All posts by Brian Walton

Brian Walton runs The Cardinal Nation, covering the St. Louis Cardinals and minor league system.

St. Louis Cardinals Major League Notebook – February 12-18

As St. Louis Cardinals position players prepare for their first official workout, the team’s spring television schedule has been released. Our weekly history feature highlights the team’s 2011 spring training.



News and Notes from Cardinals Spring Training

This section features spring training news items each week that do not require extensive coverage.

  • Spring Training is underway with pitchers and catchers in workouts this past week. Position players are scheduled for their first official workout on Monday, February 19. The first Grapefruit League games begin on Saturday, February 24, with the Cardinals playing split squad games in Jupiter against the Marlins, and in Port St. Lucie against the Mets.
  • The Spring Training broadcast schedule is now out and can be viewed here. Bally Sports Midwest will be broadcasting fewer games this spring, as the schedule shows. Typically, 15 games have been televised, but in 2024 only 12 games will be televised by the Cardinals’ carrier. The total number of Cardinals games broadcast by Bally Sports Midwest plus other tv outlets has also declined.

All games will be available in some medium however, as the games not televised by Bally Sports Midwest or the TV outlets of opposing teams will be covered via audio form by KMOX, the Cardinals Radio Network or from the other team. This includes all 30 games in Florida plus the two scheduled games in Arizona against the Cubs.

Fewer Cardinals Telecasts to be Available in Spring 2024

  • Regular season single game tickets are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased online here or on the Ballpark App.
  • Prior to two Cardinals spring home games, on March 15 and 17, a team of Cardinals minor leaguers will play counterparts from the Marlins and Astros in “Spring Breakout” games.  Rosters will be revealed on March 7. Details are in the above article.

Trade and Acquisition Rumors

There are no trade or acquisition rumors to report.

Transactions

There are no transactions to report.

Injury Report

There are no new injuries to report.

Looking Ahead

Spring Training has begun. All players have reported. Pitcher and catcher workouts are underway. The first official position workout is set to start on Monday, February 19.

The first spring training games are on February 24 with split squads playing the Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium and playing the Mets in Port St. Lucie. The Spring Training broadcast schedule is out and a link is provided in this report.

The Cardinals Spring Training schedule can be found here.

The last spring training game in Florida will be against the Astros in Palm Beach on March 24. The Cardinals will then travel to Arizona to play the final two spring games against the Cubs on March 25 and 26.

The regular season begins on March 28 with a four-game series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. They end the road trip in San Diego with three games beginning April 1.

The Cardinals home opener is on April 4 against the Marlins.

Blast from the Past

Spring Training is underway, with pitchers and catchers reporting on Tuesday, February 13.  Position players have their first workout on Monday, February 19.  For the next few weeks, Blast from the Past will take a look at some past spring trainings where rosters and stats are available.

The website Baseball Cube has spring training stats going back to 2006. Last week we looked at the 2006 Spring Training roster. This week we look at the Spring Training roster of another World Championship season, that of 2011.

The 2011 Spring Training roster consisted of 68 players in total, 39 position players and 29 pitchers. The entire roster can be found here.

The primary position players were Yadier Molina, Albert Pujols, Skip Schumaker, Ryan Theriot, David Freese, Matt Holliday, Colby Rasmus, and Lance Berkman. Rasmus was traded mid-season and was replaced primarily by Jon Jay. Other notable players were Daniel Descalso, Allen Craig, Matt Carpenter, Pete Kozma, Tony Cruz, Nick Punto, Gerald Laird, Shane Robinson, Adron Chambers, Tommy Pham, Matt Adams, and Oscar Taveras.

Chris Carpenter (USA TODAY Sports)

Starting pitchers were Chris Carpenter, Kyle Lohse, Jake Westbrook, Jaime Garcia, and Kyle McClellan. Adam Wainwright reported to Spring Training but wasn’t on the roster due to requiring Tommy John surgery before spring games began. Wainwright spent the entire season with the team but not as an active player. He did his rehab in St. Louis and on the road and remained with the team throughout the regular season and postseason.

Notable relief pitchers on the spring roster were Jason Motte, Joe Kelly, Mitchell Boggs, Trever Miller, Fernando Salas, Eduardo Sanchez, Lance Lynn, Shelby Miller, Ryan Franklin, and Miguel Batista.

St. Louis’ Spring Training record was 14-16.  The first spring game was on February 28 and the last was on March 29.

Matt Holliday (USA TODAY Sports Images)

The top hitters by OPS were Matt Adams (1.250), Pete Kozma (1.125), Matt Holliday (1.013), Allen Craig (.970), Skip Schumaker (.952), and Matt Carpenter (.924).

Top Starters ERA: Kyle McClellan (0.78), and Kyle Lohse (1.88)

Top Relievers ERA (at least 10 IP): Fernando Salas (0.73), Bryan Augenstein (0.77), and Miguel Batista (1.59).

The Cardinals played the following teams in Spring Training: Florida Marlins, New York Mets, Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, and Detroit Tigers.

The Cardinals opened the 2011 season on March 31 at home against the San Diego Padres. The first road game was in San Francisco on April 8.


Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Using the Past to Predict Cardinals Spring Training Injuries


Now Available – 2024 Cardinals Prospect Guide

The Cardinal Nation 2024 Prospect Guide is back for its seventh year. It includes 282 pages of in-depth commentary about more than 60 of the best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including in-depth scouting reports, 2023 recap, extensive draft and international histories and more.

Special half-price off deal for paid subscribers. Order your PDF or printed book copy today.

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© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Fewer Cardinals Telecasts to be Available in Spring 2024

The total percentage of St. Louis Cardinals spring training games scheduled to be televised has dropped from over 73% last year to just under 60% in 2024. It is not all due to Bally Sports Midwest, but they have reduced their Grapefruit League game count from 15 to 12.


St. Louis Cardinals release

The St. Louis Cardinals have announced that fans will be able to catch all 32 of the club’s spring contests on either Bally Sports Midwest, KMOX 1120 AM/Cardinals Radio Network affiliates or streaming via the MLB app or cardinals.com.  The Cardinals official Grapefruit League Spring Training schedule will consist of 30 games followed by two exhibition matchups against the Chicago Cubs in Mesa, Arizona.

Television

Bally Sports Midwest will televise 12 Spring Training contests in 2024.  The television home of the Cardinals kicks off its live game coverage with the Spring Training opener vs. the Miami Marlins on Saturday, February 24, at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium at noon CT.  Each of Bally Sports Midwest’s telecasts will also be streamed live on the Bally Sports app and BallySports.com, for fans who sign-in with their pay-TV login and password.  Cardinals television play-by-play announcers Chip Caray and Tom Ackerman will handle play-by-play duties and Brad Thompson will serve as analyst.

Radio

The team’s flagship radio station KMOX 1120 AM will broadcast 16 spring games with John Rooney, Ricky Horton and Mike Claiborne behind the microphone.  The radio schedule also begins on Saturday, February 24, vs. Miami.  The Spring Training opener vs. Miami and the February 25 game at Houston will also be broadcast by Cardinals Spanish Radio announcers Polo Ascencio and Bengie Molina on WIJR 880 AM.  Cardinals Spring Training games will also be carried on the 146 Cardinals Radio Network affiliate stations.  Fans are encouraged to check their local listings for details.  An additional nine contests will be streamed via cardinals.com and the MLB app featuring play-by-by and commentary from a combination of KMOX broadcasters Mike Claiborne, Tom Ackerman, and Matt Pauley.

Additional Cardinals spring contests may be televised or broadcast by opposing teams and be available for streaming via the MLB app or MLB.TV.

For more information on Spring Training and the Cardinals broadcast partners, visit cardinals.com/springtraining, cardinals.com/radio or cardinals.com/tv.  The Cardinals 2024 Spring Training broadcast schedule follows below.

2024 St. Louis Cardinals Spring Training Broadcast Schedule

DAY DATE GAME TIME (CT) OPPONENT TV TIME (CT) TV^ RADIO/STREAM TIME (CT) RADIO/STREAM*
Saturday 2/24 12:05 PM Marlins 12:00 PM Bally Sports Midwest 11:55 AM KMOX & CRN**
Saturday 2/24 12:10 PM @Mets 12:00 PM MLB.TV (SNY) 12:00 PM MLB app (WCBS)
Sunday 2/25 12:05 PM @Astros (ss) 12:00 PM MLB.TV (Space City) 11:55 AM KMOX & CRN**
Monday 2/26 12:10 PM @Marlins 12:00 PM cardinals.com
Tuesday 2/27 12:05 PM Red Sox 11:55 AM CRN
Wednesday 2/28 12:10 PM @Mets 12:00 PM MLB.TV (SNY) 12:00 PM cardinals.com
Thursday 2/29 12:05 PM Nationals 12:00 PM Bally Sports Midwest 11:55 AM CRN
Friday 3/1 12:05 PM Mets 12:00 PM Bally Sports Midwest 11:55 AM cardinals.com
Saturday 3/2 12:05 PM @Astros 11:55 AM KMOX & CRN
Sunday 3/3 12:05 PM Marlins (ss) 12:00 PM Bally Sports Midwest 11:55 AM KMOX & CRN
Monday 3/4 12:05 PM @Nationals 11:55 AM cardinals.com
Tuesday 3/5 12:05 PM Twins 11:55 AM cardinals.com
Thursday 3/7 12:05 PM Astros 11:55 AM cardinals.com
Friday 3/8 5:05 PM @Nationals 4:55 PM KMOX & CRN
Saturday 3/9 12:05 PM Mets 12:00 PM Bally Sports Midwest 11:55 AM KMOX & CRN
Sunday 3/10 12:10 PM @Marlins (ss) 12:00 PM Bally Sports Midwest 12:00 PM KMOX & CRN
Monday 3/11 12:05 PM Nationals 12:00 PM Bally Sports Midwest 11:55 AM cardinals.com
Tuesday 3/12 12:05 PM @Red Sox   12:00 PM MLB app (WEEI)
Wednesday 3/13 12:05 PM @Twins (ss) 12:00 PM MLB app (TIBN)
Thursday 3/14 12:05 PM Mets 12:00 PM Bally Sports Midwest 11:55 AM cardinals.com
Friday 3/15 5:05 PM Marlins 5:00 PM Bally Sports Midwest 4:55 PM KMOX & CRN
Saturday 3/16 11:05 AM @Nationals 10:55 AM KMOX & CRN
Sunday 3/17 12:10 PM Astros 12:00 PM Bally Sports Midwest 11:55 AM KMOX & CRN
Tuesday 3/19 12:05 PM Marlins (ss) 11:55 AM KMOX & CRN
Tuesday 3/19 5:10 PM @Mets 5:00 PM MLB.TV (SNY)
Wednesday 3/20 5:05 PM @Nationals 4:55 PM KMOX & CRN
Thursday 3/21 12:05 PM Astros 12:00 PM Bally Sports Midwest/ESPN 11:55 AM cardinals.com
Friday 3/22 5:40 PM @Marlins 5:30 PM Bally Sports Midwest 5:30 PM KMOX & CRN
Saturday 3/23 12:05 PM Nationals (ss) 11:55 AM KMOX & CRN
Sunday 3/24 11:05 AM @Astros 11:00 AM MLB.TV (Space City) 10:55 AM KMOX & CRN
Monday 3/25 3:05 PM @Cubs% 3:00 PM MLB. TV (Marquee Sports) 2:55 PM KMOX & CRN
Tuesday 3/26 2:05 PM @Cubs% 2:00 PM MLB. TV (Marquee Sports)/ESPN+

CRN = Cardinals Radio Network
^ All games televised on Bally Sports Midwest also streamed on the Bally Sports app
* All games broadcast on KMOX/CRN also streamed on KMOX.com, cardinals.com and the MLB app
** Spanish broadcast available on WIJR 880 AM
% Exhibition Game played at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz.
TV & Radio Schedule subject to change.

Brian Walton’s take

It is great that the Cardinals have finally captured and communicated all televised spring training games, no matter the originator. For years, I had taken it upon myself to gather this information from the opponents and share it with you each spring, but no longer need to do so. That is positive.

However, perhaps lost in this improved communication is that fact that financially beleaguered Bally Sports Midwest has dropped its Cardinals spring schedule from the customary 15 of 17 home games in 2023 to 12 of 17 for 2024.

From 2023 to 2024, the number of Cardinals spring games telecasted by others remains at seven.

With the two extra Cubs games in Arizona, the total number of spring games played grew from 30 to 32 year-to-year. However, the bottom line is that there are fewer games to watch in 2024.

In 2024, 19 of 32 (59.4%) contests will be televised by BSM or the opponent’s network compared to 22 of 30 games (73.3%) in 2023.

Flipping the coin, the quantity of non-televised contests grew from eight (26.7% of the spring schedule) last year to 13 (40.6%) this year.  That trend is heading in the wrong direction for many fans’ tastes.

Of the 13 non-televised games, eight are on the road (which BSM would not cover), but the other five are at Roger Dean Stadium. Three are in the first two weeks of games. In 2023, six of the eight games not televised were road contests. The only two home games not covered by BSM last year were midweek dates during the first week of action.

As noted above, all except the final game in Mesa, AZ against the Cubs will have radio and/or audio streaming available.

Here’s the scorecard:

2024 Games  Pct. 2023 Games  Pct.
BSM 12 BSM 15
Others 7 Others 7
Televised total 19 59.4% Televised total 22 73.3%
Road 8 Road 6
Home 5 Home 2
No TV total 13 40.6% No TV total 8 26.7%
Total 32 Total 30

Note that ESPN/ESPN+ has a slate of 10 spring games. The only two involving the Cardinals are also covered on BSN and MLB.TV, respectively. I added them to the Cardinals-supplied table above.

Schedule update 2/16

These are the Cardinals’ two minor league all-star games previously announced. More details on the Spring Breakout are in the article that can be viewed via the second link below.

Cardinals Prospects to Play Twice in MLB Spring Breakout


Order Now – 2024 Cardinals Prospect Guide

The Cardinal Nation 2024 Prospect Guide is back for its seventh year. It includes 282 pages of in-depth commentary about more than 60 of the best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including in-depth scouting reports, 2023 recap, extensive draft and international histories and more.

Special half-price off deal for paid subscribers. Order your PDF or printed book copy today.

Order TCN’s 2024 St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Guide


Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

A History of St. Louis Cardinals Spring Relief Pitcher Injuries


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If you enjoyed this article, please consider joining The Cardinal Nation to receive the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.

© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

Herrera Leads Cardinals Caribbean Series Contingent

photo: Iván Herrera (Federales de Chiriquí)

Recapping four St. Louis Cardinals whose clubs completed in the 2024 Caribbean Series. Panamá’s Iván Herrera led the way with a 1.200 OPS.



Two weeks ago, we reviewed the 2023-2024 winter ball seasons for a number of St. Louis Cardinals pitchers and hitters as well as coaches. Those two reports covered the period up to the Caribbean Series or Serie del Caribe, held from February 2-9 in Miami.

2023-2024 Cardinals Winter Ball Recap – Pitchers

2023-2024 Cardinals Winter Ball Recap – Hitters

The Cardinals were represented in the seven-nation round-robin Caribbean Series tournament by one manager and three players.

Serie de Caribe 2024 logo

Manager Yadier Molina and his Criollos de Caguas representing Puerto Rico featured center fielder Bryan Torres and catcher Jonathan Morales, both recent Cardinals minor league additions.

After getting out to a 3-1 start, Molina’s club dropped its next two games and was eliminated before reaching the semi-finals.

The other Cardinals participant is St. Louis reserve catcher Iván Herrera for Federales de Chiriquí representing Panamá.

Upstart Panamá (6-2) won the third-place contest over Curaçao, as Herrera hit the go-ahead home run in the home seventh. The solo shot was his third long ball and 10th RBI in eight games. Not surprisingly, Herrera was named the catcher on the Serie del Caribe All-Star team.

In the finals featuring the two pre-Series favorites on Friday evening, manager Ozzie Guillen’s Venezuela squad defeated the Dominican Republic. With that, the Serie del Caribe is done for another year.

Following are the individual stats highlights of the three Cardinals hitters.

Iván Herrera

Iván Herrera

Eight games, 28 at-bats batting third
.357/.454/.746/1.200
Six singles, a double and three home runs
Five walks, one strikeout, one steal in one attempt
Four runs, 10 RBI

In the field, Herrera played four games behind the plate, one at first base and was the designated hitter in the other three.

Jonathan Morales

Jonathan Morales

Five games, 17 at-bats batting sixth
.235/.235/.235/.471
Four singles, no walks, three strikeouts, no RBI, no runs

In five games, Morales caught in four and played first base in the other.

Bryan Torres

Bryan Torres

Five games, 17 at-bats from the leadoff spot
.235/.409/.235/.644
Four singles, four walks, one strikeout, one RBI, six runs
2-for-2 in stolen bases

Torres played in center field in all five games.


For more

Check out The Cardinal Nation’s free Roster Matrix to view the Cardinals’ 40-man roster, spring camp invitees, and the entire system by level and position along with every player transaction.


Order Now – 2024 Cardinals Prospect Guide

The Cardinal Nation 2024 Prospect Guide is back for its seventh year. It includes 282 pages of in-depth commentary about more than 60 of the best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including in-depth scouting reports, 2023 recap, extensive draft and international histories and more.

Special half-price off deal for paid subscribers. Order your PDF or printed book copy today.

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Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

Five Cardinals Prospects in 2024 National Top 100s


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If you enjoyed this article, please consider joining The Cardinal Nation to receive the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.

© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cardinals Send Reliever Guillermo Zuñiga to Angels for Cash

photo: Guillermo Zuniga (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

Recapping recent roster news for the St. Louis Cardinals, the most recent of which is the sale of the contract of relief pitcher Guillermo Zuñiga to the Los Angeles Angels.



The fringes of the St. Louis Cardinals’ still-full 40-man roster have changed in the last 10 days as the organization made a pair of transactions with the Los Angeles Angels. To make room for the newcomers, two others were pared off the roster with one leaving the organization.

The team’s most recent six moves are recapped below.

Tuesday, 1/29: 1B/OF Alfonso Rivas claimed off waivers from Los Angeles Angels.

Alfonso Rivas

The 27-year-old is a well-traveled first baseman-outfielder who has joined his sixth organization in the last 13 months, starting with the Chicago Cubs. Rivas has been successful in Triple-A (.916 OPS), but much less so (.673) in 459 MLB plate appearances. More details on Rivas can be found here.

Rivas will wear no. 22 for the Cardinals in spring training, previously assigned to pitcher Jack Flaherty.

Tuesday, 1/29: Memphis OF Moisés Gómez designated for assignment.

Moisés Gómez

The slugging outfielder lost his 40-man spot due to the arrival of Rivas.

Gómez was the organization’s co-Player of the Year in 2022 and blasted 69 home runs over the last two seasons but doesn’t hit for average and strikes out in the 30% range consistently. Despite having been on the 40-man roster for the entire 2023 season and the Cardinals experiencing a rash of injuries, Gómez was not called up to St. Louis.

Friday, 2/2: Gómez cleared waivers, was outrighted to Memphis, and received a non-roster invitation to spring training.

The Cardinals had seven days to resolve Gómez’ status. The 25-year-old could have been claimed by another organization, passed through waivers and reported to Memphis, traded or released.

After he cleared outright waivers, Gómez remained a Cardinal and will be back in spring camp as a non-roster invitee (NRI).

Saturday, 2/3: Free agent RHR Keynan Middleton signed.

Keynan Middleton

The 30-year-old free agent right-handed reliever received a one-year contract worth $6 million with a team option for 2025 and should figure in the late-inning mix. More details on his signing here.

As a Cardinal, Middleton will wear no. 99, as he did with Arizona, Seattle, and the White Sox previously.

Saturday, 2/3: RHR Guillermo Zuñiga designated for assignment. 

Guillermo Zuñiga

The hard-throwing right-hander lost his roster spot in favor of Middleton.

Zuñiga was signed as a free agent in December 2022 and was given his first ever 40-man roster spot despite having never pitched above Double-A. An injury-plagued 2023 followed during which the 25-year-old made just two brief appearances with the Cardinals.

Wednesday, 2/7: Zuñiga traded to Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations.

Same as with Gómez, the Cardinals had seven days from when Zuñiga was designated for assignment to resolve his status (claimed, cleared waivers, traded, released).  The Angels want to keep Zuñiga on their 40-man roster and paid St. Louis an undisclosed amount for his contract.

In conclusion, Rivas, Middleton and Gómez will be in St. Louis’ spring training camp while Zuñiga joins his new Angels teammates in the Cactus League.

Of the three remaining Cardinals, only Middleton is likely to make the big league team coming out of camp. The two position players will likely serve as depth at Triple-A Memphis.

Other Cardinals uniform number changes


For more

Check out The Cardinal Nation’s free Roster Matrix to view the Cardinals’ 40-man roster, spring camp invitees, and the entire system by level and position along with every player transaction.


Order Now – 2024 Cardinals Prospect Guide

The Cardinal Nation 2024 Prospect Guide is back for its seventh year. It includes 282 pages of in-depth commentary about more than 60 of the best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including in-depth scouting reports, 2023 recap, extensive draft and international histories and more.

Special half-price off deal for paid subscribers. Order your PDF or printed book copy today.

Order TCN’s 2024 St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Guide


Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

2024 St. Louis Cardinals Prospects – Best of the Rest – Blake Newberry


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If you enjoyed this article, please consider joining The Cardinal Nation to receive the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.

© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

 

Cardinals Make Keynan Middleton Final Bullpen Piece

photo: Keynan Middleton (Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)

According to multiple reports, the St. Louis Cardinals and free agent relief pitcher Keynan Middleton have agreed to terms on a contract, pending a physical. The news was first reported on Thursday evening by Robert Murray of Fansided.

The 30-year-old right-hander split his 2023 between the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees. In his seventh partial season in the majors, Middleton appeared in 51 games and threw 50 2/3 innings with a 3.38 ERA/4.20 FIP.

In 2023, he logged a career-best 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings but also posted a walk rate of 4.1 per nine. Prior to last season, Middleton had never fanned more than 8.4 batters per nine since his rookie year of 2017, but then again, he has had trouble staying healthy. His career K and BB rates are 9.2 and 3.9, respectively.

Middleton’s 0.1 fWAR between his two stops in 2023 was his first positive WAR since 2019, leading to his first big league contract to open the season since 2021.

Keynan Middleton

The Oregon native was the third-round selection of the Los Angeles Angels in the 2013 draft. Middleton made his MLB debut in 2017 and remained with the Halos through the 2020 season. After starting 2018 as the team’s closer, he required Tommy John surgery that kept him out most of the next three years. After pitching less than 40 innings total over 2018-2020, he was non-tendered that fall, becoming a free agent.

That began a stretch during which Middleton pitched for five different organizations over three years-plus, from the end of 2020 through 2023. The Cardinals are number six.

Middleton signed with the Seattle Mariners for 2021. He appeared in 32 games, with a 4.94 ERA. He was outrighted to the minors in August and declared free agency following the season.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder moved to Arizona for 2022 on a minor league contract, but by the end of April, he was added to the 40-man roster and promoted to the majors. Middleton pitched well when in Triple-A (2.12 ERA), but much less so with the Snakes (5.29). In November, he was outrighted again and returned to free agency.

For 2023, Middleton signed with the White Sox, again on a minor league deal. Once again, he did not make the team out of spring training but was soon called up. After just three innings of work in Triple-A, he joined the big-league club in the second week of April, from where he pitched until traded to the Yankees at the July 31st trade deadline. The return was a High-A pitcher, Juan Carela, who had been ranked the no. 29 prospect in the Yankees system according to MLB Pipeline.

On his way out the door, Middleton criticized the White Sox’ “no rules” culture, which the team predictably rebutted. After two months with New York, half of which was spent on the IL, he once again became a free agent following the 2023 season.

Minor injuries have followed Middleton since his long TJS recovery that limited him from 2018-2020. He missed most of September 2023 due to right shoulder inflammation. In 2022, he had three separate injured list stints, from right elbow inflammation, a right ankle strain and a sprained left great toe. In 2021, Middleton was on the IL twice, once due to a right biceps strain. His rookie year of 2017 is most recent and only MLB season during which he spent no time on the shelf.

With the 2024 Cardinals, Middleton is expected to join Ryan Helsley and Giovanny Gallegos in the late inning mix. With the opening of spring training less than two weeks away, the team is likely done with player moves for now – with one exception.

The Cardinals will need to clear a 40-man roster spot once Middleton passes his physical and his contract is made official. This article will also be updated with the financial terms of his deal once released.

Update Saturday, 2/3

The Cardinals formalized the contract, which is guaranteed for one year and $6 million, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. There is a team option for a second season in 2025 that could make the deal worth $11 million total. The buyout for the 2025 season is $1 million.

Guillermo Zuniga

The corresponding 40-man roster move is right-handed reliever Guillermo Zuñiga being designated for assignment. In the next week, he will either clear waivers, be claimed by another organization, be traded or released.

For more

Check out The Cardinal Nation’s free Roster Matrix to view the Cardinals’ 40-man roster, spring camp invitees, and the entire system by level and position along with every player transaction.


Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

2024 Top St. Louis Cardinals Prospects – 2023 Picks and Pans


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If you enjoyed this article, please consider joining The Cardinal Nation to receive the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.

© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Cardinal Nation 2024 Cardinals All Prospect Team

photo: Masyn Winn and Tink Hence (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)

The annual The Cardinal Nation St. Louis Cardinals All-Prospect Team is the top prospect at each position and includes 11 players – eight position players plus three pitchers – left and right-handed starters and a reliever. Nine of the 11 spots have turned over with four-time top shortstop Masyn Winn team captain. FREE article!



The next subject in our Top 50 St. Louis Cardinals Prospects for 2024 series is to recognize the organization’s best minor league prospects at each position. At the end, all Top 50 members are shown by their position groupings in an organizational prospect depth chart.

The selection process is very straightforward. We have already unveiled our Top 50 prospects in the system. Putting together this year’s All-Prospect Team is as simple as culling the top-ranked player at each position from that Top 50.

The annual The Cardinal Nation St. Louis Cardinals All-Prospect Team consists of 11 players – eight position players, including two corner outfielders, plus three pitchers – left and right-handed starters and a reliever.

Listed are each player’s ranking in the 2024 Top 50, age and highest level played in 2023.

The Cardinal Nation St. Louis Cardinals 2024 All-Prospect Team

All Prospect Team 2024 Player Rank Age 2023 Lvl
Catcher Leonardo Bernal 9 19 A
First Base Chandler Redmond 47 26 AA
Second Base Thomas Saggese 5 21 AAA
Shortstop Masyn Winn C * 1 21 MLB
Third Base Noah Mendlinger 38 23 AA
Corner Outfield Won-Bin Cho 12 20 A
Corner Outfield Chase Davis 13 22 A
Center field Victor Scott 4 22 AA
LH Starter Cooper Hjerpe 7 22 A+
RH Starter Tink Hence * 3 21 AA
LH Reliever none
RH Reliever Edwin Nuñez 20 22 A+

* returning member
C  unofficial captain

Prior to 2021, there was a high annual turnover in the All-Prospect Team, often in the seven to nine range. However, in the last three years the group was more stable, with an average of five new members. In 2024, it is back to the old days with nine new members.

With nine new members, that means just two of the 11 are holdovers, denoted by an asterisk (*) above. Shortstop Masyn Winn and right-handed starting pitcher Tink Hence return from the 2023 team and were both part of the Cardinals’ exceptional 2020 draft class. Winn, who is back for a fourth year, as the senior member is our unofficial captain. He replaces prior captain Matthew Liberatore, who also had a four-year streak before graduating during 2023.

The nine new members of the team come from three different sources, with eight homegrown Cardinals. Despite the wealth of prospects joining the organization via trade in July, only second baseman Thomas Saggese made the 2024 All-Prospect Team.

Thomas Saggese

Of the eight homegrown prospects, one, third baseman Noah Mendlinger, was a non-drafted free agent. Cardinals draft picks were first sacker Chandler Redmond, corner outfielder Chase Davis, center fielder Victor Scott and left-handed starting pitcher Cooper Hjerpe. International free agents are catcher Leonardo Bernal, corner outfielder Won-Bin Cho and reliever Edwin Nuñez.

For the second time in the last three years, the left-handed reliever position is open, meaning there are no left-handed bullpenners in the 2024 Top 50.

TCN St. Louis Cardinals All-Prospect Teams – 2020 through 2023

All-Prospect Team members from the previous four seasons are included for comparison purposes.

2023 2022 2021 2020
C Ivan Herrera Ivan Herrera Ivan Herrera Andrew Knizner
1B Luken Baker Juan Yepez Luken Baker Luken Baker
2B Anyelo Encarnacion Nolan Gorman Chandler Redmond Ramon Urias
SS Masyn Winn Masyn Winn Masyn Winn Edmundo Sosa
3B Samil De La Rosa Jordan Walker Nolan Gorman Nolan Gorman
COF Jordan Walker Lars Nootbaar Jhon Torres Jhon Torres
COF Alec Burleson Alec Burleson Dylan Carlson Dylan Carlson
CF Joshua Baez Joshua Baez Trejyn Fletcher Trejyn Fletcher
LHS Matthew Liberatore M. Liberatore M. Liberatore M. Liberatore
RHS Tink Hence Michael McGreevy Johan Oviedo Jake Woodford
LHR Zack Thompson none none Genesis Cabrera
RHR Freddy Pacheco Tink Hence Junior Fernandez Junior Fernandez

The 10 players who left the 2023 All-Prospect Team departed in the following ways. The majority, six, graduated to the majors – catcher Ivan Herrera, first baseman Luken Baker, corner outfielders Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson, left-handed starting pitcher Matthew Liberatore and left-handed reliever Zack Thompson.

Two were ranked in the 40’s last year, but due to no competition at their positions, the made the Prospect Team. For 2024, second baseman Anyelo Encarnacion and third baseman Samil De La Rosa both slid off the Top 50 and therefore off the Prospect Team as well. Joshua Baez was very respectably ranked 12th in 2023, but the center fielder was passed by others for 2024. Finally, right-handed reliever Freddy Pacheco left the organization via waivers.

Note that until Hence, the top-ranked right-handed starter in the system had been a different individual in each of the five years since Alex Reyes’ long reign ended in 2020. Second base is now the only position with annual turnover since 2019 with Saggese the sixth new name in the last six years.

Age and experience – 2020-2024

All-Prospect Team 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020
Average age 21.7 21.4 20.9 21.1 22.3
Average experience AA AA AA A+ AAA

The 2024 All-Prospect Team continues its recent youthful nature. However, the 2024 squad averages about a third of a year older than in 2023, and 2023 was a half year older than 2022. Still, the last four All-Prospect Teams all averaged under 22 years of age after eight straight years of averaging older than 22.

Though this is nothing against him, 26-year-old first baseman Redman is the sole reason the average went up in 2024. In fact, Redman and his Springfield teammate Noah Mendlinger, age 23, are the only All-Prospect Team members over 22. At the other end of the age spectrum is Bernal at 19.

Leonardo Bernal

The level of play reached by the average All-Prospect Team member is Double-A, same as last two years, but just barely. It was only ever so slightly above the High-A midpoint. So while the new Team may average slightly older, they are less experienced than the 2023 Team.

Despite that, after the 2023 All-Prospect Team included two who played in rookie ball during the prior season, the rookie ball teams were shut out for 2024.

Depth Chart (name/overall ranking)

Closing this installment of our analysis series is the 2024 Top 50 Prospect List oriented by position. Remember that the members of the All-Prospect Team are listed first in each position grouping. This provides a quick visual snapshot of system-wide balance at all positions across the system.

Pos # Prospect (Top 50 rank)
C 3 Leonardo Bernal (9) Jimmy Crooks (11) Pedro Pages (28)
1B 1 Chandler Redmond (47)
2B 3 Thomas Saggese (5) César Prieto (23) Adari Grant (49)
SS 3 Masyn Winn (1) Jonathan Mejia (19) Jeremy Rivas (46)
3B 1 Noah Mendlinger (38)
COF 8 Won-Bin Cho (12) Travis Honeyman (21) Moisés Gómez (22)
Mike Antico (31) Joshua Baez (32) Zach Levenson (33)
Alex Iadisernia (42) Matt Koperniak (45)
CF 3 Victor Scott (4) Chase Davis (13) Michael Siani (36)
LHS 7 Cooper Hjerpe (7) Brycen Mautz (16) Pete Hansen (18)
Quinn Mathews (24) Drew Rom (29) Alex Cornwell (35)
Connor Thomas (37)
RHS 14 Tink Hence (2) Tekoah Roby (3) Gordon Graceffo (6)
Michael McGreevy (8) Max Rajcic (10) Sem Robberse (14)
Ian Bedell (15) Adam Kloffenstein (17) Zack Showalter (25)
Inohan Paniagua (27) Trent Baker (30) Austin Love (40)
Alec Willis (44) Zane Mills (48)
LHR 0
RHR 8 Edwin Nuñez (20) Ryan Fernandez (24a) Andre Granillo (26)
Matt Svanson (34) Dionys Rodriguez (39) Andrew Marrero (41)
Leonardo Taveras (43) Guillermo Zuniga (50)
total 51

Generally, one can feel good about this Top 50 positional distribution. While the corner infield stands out as being under-represented, that is not a concern. St. Louis already has plenty of backfill for them today, not that they will be needed.

The All-Prospect Team is a group of mostly elite prospects with two exceptions.  Guess where? Yep, the two corner infielders, Chandler Redmond and Noah Mendlinger.

At the high end, six of the 11 Team members are in our Top 10, with the other three at 12th, 13th, and 20th.

In terms of depth, every position except the corner infielders is at least two deep in the Top 25.  Of concern, the corner outfield has decent quantity with eight, but only one is in the Top 20 and Won-Bin Cho is still a long way away with a lot to prove.

Won-Bin Cho

Assisted by trades, starting pitching depth remains strong in number. An even better measure is that individual rankings are improved. Two years, six starters were in the Top 20 and last year, there were nine. That has increased to 11 in 2024.

Even with the graduations of Liberatore and Thompson, the left-handed mix remains very strong. The Cardinals selected lefties with their first three draft picks in 2022 and Cooper Hjerpe, Brycen Mautz and Pete Hansen now have logged their first season as professionals.

This is covered in more detail in a future article, but trade acquisitions are prevalent in the new Top 50, though only one, Saggese, made the All Prospect Team.


For more

As always, our top prospect lists and associated analysis articles from each of the last 18 years can be accessed via “PROSPECT RANKINGS” permanently displayed on the red menu bar on the left side of The Cardinal Nation homepage, just underneath the site logo.

To reference our entire list of Top 50 Cardinals prospects for 2024 and read about each individual player, see the article below.

50 Days, 50 Nights, 50 St. Louis Cardinals Prospects for 2024


Next up

In upcoming articles in this series, we dig into the top prospects by level of play and their expected MLB debuts as well as taking a different look at the Top 50 – based on potential only. Also coming are the players who just missed the personal Top 50s of Brian Walton and Blake Newberry, plus their 2024 deep sleeper picks.

As always, join the daily discussion about each article at The Cardinal Nation’s message boards.


Bonus for members of The Cardinal Nation

2024 Top St. Louis Cardinals Prospects – 2023 Picks and Pans


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If you enjoyed this article, please consider joining The Cardinal Nation to receive the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.

© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cardinals Claim Alfonso Rivas, Waive Moisés Gómez

photo: Alfonso Rivas (USA TODAY Sports)

On Monday, January 29, the St. Louis Cardinals claimed first baseman-outfielder Alfonso Rivas off waivers and designated for assignment outfielder Moisés Gómez.



St. Louis Cardinals announcement

Brian Walton’s take

This is a curious transaction. The Cardinals have claimed their second former Cubs left-handed-hitting first baseman/corner outfielder off waivers this winter, with Alfonso Rivas following Jared Young.

Alfonso Rivas

Rivas, 27, is joining his sixth organization in the last 13 months after showing success in Triple-A, but not being able to carry it over into the majors.

The California native attended the same high school as Tommy Edman and played collegiate ball for the University of Arizona. Rivas was the A’s fourth round draft pick in 2018 and was dealt to the Cubs in 2020. He first reached the majors in 2021.

In January 2023, his travels began to accelerate rapidly when the Cubs released him and he signed with San Diego. In August 2023, Rivas moved to the Pirates as part of a multi-player trade before he was placed on waivers in November. After Cleveland claimed him, he went back on waivers in late December, from where he was taken by the Angels. Rivas was with Los Angeles for five weeks before heading back out onto the waiver wire, from where he became a Cardinal.

Whew! I don’t recall ever seeing a player good enough to make so many 40-man rosters in such a short period while not being considered good enough to stick on any of them – perhaps until now.

Rivas has a strong career Triple-A slash line of .313/.424/.492/.916. Relatively slight of build at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, Rivas has more doubles power (40) than home runs (15) in 637 plate appearances. His Triple-A walk rate is an excellent 15.1% to go with a 21.0% strikeout rate.

However, in the majors with the Cubs, Padres and Pirates over parts of the last three seasons, 2021-2023, Rivas has not been as successful. In 459 plate appearances, his line is .243/.324/.349/.673 with a MLB walk rate of 9.2% and a high 30.3% K rate.

Rivas has one minor league option remaining, so he can serve as reserve outfield depth in 2024 – if he isn’t sent back out on waivers, that is!

With these moves, the Cardinals’ 40-man roster remains full. We have placed Rivas on the Memphis roster on the Roster Matrix here at The Cardinal Nation.

Moisés Gómez

Gómez was a minor league free agent signing by the Cardinals prior to the 2022 season. That summer, he led Minor League Baseball with 39 home runs between Springfield and Memphis.

Despite being added to the 40-man roster in the 2022-2023 offseason and even with St. Louis suffering a rash of injuries during 2023, Gómez was never called up. His 2023 in Triple-A was uneven at best, though the right-handed batter still swatted 30 home runs despite a 31.7% strikeout rate and a pedestrian OPS of .750, 245 points lower than his 2022 mark.

It was difficult to see how the 25-year-old native of Venezuela would have fit on the Cardinals roster. Apparently, they concluded the same.

In the next week, Gomez will either be claimed off waivers, traded, released or will pass through waivers and remain in the organization.


For more

Check out The Cardinal Nation’s free Roster Matrix to view the Cardinals’ 40-man roster, spring camp invitees, and the entire system by level and position along with every player transaction.


Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

2024 St. Louis Cardinals Prospects – The Departed


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Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.

© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Cardinals Sign Ex-Astros Reliever Josh James to Minors Contract

photo: Josh James (Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports)

St. Louis Cardinals announcement

We have signed RHP Josh James to a minor league contract for the 2024 season. James, 30, appeared in 87 games with Houston (including 14 postseason games) from 2018-21 and has struck out 13.3 batters per 9 IP over his MLB career.

Brian Walton’s take

In an offseason that has included five minor league signings from independent ball, none of whom have major league experience, James stands out.

The native Floridian also lived in the US Virgin Islands before finishing his collegiate ball at Division II Western Oklahoma State College. James was selected by the Houston Astros in the 34th round of the 2014 draft and primarily worked as a starter in their system until becoming a reliever in the majors.

In the upper levels of the minors, the right-hander experienced an increase in velocity from the mid-90s to 100 mph and was named the Astros’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year for 2018. James debuted with Houston in September 2018, and in the ALCS, one of his pitches was measured at 102.4 mph.

In 2019, James set the Astros’ rookie single-season record for strikeouts by a relief pitcher with 99. His K rate was 14.7 per nine innings.

Josh James

In October 2020, James had surgery to repair a labral tear in his left hip and was also dealing with elbow soreness, which was addressed via injection. He returned in August 2021, but was ineffective and bounced back and forth between the Astros and their Triple-A affiliate. James also reportedly dealt with hamstring and back problems.

Eligible for arbitration heading into 2022, James and the team settled for a $800,000 salary.  That season was pretty much a loss as he was on and off the Triple-A injured list several times due to a right lat strain and did not appear with Houston at all. He was limited to 30 appearances for Sugar Land, posting a 6.51 ERA with 35 strikeouts and 17 walks in 27 2/3 innings. In late September 2022, James had surgery on his right flexor tendon and two months later, he was non-tendered by the Astros.

In 73 career games including six starts for Houston, the 6-foot, 234-pounder has a 4.64 ERA and a .204 batting average against.  As noted, James has a career 13.3 strikeout rate per nine innings, but his walk rate is an unpleasant 5.2 per nine.

James, who turns 31 years of age in early March, did not pitch in 2023 so this signing marks his return.

This is a low-risk gamble by the Cardinals that James can put his long list of injuries behind him and earn his way back into the majors. The announcement did not include mention of a non-roster invitation to St. Louis’ camp and he will initially be assigned to Triple-A Memphis.

As noted below, James has been working with Cressey Sports Performance.


For more

Check out The Cardinal Nation’s free Roster Matrix to view the Cardinals’ 40-man roster, spring camp invitees, and the entire system by level and position along with every player transaction.


Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation

2024 St. Louis Cardinals Prospects – The Newbies


Not yet a member?

If you enjoyed this article, please consider joining The Cardinal Nation to receive the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.

Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.

© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

2023-2024 Cardinals Winter Ball Recap – Pitchers

Recapping the results of St. Louis Cardinals pitchers who competed in the four major winter leagues in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Mexico. My intent was to include everyone, but there could be inadvertent omissions as there is no central repository for stats as previously existed. Part 2 will cover hitters.

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