St. Louis Cardinals News

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Lars Nootbaar • LF • Cardinals

Lars Nootbaar Slowly Progressing

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (heels) still has no timeline for a return to full baseball activities, according to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News. Nootbaar has been able to hit and throw, but he's just now moving into being able to run without assistance. The 28-year-old will continue to run on an anti-gravity treadmill in camp after having surgery in early October on both of his heels to address deformities. The Cardinals are unlikely to rush Nootbaar, so the expectation is that he will not be ready to go on Opening Day in late March. Nootbaar played a career-high 135 games in 2025 and disappointed offensively, slashing .234/.325/.361 with a career-worst .686 OPS, 13 homers, 48 RBI, 68 runs, and four steals in 583 plate appearances. His batted-ball metrics have always teased more -- he had a career-best 50% hard-hit rate and 10.2% barrel rate in 2025 -- but he's rarely been healthy and has yet to put it all together. Nootbaar needs to get healthy and finally break through to jump into the top-100 outfield rankings.

11 hours ago

Hunter Dobbins • SP • Cardinals

Hunter Dobbins Hopes to be Cleared for Baseball Activities

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Hunter Dobbins (knee) was scheduled to visit with a doctor on Wednesday and is hoping to be fully cleared for baseball activities in spring training, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Dobbins is throwing bullpen sessions and live batting practice in camp, but he hasn't been able to field his position or do any running after having surgery on his right ACL last July. The 26-year-old could be on track to make some appearances in Grapefruit League games for his new team, but whether he'll be ready for Opening Day in late March is another question. The fact that Dobbins has yet to be fully cleared for baseball activities certainly isn't a good sign. For fantasy purposes, the former eighth-rounder doesn't have much long-term appeal with limited strikeout upside. In his 13 outings (11 starts) for Boston last year in his first MLB season, Dobbins had a 4.13 ERA (3.87 FIP) and 1.28 WHIP with 45 K's and 17 walks in 61 innings.

14 hours ago

Riley O'Brien • RP • Cardinals

Riley O'Brien Dealing With Calf Soreness

St. Louis Cardinals right-handed reliever Riley O'Brien (calf) is dealing with some calf soreness in camp, according to Jeff Jones of The Belleville News. The Cardinals are now discussing what it means for O'Brien's participation in this year's World Baseball Classic for Team South Korea. The 31-year-old will be in the mix for saves in St. Louis in 2026 with JoJo Romero as long as he's healthy. In his second year in St. Louis in 2025, O'Brien was hard to hit, posting a 2.06 ERA (1.15 WHIP), his first six career saves, a career-high 45 strikeouts, and 22 walks in 48 innings over 42 appearances out of the bullpen. It was his first extended look in the big leagues, and he did not disappoint. O'Brien struck out only 22.6% of the batters he faced, though, and also had an elevated 11.1% walk rate for a high-leverage arm, so there will be plenty of volatility and risk for a pitcher who has never held down the closer's role for an entire season.

Yesterday

Nolan Gorman • 2B • Cardinals |

J.J. Wetherholt • SS • Cardinals

JJ Wetherholt is at Second Base, Nolan Gorman Getting Reps at Third

St. Louis Cardinals infielders JJ Wetherholt and Nolan Gorman could be stationed at new primary positions in 2026. As of this weekend, Wetherholt is playing second base, while Gorman is taking reps at third base. Wetherholt has yet to make his MLB debut, but he should be in St. Louis soon. He has primarily been playing shortstop, but has seen some action at second base. It looks like the Cardinals would like Wetherholt to take over second base with the team trading Brendan Donovan this offseason. As for Gorman, he came up as a second baseman, but has been transitioning to the hot corner. He played a career-high 54 games over there last season. Nolan Arenado has been traded, so the spot is open full-time for Gorman. The Cardinals will likely move them around, but offseason trades have given these two players a chance to play full-time infield positions.

3 days ago

Yohel Pozo • C • Cardinals

Yohel Pozo Drops Significant Weight Heading into 2026 Season

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yohel Pozo announced on his X account that he has dropped 33 pounds since last season. The 28-year-old Venezuelan will be battling for a big-league roster spot in spring training after he hit .231/.262/.375 with a .637 OPS, five home runs, 19 RBI, and 16 runs scored in 67 games in his first year with the Cardinals last season. St. Louis non-tendered him in the offseason before he re-signed with the club on a split contract. Pozo is obviously in much better shape this year, but he still has plenty of work to do with Ivan Herrera (elbow) and Pedro Pages ahead of him on the catching depth chart. He'll also have to beat out Jimmy Crooks to avoid starting the year at Triple-A Memphis. Pozo's 2025 campaign started well with a .312 average and four homers in his first 38 games, but he went 8-for-67 in the second half and also missed time with a concussion. For now, fantasy managers can avoid Pozo in all formats.

5 days ago

Jordan Walker • RF • Cardinals

Jordan Walker to Run More in 2026?

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that he thinks outfielder Jordan Walker could steal more bases in 2026, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It might be a make-or-break year for Walker, who has stolen only 18 bases in 279 games in his first three seasons in the big leagues. The former first-rounder is surprisingly fast despite standing 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, and the Cardinals could give him more opportunities to run this year. The 23-year-old is still young, but so far, he's been a bust at the major-league level, slashing .240/.302/.378 with a .680 OPS, 27 home runs, 112 RBI, 107 runs, and a 26.9% strikeout rate. Walker's 66 wRC+ in 2025 ranked 270th out of 277 qualifying hitters, although he did make loud contact along the way. There have been positive reports about Walker's swing changes this offseason. Taking a chance on Walker will be cheap if you're hoping for a post-hype breakout.

6 days ago

Lars Nootbaar • LF • Cardinals

Lars Nootbaar Will be Delayed in Reporting to Camp

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (heels) will be a couple of days delayed in reporting to camp due to his rehab, according to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News. Nootbaar is in a spot in his progression where he's running on an altered-gravity treadmill, and the Cardinals have not had one delivered yet to their spring training facilities. The 28-year-old had surgery on both of his heels in early October of last year. We should have a better idea of Nootbaar's timetable for a return when he reports to camp, but as of now, it's looking likely that he won't be ready for Opening Day in late March. In addition to playing through heel issues, Nootbaar missed three weeks with a rib-cage injury and finished with a mediocre .234/.325/.361 slash line, career-low .686 OPS, 13 homers, and 48 RBI in 135 games. Nootbaar has teased fantasy managers with his batted-ball metrics, but his health has not cooperated.

6 days ago

Bryan Ramos • 3B • Cardinals

Cardinals Claim Bryan Ramos Off Waivers From Orioles

The St. Louis Cardinals claimed third baseman Bryan Ramos off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, sources told Francys Romero. The Cuban infielder was designated for assignment two days ago by the Orioles, and he'll now head to the National League Central. The Orioles acquired Ramos in a trade with the Chicago White Sox last Sunday. The 23-year-old infielder only appeared in four games with the White Sox last year, going 2-for-12 with two RBI and four strikeouts. In his MLB debut in 2024, he went 20-for-99 (.202) with three homers, 11 RBI, seven walks, and 22 strikeouts in 32 games played. At Triple-A Charlotte last year, Ramos slashed .216/.309/.396, although he did manage to pop 16 home runs and steal 13 bases. There's still time for Ramos to develop, but as of right now, he's most likely to start the 2026 season at Triple-A Memphis as infield depth for the Red Birds.

Feb 6

Joshua Baez • RF • Cardinals

Joshua Baez in Contention for Early MLB Promotion?

St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez is a name to monitor during spring training as he could push for an early MLB promotion. Baez is currently ranked as the No. 14 prospect in the St. Louis system on MLB.com. Baez began the 2205 season in High-A, where he held a .317/.404/.483 slash line with eight doubles, four home runs, and an impressive 20 stolen bases, across a 38-game stint. He was then bumped up to Double-A Springfield, where he spent the majority of the campaign. Over his last 79 games, the outfielder held a .271/.374/.509 line an .883 OPS. During this stint, the former second-round pick hit 16 home runs while swiping 34 bags. While the Cardinals will likely look to give him a taste of Triple-A early in 2026, given St. Louis' current outfield situation, Baez could be in the mix for a first-half MLB debut. Given his five-category potential, he is a top name to monitor in deeper five-outfielder leagues.

Feb 5

Thomas Saggese • 2B • Cardinals

Thomas Saggese Could be in the Mix for Outfield Work

St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said on Tuesday that infielders Thomas Saggese and Freddy Fermin could play into the competition in the outfield during spring training, according to Brandon Kiley of 101 ESPN. Entering the mix in the outfield would give Saggese a better path to more playing time, but he hasn't spent any time in the outfield yet in his professional career. The 23-year-old former fifth-round pick by the Texas Rangers in 2020 debuted in the majors in 2024 but played in only 18 games. Last year in 82 games (295 plate appearances), Saggese hit .258/.299/.342 with a .641 OPS, two home runs, 25 RBI, 25 runs scored, and three stolen bases for the Red Birds. Saggese still has time to develop, but he has so far disappointed with an elevated strikeout rate and limited power. His 44.1% hard-hit rate and 90.2 average exit velocity give hope that he can build on his offensive performance in 2026, but consistent playing time could be hard to come by.

Feb 3

Nolan Gorman • 2B • Cardinals

Nolan Gorman Should Have "Plenty of Opportunity" in 2026

St. Louis Cardinals infielder Nolan Gorman will have "plenty of opportunity" this year to make an impact, according to president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. "It's a big year for him... He should have plenty of opportunity this year. We've seen it (before). He has power everywhere. He can drive the baseball to any part of the field... He knows this is a big opportunity (for him)," Bloom said. The Cardinals have two openings on the infield going into spring training at third base and second base after they traded both Nolan Arenado and Brendan Donovan this offseason. The 25-year-old Gorman is expected to take over at the hot corner, with infield prospect JJ Wetherholt having a clear path at the keystone. We know there is power in Gorman's bat after he hit a career-high 27 homers in 2023, but he has struck out 35% of the time the last two seasons while hitting 33 combined homers. If Gorman can lower his strikeout rate in 2026, he could be a nice sleeper source of power with regular playing time.

Feb 3

J.J. Wetherholt • SS • Cardinals

JJ Wetherholt Could Play Second Base in St. Louis

St. Louis Cardinals infield prospect JJ Wetherholt now has a clear path to playing time at second base in 2026 after the team traded Brendan Donovan to the Seattle Mariners on Monday night, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Before the Donovan trade, Wetherholt was expected to compete for the third base job after St. Louis traded Nolan Arenado to the Arizona Diamondbacks this offseason. Nothing is guaranteed for Wetherholt, but all signs point to the No. 5 overall prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline, being on the Cardinals' Opening Day roster in 2026. Between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis last year, the 23-year-old hit .306/.421/.510 with 17 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 109 games played. The former seventh overall pick in 2024 has 20-homer power as he matures, and he could play regularly right from the start of the season in St. Louis in 2026.

Feb 3

Colton Ledbetter • CF • Cardinals

Colton Ledbetter Traded From Rays to Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals acquired outfielder Colton Ledbetter from the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday in a three-team deal that also included the Seattle Mariners, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. Ledbetter, 24, was originally a second-round pick by the Rays in 2023 out of Mississippi State. The left-handed hitter has recorded a .269/.341/.428 slash line with a .768 OPS, 25 home runs, 126 RBI, 142 runs scored, and 74 stolen bases in his three minor-league seasons in the Rays system. He hit .265/.337/.378 with seven home runs and 37 steals in 123 games at Double-A Montgomery last year. Ledbetter can play anywhere in the outfield and will now become organizational outfield depth for the Cardinals. He may open the 2026 campaign in his new digs at Triple-A Memphis.

Feb 2

Tai Peete • OF • Cardinals

Cardinals Acquire Tai Peete in Three-Team Deal on Monday

The St. Louis Cardinals acquired outfielder Tai Peete from the Seattle Mariners on Monday in a three-team trade that also included the Tampa Bay Rays, a source told Daniel Kramer of MLB.com. Peete was taken 30th overall by Seattle in 2023, and he's hit .247/.318/.406 with a .724 OPS, 28 home runs, 154 RBI, 141 runs scored, and 76 stolen bases in three minor-league seasons. The 20-year-old hit just .217 (103-for-475) in 125 games with High-A Everett in 2025, but he also managed to club a career-high 19 home runs while also adding 63 RBI, 58 runs scored, and 25 steals. The power/speed combination is intriguing, but Peete's hit tool remains questionable for the long term after he had a below-average 79 wRC+. He has transitioned nicely from shortstop to center field and has plenty of time to develop. Peete will now head to the National League Central, where he'll most likely return to High-A to begin 2026.

Feb 2

Hunter Dobbins • SP • Cardinals

No Timetable for Hunter Dobbins to Return?

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins (knee) does not have a clear timetable for his return. President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom recently declined to comment on whether the right-hander will be ready to throw during spring training. He is certainly not a lock to be healthy in time for Opening Day, and as a result, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat projected Dobbins to open the season on the injured list. That would leave Kyle Leahy in line to land the fifth rotation spot. Dobbins, who was acquired from Boston in exchange for Willson Contreras during the offseason, tore his knee ligament last year. He made 13 appearances (11 starts) prior to his injury, posting a 3.87 FIP, 6.64 K/9, and 2.51 BB/9. He doesn't attack hitters with high velocity or generate exuberant amounts of whiff, but he does a good job limiting loud contact and inducing ground balls. Once healthy, he should be in the mix for an MLB rotation spot long-term.

Jan 29

Leonardo Bernal • C • Cardinals

Leonardo Bernal Progressing Through St. Louis' System

St. Louis Cardinals catching prospect Leonardo Bernal is progressing through the system and should be in the mix to compete for a 2026 MLB debut. Last summer, Bernal spent the entire campaign with Double-A Springfield. Across 107 contests, the backstop posted a .247/.332/.394 line with 19 doubles, 13 home runs, and 13 stolen bases. He enjoyed a dominant first half, posting a .290/.368/.527 line but stumbled over the final months, carrying a much lower .210/.300/.276 line. Bernal is currently considered the No. 4-ranked prospect in the system and the No. 92 overall prospect in the sport on MLB.com. While he will likely not compete for an MLB role in spring training, he could begin the season with Triple-A, which would open the door for a midseason call to St. Louis.

Jan 29

Masyn Winn • SS • Cardinals

Masyn Winn Entering 2026 Fully Healthy After Injury-Marred 2025 Campaign

St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn (knee) had his 2025 season cut short by a meniscus tear in his knee that led to him getting shut down in mid-September. However, the 23-year-old will reportedly enter 2026 Spring Training fully healthy and could be poised for a breakout season as a result. Across 537 plate appearances in 2025, Winn posted a .253/.310/.363 slash line with nine home runs, 51 RBI, 72 runs scored, and nine stolen bases. He was significantly better in the early part of the season, recording a .276/.352/.435 slash line through the end of May. Winn was reportedly battling knee soreness for an extended stretch before eventually getting shut down, so it's possible that the ailment impacted his performance in the second half. Winn is known as one of MLB's better defensive shortstops, which should give him an extended runway of everyday playing time in St. Louis. If he can put together a full season of the production he flashed to begin 2025, Winn could be a sleeper candidate for fantasy managers to target late in drafts.

Jan 28

Nelson Velázquez • RF • Cardinals

Nelson Velazquez Signs Minor-League Deal With Cardinals

Free-agent outfielder Nelson Velazquez has reached an agreement with the St. Louis Cardinals on a minor-league deal that includes an invite to spring training. Last year, Vel zquez played 51 games in Triple-A for the Royals and Pirates, hitting .234 with 11 homers, 31 RBI, and a .334 wOBA. The 27-year-old righty showed some power potential while slashing .212/.286/.433 with 31 homers in 615 plate appearances for the Cubs and Royals from 2022-24. He played in the Dominican and Puerto Rican Winter Leagues and showed enough upside to earn his opportunity to earn a spot in St. Louis as a right-handed platoon option. He's an option to monitor in Spring Training, but he doesn't have to be on your fantasy radar yet in most formats.

Jan 27

Quinn Mathews • RP • Cardinals

Quinn Mathews Nearing MLB Promotion?

St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitching prospect Quinn Mathews was expected to contend for his MLB debut early in the 2025 season, but was unable to earn the call. The southpaw struggled at Triple-A last season, finishing the campaign holding a 3.93 ERA with a 1.60 WHIP across 94 innings. He struck out 107 batters but served up a high 74 walks. However, during his final 57 1/3 innings, Mathews was able to lower his ERA to 3.30, suggesting he made some progress in the second half. During the 2024 season, Mathews progressed through the St. Louis system at a rapid rate. He began the season by making his professional debut with Low-A and would finish the season at Triple-A. Across 143 1/3 total innings, the Stanford product posted a 2.76 ERA with a 0.98 WHIP. Given that the Cardinals lack proven options at the back of their rotation, Mathews could contend for an early MLB debut if he can rekindle his 2024 form.

Jan 27

José Suarez • RP • Braves |

Jose Suarez • RF • Cardinals

Jose Suarez Headed Back to the Braves

The Atlanta Braves have claimed left-handed pitcher Jose Suarez off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher George Soriano was designated for assignment. Suarez joined the Braves via trade last March, was claimed off waivers by the Orioles less than two weeks ago, and is now back with Atlanta. The 28-year-old tossed 19.1 innings across seven games (one start) last year, pitching to a 1.86 ERA that masked his underlying 4.39 xFIP. He induced plenty of weak contact but had some issues with control, amassing 7.45 K/9 and 4.66 BB/9. He's not a lock to make the Braves' Opening Day roster, but his status as a left-hander with the ability to pitch multiple innings certainly helps his case.

Jan 26

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