3 Cardinals players who won’t be on the roster by September 1

3) Cardinals pitcher Jake Woodford is a future casualty of needing a fresh arm

At some point, the Cardinals might need a fresh arm in the bullpen. It’s Jake Woodford, who has pitched well for them this year, who would be a logical casualty of the necessary roster move. Buried on the depth chart behind many others, he’s far more likely to get sent to the minors rather than seeing the team DFA Chris Stratton.

Stratton hasn’t been good for the Cardinals but because they just picked him up alongside Jose Quintana from the Pittsburgh Pirates, we have to figure he’ll get a little bit of a longer leash. You don’t trade for a player even of his caliber only to get rid of them after only two weeks.

That’s not to suggest Stratton’s roster spot is completely safe. By the end of the year, he could be designated for assignment. Before September 1, however, it’s Woodford whose minor league options will be the more favorable move because it keeps the club from losing an arm.

Woodford can still do himself a lot of favors by pitching well for however long it is he remains in the big leagues. He’s young enough to have a role on the roster next season. And even if he is sent down by September 1, he’d be a candidate to get recalled in the final month of the season.

Sending Woodford back to the minors would be a pure baseball decision. It’s part of the game and he’ll hopefully be well-prepared to return as soon as the Cardinals need him.