Cardinals Fan-Favorite Catcher Reportedly Is Non-Tender Candidate This Offseason

It sounds like one Cardinals fan-favorite could have played his last game in St. Louis

What will the St. Louis Cardinals' roster look like in 2024?

It certainly will look different after just 71 wins in 2023 but it's unclear exactly what will happen. The only certainty is that the Cardinals will be looking to add at least three starting pitchers this offseason. Aside from adding starters, other changes likely will be made to the roster. 

One player who could end up being a casualty of a roster crunch could end up being catcher Andrew Knizner, according to MLB Trade Rumors' Anthony Franco. 

Franco compiled a list of players throughout baseball who could possibly be non-tendered this offseason. When a team non-tenders a player, it means they decided not to extend a contract to the player immediately making them a free agent. A player with under six years of Major League Baseball service time can be non-tendered. 

Knizner has spent his entire big league career to this point as a member of the Cardinals. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft and eventually made his big league debut in 2019. Knizner arguably had the best season of his big league career this season with 10 home runs, 31 RBIs, and a .241/.288/.424 slash line in 70 games. 

Although Knizner had a solid season in 2023, he may end up losing his spot on the roster. St. Louis has Willson Contreras lined up as the club's starting catcher and intriguing youngster Iván Herrera looking for more time at the big league level. Knizner has been solid for St. Louis but he may end up playing elsewhere in 2024.  

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