In a recent press conference, St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak, addressed the media and expressed his belief that the team's health would be the most crucial factor during spring training. Unfortunately, injuries to key players have become the main storyline surrounding the team.

Sonny Gray, one of the Cardinals' starting pitchers, is dealing with a mild hamstring strain, which puts his availability for the Opening Day game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 28 in doubt. Center fielder Tommy Edman is also facing uncertainties regarding his participation in the season opener, as he has been dealing with soreness in his rehabbing right wrist and has been unable to resume baseball activities. Left fielder Lars Nootbaar experienced an awkward landing during a dive in the outfield, prompting the team to take precautionary measures and schedule imaging for him.

With concerns over Gray's injury, some fans have wondered if the Cardinals will seek to sign another starting pitcher, such as Michael Lorenzen or Jake Odorizzi, to add depth to their rotation. However, Mozeliak stated that he does not believe adding pitching depth is necessary at this point, unless there are changes in the situation. The Cardinals are planning to rely on their current pitchers, Zack Thompson and Matthew Liberatore, to fill in if Gray's absence extends.

Gray himself has expressed optimism regarding his injury, stating that it is not a major concern for him, the trainers, or the doctors. However, his availability for Opening Day remains uncertain. Both Gray and the Cardinals believe that the hamstring strain is a best-case scenario, indicating that they expect him to return to action relatively quickly.

While fans may speculate about potential signings or trades for other starting pitchers like Blake Snell, Dylan Cease, Jordan Montgomery, or Trevor Bauer, the Cardinals have made it clear that they are unlikely to pursue such moves. Furthermore, if Gray's injury turns out to be more severe than anticipated, securing help in the early season would be challenging, as most free agents have already signed and trade negotiations would be difficult based on the timeline. The Cardinals may have to rely on internal options and adjust their strategy accordingly.

Another topic of discussion has been the potential inclusion of Victor Scott II in the Cardinals' roster. However, it appears that Scott's chances of making the team are slim, especially if Edman is not ready for Opening Day. The Cardinals intend to give Dylan Carlson an opportunity to play center field in Edman's absence, with Lars Nootbaar and Jordan Walker also expected to be part of the starting outfield, assuming Nootbaar's soreness is only precautionary. The organization typically promotes top prospects to the majors when there is a clear path for them to play every day, and they prefer to rely on experienced players like Carlson.

Regarding the Cardinals' approach to long-term deals with young talent, the organization has historically been conservative in this regard. They have generally extended players during their arbitration years, providing them with cost certainty and security. However, the Cardinals tend to refrain from offering extravagant contracts like those seen in some recent deals. Ownership's stance is to operate as a small-market team, despite being financially successful, in order to maintain a competitive and winning product on the field.

As the Cardinals continue with spring training, their bullpen remains an area of keen competition. While some relievers are expected to secure their spots, the final three weeks of games will ultimately determine the final composition of the bullpen. Pitchers like Riley O'Brien and Ryan Fernandez have shown promising performances, with O'Brien potentially making the team and Fernandez benefiting from his status as a Rule 5 pick.

Overall, the Cardinals' focus remains on the health of their players and utilizing internal options to fill in for injured players. Their conservative approach to roster management and their unwillingness to make significant moves appear to be the strategy for now.