736 articles found
STL • Pitcher • #61
2 days ago
Kent will get a chance to win one of the final bullpen spots with the Cardinals this spring. The 27-year-old pitched well in Triple-A Columbus with a 2.84 ERA, but he struggled at the highest level as seen in a 4.58 ERA, albeit in a small sample of 17 2/3 innings.
STL • Infielder • #33
5 days ago
Passan noted that the Cardinals “are not eager” to trade Donovan, but it might make too much sense given the rebuilding nature of the team. Donovan has two years of control left at very affordable arbitration rates before free agency and can play all over the field while producing solid on-base rates and good gap power. Passan puts the likelihood of Donovan being traded at 75 percent.
Source: ESPN.com
STL • Infielder • #40
5 days ago
Contreras has two years and $36.5 million remaining on the five-year, $85 million contract he signed ahead of the 2023 season. That contract also has a club option for $17.5 million in 2028, so he is under contract for a reasonable amount of money for the next three years, which should be appealing to many teams. The 33-year-old hit .257/.344/.447 with 20 home runs, a career-high 70 runs, and a career-high 80 RBI in his first season as a first baseman. While the Cardinals are not eager to trade Contreras, as Woo noted, trading him “would open up first base full-time for Alec Burleson and could alleviate some payroll concerns.” This is a situation to monitor for the rebuilding Cardinals.
Source: The Athletic
STL • Infielder • #40
5 days ago
Contreras has two years and $36.5 million remaining on the five-year, $85 million contract he signed ahead of the 2023 season. That contract also has a club option for $17.5 million in 2028, so he is under contract for a reasonable amount of money for the next three years, which should be appealing to many teams. The 33-year-old hit .257/.344/.447 with 20 home runs, a career-high 70 runs, and a career-high 80 RBI in his first season as a first baseman. While the Cardinals are not eager to trade Contreras, as Woo noted, trading him “would open up first base full-time for Alec Burleson and could alleviate some payroll concerns.” This is a situation to monitor for the rebuilding Cardinals.
Source: The Athletic
STL • Outfielder • #18
8 days ago
Walker’s offseason swing evaluation at Driveline revealed that his back hip was collapsing, causing him to drift forward and sap his power production last season. He said he’s feeling more optimistic after working through a series of drills designed to keep his hips back and allow him to drive the baseball again. It’s no secret the 23-year-old former top prospect hasn’t lived up to the astronomical hype yet, but the underlying metrics continue to tease big-time potential. His 92.3 mph average exit velocity and 78.1 mph bat speed last year graded out as elite-level tools — the kind you can’t fake. He’s made mechanical tweaks in previous offseasons, so it’s understandable if fantasy managers remain in wait-and-see mode. Still, the raw ingredients are here for a legitimate breakout if this latest adjustment finally unlocks his potential.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
STL • P
12 days ago
A 2024 fifth-round pick, Clarke had a great start to his pro career last season before dealing with hand issues. Even so, his 14 starts saw him struck out 60 in 38 innings. He has a long way to go in the control department — though the hand factored into his problems there last season — but he has big-time upside as a starter and he’d still project as an excellent reliever if he doesn’t develop as hoped. He’ll probably need to spend all of 2026 in the minors.
STL • Pitcher • #80
12 days ago
This seems like a good break for Fitts, who figured to have major issues cracking Boston’s rotation going forward. The path to a spot is much clearer in St. Louis. Fitts is thus far 2-5 with a 3.97 ERA and a 49/23 K/BB in 65 2/3 innings as a major leaguer. His ceiling is limited and he missed the final five weeks of 2025 with neuritis, but he has a chance to be a solid enough fourth or fifth starter.
STL • Pitcher • #54
12 days ago
Per Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Cardinals will receive prospect left-hander Brandon Clarke and right-hander Richard Fitts. Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom made no secret that the club was shopping Gray, but the veteran right-hander had to waive his no-trade clause in order to facilitate a trade. Evidently, he had no issues going to Boston. Gray turned 36 earlier this month and is coming off a 4.28 ERA with 201 strikeouts over 180 2/3 innings in 2025. Gray was previously owed $35 million in 2026, with a $5 million buyout of his $30 million club option for 2027. However, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that the deal is being reworked, so Gray will get a $31 million salary in 2026, with mutual option buyout of $10 million. Per Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, the Cardinals are picking up $20 million of the $41 million guarantee.
Source: Jon Heyman
STL • Catcher • #63
13 days ago
The deal is now official. Pozo’s return on a split contract fortifies the Cardinals’ catching situation behind Pedro Páges with Iván Herrera ticketed for DH duty until further notice. The 28-year-old backstop posted a .637 OPS with five homers and 19 RBI in 168 appearances over a career-high 67 contests this past season.
STL •
13 days ago
Blewett will compete for a spot in the Cardinals’ season-opening bullpen during spring training after registering a pedestrian 5.48 ERA and 35/18 K/BB ratio across 44 1/3 innings over 26 appearances between the Orioles, Twins and Braves last season.
STL • Infielder • #33
13 days ago
Rosenthal notes that the Pirates are clearly trying to add salary in advance of a potential new CBA that would require a salary floor. However, the Pirates are anticipating being “shunned” by free agents like Kyle Schwarber and even Jorge Polanco and Ryan O’Hearn, so they are also exploring trade options in order to find offense. While nothing is imminent here, it does appear to be a situation to monitor.
Source: The Athletic
STL • PH
19 days ago
Baez is the biggest name to know for fantasy purposes after putting together a breakthrough campaign last season where he blossomed into one of the premier slugging prospects in the game, slashing .287/.384/.500 with 20 homers and 54 stolen bases across 117 games between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield. It’s only a matter of time before he’s making some real noise as a power/speed combo threat in St. Louis.
STL •
19 days ago
Alcala loses his spot on the Cardinals’ 40-man roster after posting a bloated 5.02 ERA across 14 1/3 innings over 15 appearances this past season for St. Louis. He’s rapidly heading towards journeyman status after pitching for three different organizations last year.
STL • Infielder • #33
23 days ago
It seems likely that with the Cardinals heading into a rebuild, that they’ll look to move the versatile 28-year-old, who has two years remaining on his contract. Goold also notes that the Dodgers and Yankees had interest in dealing for him at the trade deadline in 2025 and could circle back again this offseason. It’s looking increasingly likely that Donovan could be donning a new uniform on Opening Day in 2026.
Source: Derrick Goold
STL • Pitcher • #54
24 days ago
“We’ve definitely been listening on him,” Bloom said. “It’s not a surprise. I mean, he’s still one of the better pitchers in the league. We value him very highly. Just with where we are and thinking long term, we’ve talked to him, and I think we all feel like there might be something that makes sense, but we’ll continue to explore that.” Gray has a full no-trade clause, but he’s thought to be open to waiving it if the right destination comes about. One problem is that his three-year, $75 million contract was heavily backloaded, and he’s owed $35 million next season and perhaps a $5 million buyout of his 2027 option (it’s $30 million, and he can opt out of it if a team exercises it). The Cardinals will probably need to eat some of that in order to get a substantial return.
STL • Pitcher • #54
24 days ago
“We’ve definitely been listening on him,” Bloom said. “It’s not a surprise. I mean, he’s still one of the better pitchers in the league. We value him very highly. Just with where we are and thinking long term, we’ve talked to him, and I think we all feel like there might be something that makes sense, but we’ll continue to explore that.” Gray has a full no-trade clause, but he’s thought to be open to waiving it if the right destination comes about. One problem is that his three-year, $75 million contract was heavily backloaded, and he’s owed $35 million next season and perhaps a $5 million buyout of his 2027 option (it’s $30 million, and he can opt out of it if a team exercises it). The Cardinals will probably need to eat some of that in order to get a substantial return.
STL •
about 1 month ago
The move prevents Torres from becoming a minor league free agent and protects him from being gobbled up in next month’s Rule 5 Draft. The 28-year-old has spent time at both the keystone and outfield in recent years. He batted 328/.441/.464 with nine homers and 26 steals in 104 games for Triple-A Memphis this past season.
STL • Outfielder • #21
about 1 month ago
Nootbaar underwent surgery on both heels earlier this month to address bone enlargement near his Achilles tendons. Bloom added that the club will not rush his rehabilitation process but noted that if he does miss time at the outset of next season it would only be a brief absence. Fantasy managers should anticipate a clearer return timetable at the outset of spring training once he’s able to resume baseball activities.
Source: Matt Pauley
STL • Infielder • #33
about 2 months ago
Donovan, 28, dealt with a groin issue for much of the 2025 season, and the hope is that operation can help put those issues to rest. Assuming there’s no setbacks, he should be good to go for the start of the 2026 season.
Source: John Denton
STL • Infielder • #33
about 2 months ago
Donovan, 28, dealt with a groin issue for much of the 2025 season, and the hope is that operation can help put those issues to rest. Assuming there’s no setbacks, he should be good to go for the start of the 2026 season.
Source: John Denton
STL • Outfielder • #21
about 2 months ago
Haglund’s deformities is a condition at the back of the heel that causes “bony enlargements. near where the Achilles attaches” No timetable has been provided, but there’s a good chance Nootbaar will be ready for the start of the 2026 season.
Source: John Denton
STL • Catcher • #48
about 2 months ago
The procedure isn’t expected to impact Herrera’s regular off-season routine and he should be a full participant when pitchers and catchers report to spring camp in February. The 25-year-old slashed an impressive .284/.373/.464 with 19 homers, 66 RBI and eight stolen bases in his first full season as the Cardinals’ starting catcher in 2025.
Source: Jeff Jones
STL • Catcher • #48
about 2 months ago
The procedure isn’t expected to impact Herrera’s regular off-season routine and he should be a full participant when pitchers and catchers report to spring camp in February. The 25-year-old slashed an impressive .284/.373/.464 with 19 homers, 66 RBI and eight stolen bases in his first full season as the Cardinals’ starting catcher in 2025.
Source: Jeff Jones
STL • 1B
2 months ago
Well, this would be fun. Heyman was first to report of the interview, but Ken Rosenthal and Sam Blum believe that Pujols is the Angels’ “leading choice” to take over. Pujols retired back in 2022 after a legendary career, and of course played for the Angels for a large portion of it; albeit not the most successful portion. The 45-year-old has no managerial experience at the highest level, but he’s going to manage the Dominican Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, and it appears this is something he’s very interested in. Fun.
Source: Jon Heyman
STL • Infielder • #28
2 months ago
Obviously, the Cardinals want to move on from Arenado, but they won’t release him in order to do so. Arenado is due to make $27 million next year and $15 million in 2027. That final season was added on to Arenado’s original eight-year contract with the Rockies as part of him waiving his no-trade clause to join the Cardinals.
Source: Derrick Goold
STL •
2 months ago
Coming off a 78-84 season, the Cardinals are planning to probably be worse in 2026, as they hope some of their veterans who declined to waive no-trade clauses in the past prove amenable now. As a result, there’s no reason to move on from Marmol at this point. That quite possibly will come in 2027, when Bloom and company probably will aim to return to contention.
Source: The Athletic
STL • Outfielder • #11
2 months ago
The 24-year-old outfielder led off the third inning with a single and swiped second base, but the Cardinals were unable to cash him in from there. He also smacked a two-out double in the fifth inning but was left stranded there. He finishes the 2025 season slashing .216/.305/.296 with five homers, 37 RBI and 34 stolen bases (in 38 attempts).
STL • Pitcher • #62
2 months ago
The 28-year-old hurler punched out one batter on the afternoon and didn’t walk a batter. The Cardinals have toyed with the idea of shifting Leahy to the starting rotation in 2026 and if his effort on Sunday was any indication it looks like he could be up to the task. Leahy finishes the 2025 campaign with a 4-2 record, 3.07 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and an 80/28 K/BB ratio over 88 innings in 62 appearances.
STL • Pitcher • #36
2 months ago
McGreevy surrendered two homers to Michael Busch. He ends a solid rookie season at 8-4 with a 4.42 ERA and a 58/20 K/BB in 95 2/3 innings. Going forward, he’ll need to up his groundball rate or his strikeout rate in order to remain successful. This year’s 47% groundball rate is above average, but it’s not going to be good enough to overcome a 14.5% strikeout rate.
STL • Outfielder • #18
2 months ago
He also picked up his 10th stolen base. The homer off Caleb Thielbar was just Walker’s sixth in 392 plate appearances this season. Since the Cardinals never did send him down in spite of his struggles this season, he retains one option year going into 2026. One imagines the Cardinals will use it, assuming that they don’t trade him this winter and he doesn’t show immediate obvious improvement next spring. He’s been one of the league’s worst players in batting .217/.281/.309 and letting him try to figure things out in the majors hasn’t worked.