Using the Defensive Runs Saved metric, the Cardinals entered Tuesday with the Majors' 27th-ranked outfield. Their outfielders have combined for a -14 DRS, which is a drop of 11 points from 2016.
The Cardinals' Opening Day left fielder has been sent down to Class A. Their $82.5-million center fielder has shown significant defensive regression. And in right field, Stephen Piscotty has been, at best, average.
"It hasn't been good," general manager John Mozeliak said candidly. "I'm not sure what I would attribute that to. You think about how we talked about putting this club together originally with the addition of Fowler and then of course, [Randal] Grichuk and Piscotty, we thought we'd be an above-average defensive outfield.