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Masyn Winn Masyn Winn Aiming to steal 30 to 40 bases
Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 8:54 AM
Winn said during the Cardinals' Winter Warm-Up fan event Sunday that he's hoping to steal 30-40 bases this season, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Winn stole only 11 bases in 16 attempts last season during his 150-game rookie campaign. However, with a sprint speed in the 87th percentile and an average of more than 30 stolen bases per season during his three years in the minors, Winn certainly seems capable of upping his steals total in 2025. It would be a big boost to his fantasy prospects if he is more aggressive on the basepaths this season. |
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Jordan Walker Jordan Walker Working on rediscovering swing
Mon, Jan 20, 2025, 8:34 AM
Walker has been working with new Cardinals hitting coach Brant Brown this offseason on rediscovering the swing he had prior to the 2024 season, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Upon reviewing video from 2024 and comparing it to 2023, Walker and Brown noticed that the outfielder's hands were separating from his body too soon, while the balance in his lower half was also inconsistent as he gravitated toward a wider stance. The goal, per Walker, is to "hit line drives" and "drive the ball in the gap" instead of putting so much emphasis on lofting the ball in the air. Walker said he's "super-excited" with the early results of his swing changes and can't wait to test it out against live pitching. The Cardinals are committed to youth in 2025, which includes giving Walker a long leash in right field. The 22-year-old Walker slashed only .201/.253/.366 over 52 regular-season games with St. Louis in 2024 while spending a large chunk of the campaign in the minors. |
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Matthew Liberatore Matthew Liberatore Prepping as starter
Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 2:32 PM
Liberatore said Sunday that he'll build up as a starter during spring training, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The left-hander found success out of the bullpen last season with a 3.69 ERA in 54 relief appearances, but he'll still get stretched out during camp. Liberatore pointed out it's easier to pare down his workload later on compared to building up midseason, so he could still end up beginning the campaign in a relief role. |
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Bailey Horn Bailey Horn Claimed by St. Louis
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 3:52 PM
The Cardinals claimed Horn off waivers from the Tigers on Thursday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Horn was pushed off Detroit's 40-man roster in December to create space for Gleyber Torres, putting an end to Horn's tenure with the Tigers after just over a month. The 26-year-old southpaw turned in a 6.50 ERA and 1.78 WHIP across 18 innings with the Red Sox last season, and barring a major turnaround during spring training, he'll most likely report to Triple-A Memphis to begin 2025. |
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JoJo Romero JoJo Romero Inks contract for 2025
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 3:45 PM
Romero agreed to a one-year contract with the Cardinals on Thursday to avoid arbitration.
Analysis: Romero ended the season on the injured list with a forearm issue but resumed throwing early in the offseason and should be healthy for the start of spring training. The left-hander racked up 30 holds and one save with a 3.36 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 51:16 K:BB across 59 innings last year. |
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John King John King Settles with St. Louis
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 3:04 PM
King agreed to a one-year, $1.605 million contract with the Cardinals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: King's first full season in St. Louis marked the best of his five-year career, finishing with a 2.85 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 60 innings out of the bullpen. He won't be a candidate for saves as long as Ryan Helsley is on the active roster, but the 30-year-old King seems to have developed into a reliable middle reliever. |
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Ryan Helsley Ryan Helsley Settles with Cards
Thu, Jan 9, 2025, 12:42 PM
Helsley agreed to a one-year, $8.2 million contract with the Cardinals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: After leading the majors with 49 saves last season, Helsley has officially earned himself a $4.4 million raise heading into his final year of team control. The 30-year-old reliever also finished 2024 with a 2.04 ERA and 1.10 WHIP alongside a 79:23 K:BB, and he projects as one of the top fantasy closers entering the new year. |
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Nolan Arenado Nolan Arenado Blocks potential trade to Houston
Wed, Dec 18, 2024, 4:01 PM
Arenado used his no-trade clause to block a potential trade to the Astros, Mark Feinsand, John Denton and Brian McTaggart of MLB.com report.
Analysis: The report says the Cardinals were willing to send $15-20 million to the Astros to help cover part of Arenado's salary, but the third baseman informed St. Louis he would not waive his no-trade clause to go to Houston. It's not clear what the Cardinals would have received in return. While the two sides are still having "ongoing talks," the Astros "aren't holding out much hope that a deal will get done." |
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Nolan Gorman Nolan Gorman Will see significant playing time
Fri, Dec 6, 2024, 8:23 AM
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has said the team would like to see Gorman receive close to 600 at-bats next season, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Gorman spent the final five-plus weeks of the 2024 season in the minors and finished with a .671 OPS and 37.6 percent strikeout rate. However, the Cardinals are committed to giving their younger players a long leash in 2025 and Gorman will be one of the beneficiaries. What position Gorman plays is not yet clear. He's seen most of his starts at the major-league level at second base and could play there, but moving back to his natural third base position is also an option if the Cardinals trade Nolan Arenado. |
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Ryan Vilade Ryan Vilade NRI deal with St. Louis
Tue, Dec 3, 2024, 2:58 PM
The Cardinals signed Vilade to a minor-league contract Tuesday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Analysis: Vilade saw limited action with the Tigers in 2024, producing a .453 OPS in 17 games. He spent most of the year at Triple-A Toledo, slashing .278/.346/.449 with 13 homers and 20 stolen bases. Slated to turn 26 in February, Vilade saw starts at every position but shortstop, catcher and pitcher with Toledo. |
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Nolan Arenado Nolan Arenado Willing to play first base
Tue, Nov 26, 2024, 8:35 AM
Arenado is willing to play some first base in order to create roster flexibility for the team acquiring him in a potential trade, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: A large part of Arenado's value comes from his defense at third base, so it's not clear how many clubs would be looking to shift him to the other side of the diamond even on a part-time basis. Still, some flexibility can't hurt, and the fact he's even willing to entertain the possibility also seems to speak to Arenado's eagerness to waive his no-trade clause. Woo notes that a few teams have expressed interest in Arenado, but those talks "have yet to yield any substantive progress." However, negotiations are expected to pick up around the winter meetings and there is a "growing sense" in the industry that Arenado will be dealt. |
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Drew Rom Drew Rom Outrighted to Triple-A
Tue, Nov 19, 2024, 3:07 PM
Rom (shoulder) cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday.
Analysis: The Cardinals added some prospects to the 40-man roster as Rule 5 draft protection, so Rom was a roster casualty. He had arthroscopic shoulder surgery in May and did not pitch at all in 2024. If he's healthy this spring, he should provide rotation depth at Triple-A. |
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Jose Barrero Jose Barrero Invited to Cardinals' camp
Sat, Nov 16, 2024, 1:01 PM
Barrero signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals on Saturday and received an invitation to spring training, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Analysis: Barrero owns just a .497 OPS across 447 plate appearances in his major-league career, and his offensive woes followed him to Triple-A last season, where he slashed .188/.277/.345 over 49 games. His chances of contributing for the Cardinals will remain low as long as he continues to struggle at the plate, though the 26-year-old may still see a healthy amount of playing time with Triple-A Memphis. |
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Ryan Helsley Ryan Helsley Move to rotation not considered
Tue, Nov 12, 2024, 11:07 AM
The Cardinals are not mulling a move to the rotation for Helsley, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: All 239 appearances for Helsley at the major-league level have come in relief, but he came up through the minors as a starting pitcher. While there has been some speculation the Cardinals might consider giving the 30-year-old another chance to start, it does not appear that is in the plans following Helsley's major-league-leading 49 saves in 2024. They will, however, reportedly entertain trade offers for Helsley, who is entering his final year of arbitration eligibility. |
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Nolan Arenado Nolan Arenado Trade possibilities to be explored
Thu, Nov 7, 2024, 8:51 AM
The Cardinals are expected to gauge trade interest in Arenado this month, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: President of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Wednesday that at least one of the team's four players with no-trade clauses is open to the club exploring trade interest from other teams. It seems that player is Arenado, who is owed $74 million over the next three seasons (with $10 million of that being covered by the Rockies). Arenado will turn 34 in April and fell off to a .272/.325/.394 batting line with 16 home runs in 2024, although he was a Gold Glove finalist at third base. There would figure to be plenty of interest in the eight-time All-Star even as he's coming off a down season, although trade talks will be complicated since Arenado can essentially dictate his landing spot. |
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Pedro Pages Pedro Pages Splitting catching duties
Wed, Nov 6, 2024, 3:57 PM
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Wednesday that Pages and Ivan Herrera will split catching duties next season, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Willson Contreras will be a first baseman and designated hitter moving forward, clearing a path of playing time at catcher. Pages was the preferred option over Herrera down the stretch of the 2024 season while Contreras was hurt, mostly because he's viewed as a much better defender. The 26-year-old Pages slashed .238/.281/.376 with seven homers over 68 contests this season. |
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Ivan Herrera Ivan Herrera Set to split time at catcher
Wed, Nov 6, 2024, 3:54 PM
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Wednesday that Herrera and Pedro Pages will share playing time at catcher next season, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Willson Contreras is moving into a first base/designated hitter role, clearing the way for Herrera and Pages to handle catching duties. Herrera is much more intriguing of the two from an offensive standpoint, having slashed .301/.377/.417 in 85 games over the last season seasons with the Cardinals. However, his defense -- and particularly his throwing -- have drawn scrutiny, to the point that Pages leapt him on the depth chart down the stretch. How the playing time will ultimately break down between the two in 2025 is not yet clear. |
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Willson Contreras Willson Contreras Moving to first base
Wed, Nov 6, 2024, 3:22 PM
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said Wednesday that Contreras will be a full-time first baseman and designated hitter next season, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Mozeliak added that it's unlikely Contreras will do any catching at all in 2025, with Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages set to split duties behind the plate. Contreras has played 11 games at first base in his career, with his last start there coming in 2019. Contreras has slashed a robust .263/.367/.468 with 35 home runs over 209 games in his two seasons in St. Louis, but he's had trouble staying healthy and his defense at catcher has often drawn criticism. The move enhances Contreras' fantasy outlook for 2025 since he should be in the lineup more often, and it also bumps up the playing time projection for Herrera and Pages. |
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Packy Naughton Packy Naughton Re-signs on minor-league contract
Mon, Nov 4, 2024, 12:05 PM
The Cardinals re-signed Naughton (elbow) to a two-year, minor-league contract Monday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: Naughton announced the move himself on his Instagram account and also revealed that he will be sidelined until 2026 after having Tommy John and flexor surgeries on his left elbow in July. That's in addition to the flexor surgery he underwent in June of 2023. The left-handed reliever holds a 4.98 ERA and 48:22 K:BB over 59.2 innings covering parts of three seasons at the major-league level. He will turn 29 in April. |
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Roddery Munoz Roddery Munoz Claimed by St. Louis
Fri, Nov 1, 2024, 1:57 PM
The Cardinals claimed Munoz off waivers from the Marlins on Friday.
Analysis: Munoz, 24, posted a 6.53 ERA and 70:42 K:BB over 82.2 innings in 2024, serving up a whopping 26 home runs. The right-hander will represent rotation depth in St. Louis. |
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