51ºÚÁÏ

(Just a side note: I’ll have to cut the chat off at around 2:00 p.m. to get down to Busch Stadium in time for pregame media availability, but I’ll do my best to get to everyone’s submissions before then.)

(Another side note: I'll make sure to update this with a transcript at the bottom that is easier to read.)

Gapper: DG2 - IF the Cards decide to trade Helsley, what kind of return could the expect? Is it greater than the draft choice they would receive?

Guerrero: If Helsley is dealt, that package can obviously vary depending on how high Helsley's value is based on his play and the reliever market. Assuming the draft choice you mentioned is in reference to one they would receive from Helsley signing elsewhere in free agency instead of accepting a qualifying offer if we got to that point, the placement of that pick and the player that would be available depends on where the other team sits in the draft order once you get to those competitive balance rounds, which is typically after the first round. I'm not sure there's an easy way to look at what would be the greater option in that scenario.

Craig: Any thoughts on Busch Stadium apparently showing the 2014 Matt Adams home run off of Clayton Kershaw repeatedly during pre-game Sunday? (Kershaw called it 'bush league' and it's hard to argue with that).

Guerrero: I really don't have too much to say on this other that it being a little cliche of a thing to do to an opposing team/player. If I recall correctly, I think that highlight was played on Friday as well, which made sense for the start of a series to show some history between the two clubs. Although that Adams homer was an impactful moment for the Cardinals, I can see Kershaw's perspective on the move to bring up this game from over a decade ago.

Aaron Knopf: Hi Daniel, thanks for chatting with us. Two questions on the minors:

Aaron Knopf: 1) When does Andre Granillo get his turn on the Memphis shuttle?

Guerrero: Considering the nature of bullpens in general and the need for fresh arms throughout the year, what Andre Granillo has down in Memphis (1.88 ERA in 28 2/3 inning) certainly makes you think it is a matter of when he gets his chance to reach the majors. Granillo not being on the 40-man is a bit of a hurdle to get his call up but not something that would make it impossible by any means. It's hard to predict when that could happen if it does, but I think there's a chance we see him in the majors at some point this year.

Aaron Knopf: 2) How does Wetherholt’s trajectory affect Saggese and Gorman. There don’t seem to be enough starter positions on the infield in the next two years for all of them unless a change in the OF construction moves Donovan to LF permanently.

Guerrero: Like you said, there wouldn't be enough starter positions in that scenario. I think getting Brendan Donovan time in left would be one of the things done to ensure JJ Wetherholt playing time at second base. I wouldn't say Donovan would be a permanent left fielder though because I'm sure we'd still see him used at other position given his value on defense as a utility player. As for Thomas Saggese and Nolan Gorman, I think that would make playing time more tricky because if/when Wetherholt is in the majors, I'd expect the former seventh overall pick to get regular reps.

JB: Do you see the Cardinals calling up Mathews, Roby, or Hence to reinforce the bullpen instead of trading for a relief pitcher if they are still in the playoff race at the deadline?

Guerrero: I'm not too convinced they'd get those players in a major league bullpen this year, especially when some are still getting caught up on innings and the names you mentioned have all been on starter tracks. I think the Cardinals still want to keep that trio of pitchers on track as starters for the time being. Of course, that can change down the road, but I don't think they'd rush any of the three to the majors to fill a relief role, which none have while in the minors.

Mike in KC: Recent chats have shown little in the way of criticism of Marmol... last year at this time, chats were full of invective for everything he did. Has Oli improved as a manager? Or does he just have players executing this year so he's not blamed for poor play of the team?

Guerrero: I think Oli Marmol has done well in his role as manager to his credit. When you think about some of the qualities of this club, like its strong defense, I think a lot of that starts with the skipper. I think there's also some credit due for the coaching staff around him, especially some of the new additions like hitting coach Brant Brown and assistant coach Jon Jay. Players have talked highly about the impacts Brown and Jay have made on them and a lot of that has shown.

DCG: Daniel: It feels like the Cardinals have given up on the idea of Herrera behind the plate. Only a handful of games caught post-injury (2? 3?). It's a shame because 1) it's seems antithetical the the state developmental purpose of this season. How's he supposed to get better? 2) Boy, how it would lengthen the lineup if he were behind the plate on a regular basis. His OPS is nearly 200 points higher than Pozo's, nearly 300 points higher than Pages's. Now that Burleson is heating up and Gorman seems to be finding some footing, I think you want both those bats in the lineup as much as possible. Herrera behind the plate really would help there. The Cardinals say they want Herrera to catch, but actions speak louder than words.

Guerrero: You're right that the actions speak louder than words. But I think you also have to weight the value Pedro Pages brings as a catcher in the decision to keep Herrera as a DH during this stretch. Yes, Pages's numbers on offense don't jump off the page, but he's brought stability behind the plate in a lot of areas. (Pages led all MLB catchers in Defensive Runs Saved in May and had above average blocking and caught stealing rates.) How he's worked with the pitching staff in calling games is also a quality Oliver Marmol has emphasized from Pages. I get what you're saying that limiting Herrera to time at DH is antithetical to the stated goal of development at the majors, but you're also developing Pages's defense as well. There is a tradeoff there, but one that has shown value given the Cardinals' stability on defense and Pages's role in that.

South City Steve: If you think there is a chance to move Mikolas, which requires him waiving his NTC, don't you try to do it now while his value is as high as it has been in 3 seasons? I think it is more of a gamble to keep him and hope the wheels don't come off than it is to take a little less in mid-June versus what you "might" get at the deadline.

Guerrero: I think this whole scenario really starts and stops with the no-trade clause. If Mikolas is intent on staying, then any timing of when you try and shop him really doesn't mean anything.

Mike in KC: A bit of a tag-along to DCG's question: It's a bit crazy to me that the Cards are functionally carrying 4 catchers on the roster. Herrera, Pozo, Pages, and Contreras. Having 3 is crazy enough if you ignore Contreras. Imagine the ABs you could give Gorman at DH if Herrera is catching. I thought coming into the season you could make the argument to simply carry Herrera as the only catcher since Contreras is there to back him up in event of an injury. But I get why they didn't. What I don't understand is why Pozo is still up at the big league level.

Guerrero: Although Contreras's history as a catcher, I really wouldn't classify him as one anymore. At the start of the season, he would have been the emergency catcher if something had happened, but he is a first baseman now and playing well defensively there. And because of that, I don't think carrying just Herrera would have made sense because you can't expect one person to handle the entire workload. As for Pozo's inclusion, you can argue that he is the backup catcher to Pedro Pages and your right-handed bat off the bench.

12fan: What has happened to Victor Scott? Do you think he will figure this out.

Guerrero: I think it's just a matter of major league pitchers adjusting to Scott, and Scott now needing to find a way to adjust to that. You can see that in the pitch tracking numbers available on Statcast. While Scott batted .323 on fastballs in May, he hit .167 on breaking pitches over that same stretch. He also saw a higher rate of breaking pitches in May than he did in April. (He batted .188 on breaking pitches in April.) The strides he made over the offseason and during spring training were significant and showed during his strong start to the year. I think that alone provides an example he can work through lulls and get production in the majors.

Tim: I live in central Kansas, about 8 hours away from 51ºÚÁÏ. I have the MLB network so I can view the Cardinals games. All 3 of the games when the Royals were in 51ºÚÁÏ were blacked out. How does that make any sense? I thought the blackouts were going to end.

Guerrero: Limiting viewership for local fans makes zero sense. That helps no one. It doesn't help fans who want to watch games for the teams that live near them and it doesn't help the league grow. I think existing local television rights is what keep some blackouts in place.

Memphis: Hi, Daniel. I enjoy scouring the box scores of the Cardinals' minor league affiliates. Leonardo Bernal is absolutely raking. Over the last 4 weeks, he is batting .388/.425/.713/1.138. Great eye with a strikeout rate of under 15% for the full season. What are the Cardinals going to do with all of this catching? They are in great shape at the big league level and have great prospects at AAA, AA, and A. wonder if we'll see a catcher moved at the deadline to meet some needs on the ML roster.

Guerrero: Bernal is certainly having a strong year. He owns a .925 OPS in 41 games as a 21-year-old in Double-A. He's also thrown out 38% of the 34 base-stealing attempts against him. It's hard to predict what they will do with the catchers they have, but what you mentioned at the end gives an idea. They have depth in the system and can pull from that if they need it to make a deal. One thing to keep in mind when we look at that depth is that Bernal and the 18-year-old Rainiel Rodriguez, the latter of whom just reached Single-A and is seen as a bat-first catcher, both need some time to develop. Jimmy Crooks is the next closest catching prospect to the majors.

Tackleberry: Do you see any scenario where any of Matz, Fedde or Mikolas are Cardinals in 2026?

Guerrero: The one that intrigues me in this bunch is Matz because of two questions: 1. What' his price? and 2. What's his role? What we've seen this year from Steven Matz has been a positive in terms of health and performance. He's been a valuable piece to the Cardinals' bullpen and it makes me wonder what role he would be looking for after this year and what his market would be coming off of this season?

Guerrero: I don't think you can rule out anyone not coming back, but that still depends on the direction from the club and the expectations for payroll and expectations of playing time for young guys. Experienced starters like Fedde and Mikolas can bring value because of their reliability to take the ball every five days.

12fan: Very impressed with the progress Jordan Walker has made in the field. He is now better there than I ever dreamed--in spite of some recent relapses. We can only hope he fiugres out the slider--so far that hasn't happened. Is he trying the patience of the front office?

Guerrero: I wouldn't say "trying the patience" is the right way to look at it. Obviously, the organization wants to see Walker produce a the plate at the level they think he can. His strides on defense have been praised. Getting regular at-bats despite any struggles at the plate is all a part of the "runway" goal to see what he can do with a full season under his belt. Once he is healthy, we should expect him to continue getting regular at-bats.

DenMizzou: Hello, Mr. Guerrero. I enjoy your coverage of the Cardinals. A lot of stories I read from other sources say the Cardinals need more pitching -- which they do. But, I think an outfielder who can hit with some power is a greater need, since Donovan is better at 2B and Burleson is more of a DH/1B type. Do you agree? While they need an outfielder who can hit, whose place would he take? That would mean shortening the "runway" for Walker and Scott, and it would mean accepted Nootbar for what he really is -- a No. 4 outfielder.

Guerrero: The "whose place would he take" part of your question is really the key to all of this, based on what I've seen. The Cardinals want to continue giving ample playing time to young players. I'm not sure how much they'd cut into that "runway" for players they need to see with a full season under them.

Myronjax: any updates on how Josh Baez is doing at AA? Heard his first game was good, but haven't heard anything since. Baez is a great example of players developing at different speeds. I'm rooting for the kid!

Guerrero: He's continued his breakout year. Since reaching Double-A, Baez is batting .297 with an .843 OPS. Though, his strikeout rate has taken a jump of about 12% from what it was in High-A. He's only 10 games in at Double-A so I think there will be a bit of an adjustment period. But overall, he's continued to hit. He's produced some hard contact and nabbed a couple of bases. I think this is a great time to remind ourselves that he is 21 years old and doesn't turn 22 until later this month.

Dick: Is the plan for McGreevy to go back to minors and make his next MLB start June 23

Guerrero: I think we might find out more about that today.

Guerrero: With the timing of today's pregame media availability nearing, I'll need to end that chat here and get headed to the ballpark. Thanks for your participation today. We appreciate your readership. Keep it locked in here at STL Today dot com and in the pages of the Post-Dispatch for Cardinals coverage. Hope you all have a great rest of your day and a great week ahead. Til next time! -- Daniel Guerrero

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