The Cardinals are calling Nolan Gorman back up from Triple-A Memphis, according to Jeff Jones of The Belleville News-Democrat. Jones adds that shortstop Masyn Winn is expected to land on the 10-day injured list in the corresponding move.
Winn has been sidelined since August 21 while dealing with a left thumb injury. He jammed the thumb on a slide during Tuesday’s game in Cincinnati and, although he played the following day, the discomfort clearly persisted. He was then held out of the starting lineup for four straight games, appearing only in a pair of late defensive situations. On Sunday, he told Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the injury was causing considerable pain whenever he swung.
Initial x-rays were negative, though Goold reported over the weekend that Winn would undergo an MRI, which could reveal a smaller fracture missed by the earlier imaging. No update on the MRI results has been provided.
Regardless, the Cardinals have decided Winn needs at least a week of recovery time. Because the IL stint can be backdated to August 22, he would become eligible to return at the start of September, though it remains uncertain whether the club expects him to be ready at that point. The injury interrupts another outstanding defensive campaign for Winn. He ranks fourth among shortstops in Outs Above Average and is firmly in contention for a second straight Gold Glove, trailing only Dansby Swanson among National League shortstops in OAA. He is also tied with Mookie Betts and Geraldo Perdomo for the NL lead in defensive runs saved.
While Winn remains one of baseball’s elite infield defenders, his offensive production has declined for a third consecutive season. Across 490 plate appearances, he is hitting .238/.314/.326 with five home runs.
JJ Wetherholt, the Gold Glove favorite at second base, has shifted back to shortstop over the past few games and figures to remain there while Winn is out. José Fermín and Ramón Urías could share duties at second base. Gorman also has significant experience at the position, although he has played exclusively at third base this season in both the majors and Triple-A.
Gorman returns to St. Louis for the first time in roughly two and a half months. The Cardinals optioned him in mid-June after he opened the season with a .194/.279/.318 line in 229 plate appearances. He then spent several weeks at the team’s complex working on mechanical adjustments before joining Memphis.
Those adjustments, however, have not produced clear statistical evidence of improvement in Gorman’s longstanding swing-and-miss issues. He has struck out at an unsustainable 36% rate in Triple-A while posting a .182/.328/.400 slash line with 13 home runs.
The Cardinals also have not received much production from rookie third baseman Blaze Jordan. Collectively, St. Louis third basemen have hit .213/.271/.338 this season, with only the Marlins and Reds getting less offense from the position. Gorman, who is earning a $2.655MM arbitration salary, will need a strong finish to avoid being non-tendered. Even a productive September may not fully change the picture, however, as his career-long inconsistency makes third base an area the Cardinals should address during the offseason.