared up the questions about his bat during a stellar rookie season. The next challenge for Winn: steal 30 to 40 bases in 2025.
Third baseman (1): Nolan Arenado
For now, Arenado is still in St. Louis, and he¡¯s much lighter after a winter of work to try and restore his power. How long will Arenado remain happy with the status quo if the Cards get off to a slow start?
Outfielders (3): Lars Nootbaar, Jordan Walker, Victor Scott II
Nootbaar finished in the 91st percentile last year in hard-hit rate (49.5%) and he made hard contact on 21.9% of his swings last season, which was third best in MLB behind just Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Staying healthy is the key for Nootbaar as he¡¯s been on the IL five times in the past two seasons. Much like with Gorman, the Cards have a lot riding on a big bounce-back season from Walker, who is still loaded with talent and potential despite two rocky MLB seasons.
DH (1): Alec Burleson
When Spring Training started in 2024, Burleson looked like he might get squeezed out because of a lack of opportunities. However, injuries to three outfielders opened chances for Burleson, who evolved into one of the feel-good stories of the season.
Bench/Utility (4): Luken Baker, Michael Siani, Nolan Gorman, Pedro Pagés
Baker, who proved himself to be an adept pinch-hitter and DH late last season, has slugged his way onto the roster with four home runs in Spring Training. Gorman will see time at second base and third base, but for now he has fallen behind Burleson as the starting designated hitter.
Starting pitchers (5): Sonny Gray, Andre Pallante, Erick Fedde, Matthew Liberatore, Miles Mikolas
Gray chose to stay in St. Louis rather than ask for a trade, and he is the unquestioned ace. The Cards are hoping for big things from reliever-turned-starter Pallante, who allowed three or fewer earned runs in 15 of his 20 starts last season. Mikolas might need bounce-back seasons to stay in MLB.
Relief pitchers (8): Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, JoJo Romero, Ryan Fernandez, Steven Matz, John King, Kyle Leahy, Chris Roycroft
Helsley authored the greatest season by a reliever in the rich history of the Cardinals in 2024, but how long will he remain with the club with free agency looming? Romero must fill the high-leverage innings manned by Andrew Kittredge.