The St. Louis Cardinals have optioned struggling second baseman Nolan Gorman to Triple-A Memphis following a disappointing season marked by a 37.6% strikeout rate and a .671 OPS. Gorman's performance declined sharply in August, where he hit just .188 with no home runs and 11 strikeouts in his last 33 at-bats. He recorded 19 home runs and 50 RBIs over 107 games this season, but his inability to produce consistent offensive output, especially in the second half, prompted the decision. José Fermín has been recalled to take Gorman's place, as the Cardinals seek to revitalize their struggling lineup after losing 12 of their last 17 games. Gorman's demotion follows a series of roster moves aimed at addressing the team's lack of offensive production, as they trail behind in playoff contention.