As spring training ramps up, the St. Louis Cardinals are taking a curious approach to one of their most pressing roster questions: how to fill their right-handed outfield need. Rather than turning to the free agent market-where a familiar face in Randal Grichuk remains unsigned-the Cardinals are experimenting with infielders in the outfield, betting on internal versatility over external experience.
Grichuk, a former Cardinal and a known lefty-masher, has been linked to St. Louis throughout the offseason.
And on paper, the fit makes sense. While 2025 wasn’t kind to the 34-year-old-he posted a rough 82 wRC+ across 293 plate appearances-his track record against left-handed pitching remains strong.
Since 2022, he’s carried a 133 wRC+ versus southpaws, and over his career, he’s been a consistent threat in those matchups. For a team that doesn’t need an everyday outfielder but could use a right-handed bat off the bench and in platoon situations, Grichuk checks a lot of boxes.
But despite the logical connection, the Cardinals haven’t shown much interest. According to reporting, the club has explored other outfield options this winter-names like Austin Hays and Miguel Andujar were on their radar-but those players signed elsewhere in pursuit of more playing time. With the trade market offering little traction, the Cardinals are now turning inward.
That internal search has led them to some unconventional candidates. Thomas Saggese and Jose Fermin-both career infielders-are getting reps in the outfield this spring.
Saggese, notably, has never played a single professional inning in the outfield, yet he’s expected to see time in center field during camp. It’s a bold move, and one that speaks to the Cardinals’ current willingness to prioritize positional flexibility and youth development over veteran depth.
There’s also Nelson Velasquez, a non-roster invitee with legitimate power potential. He’s shown flashes at the big-league level with the Cubs and Royals and is a natural outfielder, giving him a leg up in terms of experience at the position. If he can produce at the plate this spring, he could force his way into the conversation.
As for Grichuk, the door isn’t completely closed. There’s still a chance the Cardinals circle back if the internal options don’t pan out.
But for now, the focus is clearly on evaluating what they already have. The best-case scenario?
Someone like Saggese impresses enough to earn a role, giving the Cardinals a controllable, versatile piece while keeping the path clear for other young players to develop.
So as camp unfolds, keep an eye on how these experiments play out. The Cardinals are betting on upside and flexibility, and whether that gamble pays off could shape their outfield mix-and their season-in a big way.