"The Cardinals have gotten out to a surprisingly good start, with a 19-13 record entering play today. That's mostly due to their offense, which ranks sixth in the Majors with a 107 team wRC+."
"Nootbaar has started 2026 on the injured list. He underwent surgery in October to address Haglund's deformities in both of his heels, which may have kept the rebuilding Cardinals from seriously pursuing a trade."
"Nootbaar had a 114 wRC+ or better in every year from 2022-24. Although he missed significant time due to injuries, he was still good enough for 7.4 fWAR in that span."
"In Nootbaar's absence, the Cardinals' outfield has been a mixed bag. The surprise breakout of Jordan Walker accounts for a lot of their production so far."
The Cardinals have a 19-13 record, primarily due to their strong offense, ranking sixth in the Majors with a 107 team wRC+. Outfielder Lars Nootbaar, recovering from heel surgery, is set to begin a rehab assignment the week of May 10. He missed Spring Training and was placed on the 60-day IL. Nootbaar had a 114 wRC+ from 2022-24 but struggled in 2025. In his absence, Jordan Walker has emerged as a key contributor with a 166 wRC+ and nine home runs in 2026.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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