#st-louis-cardinals

#st-louis-cardinals

On Tuesday afternoon, the Cleveland Guardians traded Justin Bruihl to the St. Louis Cardinals for cash considerations. The Cardinals designated Zak Kent for assignment in a subsequent move. If you're keeping track, this is the second time Bruihl has been traded, as the Blue Jays sent him to the Guardians, also for cash considerations. Bruihl has also been designated for assignment by both the Blue Jays and Guardians.

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hears from sources on rival teams that the Cardinals don't seem to be "actively seeking to trade" outfielder Lars Nootbaar. This doesn't necessarily mean that Nootbaar won't be dealt, of course, but there are also some obvious reasons why the Cardinals might want to wait until beyond this offseason to move the 28-year-old.

For the Cardinals, meanwhile, trading Gray was to be expected after the 36-year-old hurler hinted that he'd be willing to waive his no-trade clause to help facilitate an off-season deal to a contender - which he ultimately did. Both sides mutually decided it was time to part ways, officially putting in motion the franchise's rebuild under newly-hired president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom.

The Cardinals are entering what could be a multi-year rebuilding period where they focus more on strengthening their farm system and player development apparatus than winning games at the major league level. That's a pivot that started last winter, but a number of key veteran players with no-trade clauses wanted to stick with the organization for the 2025 season and try to win in St. Louis.

That should help facilitate a return to catching in 2026, and Jones wrote for MLB.com yesterday that Herrera has spoken with manager Oli Marmol and incoming president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom to work out a plan for an offseason program designed to get him ready to return to catching next year. Jones adds that the club's plan for Herrera's offseason was created with the knowledge of the youngster's impending surgery and with plans on how to incorporate his rehab into his winter assignments.

Speaking on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball broadcast last weekend, Manfred said: "If we expand, it provides us with an opportunity to geographically realign. I think we could save a lot of wear and tear on our players in terms of travel, and I think our postseason format would be even more appealing." Such a change would likely keep the American and National Leagues intact, but move from three five-team divisions to four four-team divisions in each league. It would require two expansion franchises and possibly shift some existing teams across different leagues.

Aaron Wilkerson signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals and has been assigned to Triple-A Memphis after triggering an opt-out clause with the Reds.

JJ Wetherholt was reassigned to the Memphis Redbirds after a successful run in Double-A Springfield, where he batted .300 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs.

Misiorowski displayed remarkable talent in his MLB debut, achieving exceptional velocity and striking out five batters before an unfortunate slip ended his game early.

"I definitely didn't enjoy being on the injured list the whole first half last year. Didn't get a chance to compete with these guys, with guys that I played several years with."

"Clayton Kershaw makes his fifth start of the season and is still searching for his first decision. Last time out, Kershaw was given a four-run bottom of the first and the Dodgers tried their darndest to get him through five to qualify for a win."

Zach Plesac, after a challenging 2024 season, has signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals, looking to revive his baseball career with Triple-A Memphis.