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Packy Naughton Packy Naughton Easing in during spring training
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 10:00 AM
Naughton (elbow) is behind schedule this spring as he completes his rehab from left flexor tendon surgery, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: The southpaw had the operation last June. Naughton was removed from the Cardinals' 40-man roster over the offseason but is in camp as a non-roster invitee. He'll likely begin the season at Triple-A Memphis but could eventually be a factor as a lefty option out of the St. Louis bullpen. |
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Keynan Middleton Keynan Middleton Battling stomach bug
Wed, Feb 14, 2024, 9:56 AM
Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak saied Wednesday that Middleton isn't in Cardinals camp due to a stomach bug, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: The illness looks to be a minor setback for Middleton, who should be able to get back up to speed quickly. The reliever inked a one-year contract with St. Louis earlier this month and is slated to handle middle-relief work. |
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Guillo Zuniga Guillermo Zuniga Kicked off 40-man
Sat, Feb 3, 2024, 5:58 PM
The Cardinals designated Zuniga (forearm) for assignment Saturday.
Analysis: The signing of Keynan Middleton became official Saturday, meaning Zuniga will lose his spot on the roster to clear space. Zuniga spent most of his time in Triple-A last season, logging a 7.63 ERA and 1.72 WHIP across 30.2 innings, and he ended the season on the injured list due to a right forearm strain. |
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Keynan Middleton Keynan Middleton Links up with Cardinals
Thu, Feb 1, 2024, 10:05 PM
Middleton signed a contract with the Cardinals on Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Analysis: Middleton was a quality middle reliever for the Yankees and White Sox last season, maintaining a 3.38 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across 50.2 innings -- his heaviest workload in the majors since 2017. He's extremely unlikely to factor into the saves picture with his new club, but he should bolster the middle of the bullpen. |
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Alfonso Rivas III Alfonso Rivas Scooped up by St. Louis
Mon, Jan 29, 2024, 1:26 PM
The Cardinals claimed Rivas off waivers from the Angels on Monday.
Analysis: Even though spring training games are still about three weeks away, Rivas has already been well traveled this offseason. After being booted off the Pirates' 40-man roster shortly following the regular season, Rivas has been claimed and waived by both the Guardians and Angels before catching on with St. Louis on Monday. The Cardinals cleared room on the 40-man roster for Rivas by designating outfielder Moises Gomez for assignment, but the 27-year-old first baseman could be at risk of being cut once again if St. Louis needs to open up another roster spot at any point in the near future. Even though he was frequently shielded against left-handed pitching this past season, the lefty-hitting Rivas still finished with an unremarkable .229/.303/.422 slash line over 123 big-league plate appearances between the Padres and Pirates. |
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Josh James Josh James Inks minor-league deal with Cards
Fri, Jan 26, 2024, 10:42 AM
James signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals on Friday.
Analysis: James has not pitched anywhere since undergoing flexor tendon surgery back in October of 2022 and he hasn't appeared in the majors since 2021. It would appear he's healthy now and the Cards will take a shot on the former top prospect in hopes he has something left in the tank. James holds a career 4.64 ERA and 158:61 K:BB over 106.2 frames covering parts of four major-league seasons. |
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Tommy Edman Tommy Edman Inks two-year deal with Cardinals
Mon, Jan 22, 2024, 3:11 PM
Edman (wrist) signed a two-year contract with the Cardinals on Monday to avoid arbitration, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: The two sides had been slated to go to an arbitration hearing after being unable to come to terms earlier this month, but a hearing will now be unnecessary. The financial details are not clear at this time, but the two-year pact will buy out Edman's final two years of arbitration eligibility. Edman -- who is expected to be slowed at bit at the start of spring training as he recovers from wrist surgery -- is penciled in as St. Louis' everyday center fielder for 2024. |
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Jonathan Morales Jonathan Morales Receives minors deal from Cards
Mon, Jan 22, 2024, 2:41 PM
Morales signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals on Monday.
Analysis: Morales is known as a strong defensive catcher who has thrown out 51 percent of attempted base stealers since 2019. With a career .668 OPS in the minors, his offense is a different story, although he did pop 14 homers at hitter-friendly Triple-A Albuquerque in the Rockies organization in 2023. Morales will be organizational catching depth for the Cards. |
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Matt Carpenter Matt Carpenter Reunites with Cardinals
Fri, Jan 19, 2024, 11:55 AM
Carpenter signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals on Friday.
Analysis: The 38-year-old slashed just .176/.322/.319 last season with the Padres before being traded to Atlanta over the offseason and then released. He's owed $5.5 million in 2024 but the Cardinals will be responsible only for the veteran minimum. Carpenter could conceivably see time time in the designated hitter spot in St. Louis, but it'll be difficult for the club to justify playing time for him over younger options. |
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Tommy Edman Tommy Edman Could be slowed early in camp
Mon, Jan 15, 2024, 10:56 AM
Edman (wrist) said Monday that he could be slightly behind schedule from a hitting perspective at the start of spring training, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Analysis: Edman underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist in October and is still in the midst of a hitting progression. He has yet to be cleared for bat-to-ball contact yet and it's not clear when that will happen. Edman fully expects to be ready to roll come Opening Day, though, so fantasy managers shouldn't be overly concerned at this point that he's a tad behind. |
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Brendan Donovan Brendan Donovan No limits in spring training
Mon, Jan 15, 2024, 8:21 AM
Donovan (elbow) has two weeks left of a throwing program and expects to have no limitations at the start of spring training, Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Donovan underwent surgery in August on his right flexor tendon. The goal, he said Sunday at the Cardinals' Winter Warm-up fan event, is to arrive to spring training and "nobody can tell" he had surgery. Donovan was terrific in 2023 before his season ended in late July, slashing .284/.365/.422 with 11 home runs in 95 contests. Most of his playing time in 2024 will probably come at second base, but he made starts at six different positions last season (not including designated hitter) and will do some bouncing around again as a super utility player. |
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Alec Burleson Alec Burleson Drops weight over offseason
Sat, Jan 13, 2024, 7:40 PM
Burleson revealed Saturday that he's lost 12 pounds so far this offseason in an effort to become a more reliable defender, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Burleson graded out at minus-9 in Statcast's Outs Above Average in 2023, with most of that coming in the outfield. The 25-year-old has implemented a stricter diet this offseason and also worked on increasing his mobility, leading to weight loss and, he hopes, improved defense. Burleson posted just a .691 OPS last season, but a 13 percent strikeout rate and 41 percent hard-hit rate offered some promise. He currently projects as a reserve for the Cardinals but could see semi-regular starts between the outfield, designated hitter and first base. |
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JoJo Romero JoJo Romero Agrees to terms
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 2:02 PM
Romero agreed to a one-year contact with the Cardinals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration.
Analysis: The 27-year-old southpaw is coming off his best big-league season, in which he registered a 3.68 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 42 strikeouts in 36.2 innings. Romero should work as the Cardinals' top lefty reliever in 2024. |
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John King John King Avoids arbitration
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 1:59 PM
King agreed to a one-year contract with the Cardinals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration.
Analysis: The 29-year-old lefty has seen his strikeout rate decline in three consecutive seasons, while his WHIP has gone up for three years in a row. He is a left-handed groundball specialist who has more real-life value than fantasy value. |
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Andrew Kittredge Andrew Kittredge Agrees to terms
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 1:55 PM
Kittredge agreed to a one-year, $2.63 million deal with the Cardinals on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: He was just traded to St. Louis from Tampa Bay last week in exchange for Richie Palacios, so naturally the two sides came to an agreement. Kittredge, who has been limited to 31.2 innings over the last two seasons due to injury, should work in a setup capacity for the Cardinals. He has 15 saves in 96 appearances over the past four seasons. |
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Ryan Helsley Ryan Helsley Agrees to terms with Cards
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 1:48 PM
Helsley signed a one-year, $3.8 million contract with the Cardinals on Thursday to avoid arbitration, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: A forearm strain forced Helsley to miss roughly three months of the 2023 campaign, but he still managed to accumulate 14 saves while posting a 2.45 ERA and 1.06 WHIP over 36.2 innings. The 29-year-old righty surrendered just one run and struck out 19 batters in 11.2 innings after returning from his injury and should again close for the Cardinals in 2024. |
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Dylan Carlson Dylan Carlson Settles with Cards at $2.35 million
Thu, Jan 11, 2024, 11:53 AM
The Cardinals and Carlson (ankle) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2.35 million contract Thursday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Analysis: Carlson was arbitration-eligible for the first time. The 25-year-old had a second straight injury-shortened, disappointing season in 2023 which ended with ankle surgery. Carlson should be at or close to 100 percent for spring training and is slated to operate as a fourth outfielder in St. Louis. |
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Andrew Kittredge Andrew Kittredge Dealt to St. Louis
Fri, Jan 5, 2024, 4:41 PM
The Rays traded Kittredge to the Cardinals on Friday in exchange for Richie Palacios, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Kittredge missed the first half of the 2023 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2022. Upon returning, picked up where he left off, surrendering four earned runs in 11.2 innings while striking out 10 batters and walking just two. The 33-year-old righty recorded two wins, a save and a hold in 14 appearances and will maintain a high-leverage role in St. Louis, providing a much-needed boost to a Cardinals bullpen that finished 13th in the NL last season with a 4.47 ERA. |
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Tommy Edman Tommy Edman Recovering from wrist surgery
Thu, Jan 4, 2024, 12:48 PM
Edman underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist in October, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak made the revelation Thursday, adding that he expects Edman to be ready to go at the start of spring training. The super utility player missed three weeks in July with tendon inflammation in the wrist and opted for surgery after the season when the pain and stiffness lingered. Edman is currently projected to be St. Louis' everyday center fielder in 2024. |
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Nick Robertson Nick Robertson Traded to STL for O'Neill
Fri, Dec 8, 2023, 5:09 PM
The Red Sox traded Robertson and Victor Santos (undisclosed) to the Cardinals on Friday in exchange for Tyler O'Neill (foot), Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
Analysis: Robertson had a tough time finding his footing in 2023, posting a 6.04 ERA and 1.75 WHIP across 22.1 innings between the Dodgers and Red Sox. St. Louis' relatively weak bullpen gives Robertson a better chance at sticking around in the majors to begin next season, but he likely won't be relied upon in many high-leverage situations. |
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