Tracking the winter ball results of two dozen St. Louis Cardinals farmhands as well as two very prominent managers.
Already a member? Log in here
All posts by Brian Walton
Cardinals Non-Tender Pitcher Adam Kloffenstein
photo: Adam Kloffenstein (Memphis Redbirds)
At Friday evening’s deadline, the St. Louis Cardinals non-tendered pitcher Adam Kloffenstein, making him a free agent, and tendered 2025 contracts to their other 40-man roster players.
Kloffenstein, 24, was acquired by the Cardinals from Toronto with Sem Robberse for Jordan Hicks on July 30, 2023. The right-hander was placed on the 40-man one year ago this month to be protected from the Rule 5 draft.
The native of Texas was first called up to St. Louis on June 20 and made his MLB debut with a scoreless inning against the Giants. Kloffenstein was returned to Triple-A the next day.
During the entire month of July, he only threw once for Memphis. After not pitching from July 1-9, Kloffenstein had a short three-inning start on the 10th, during which he allowed four runs. In the two-plus weeks after, he did not appear in game action.
On July 25, Kloffenstein was moved to the seven-day injured list at Memphis and did not pitch the remainder of the season due to a shoulder injury.
For the 2024 season with the Redbirds, Kloffenstein had a 4.74 ERA in 17 starts. He struck out 73 and walked 41 in 89 1/3 innings.
The 6-foot-5, 243-pounder is the second pitcher acquired at the 2023 trade deadline to be removed from the 40-man this week, joining Drew Rom, who had come from the Orioles. However, Rom, who was outrighted, remains with the organization while Kloffenstein is now a free agent.
Even if healthy in the spring of 2025, Kloffenstein would have been among seven starting pitching candidates with Memphis, not including potential promotions from Springfield such as Tink Hence and Tekoah Roby.
St. Louis’ 40-man roster is now at 38 players, creating room for two free agent signings, trade acquisitions or selections in the December 11 Rule 5 Draft.
For transaction and roster information
To see all players in the system by level and position plus every transaction all year ‘round, check out the always free Roster Matrix here at The Cardinal Nation, refreshed today.
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
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, including access to every article in our 2025 Top Cardinals Prospects series.
Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com or for fastest turnaround, pose your questions on The Cardinal Nation’s members-only forum. Follow Brian on X/Twitter.
© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Cardinals Add Quartet to 40-Man Roster Pre-Rule 5
photo: Matt Koperniak (Memphis Redbirds)
The St. Louis Cardinals have added RHP Tink Hence, RHP Tekoah Roby, OF Matt Koperniak and RHP Matt Svanson to their 40-man roster. LHP Drew Rom was outrighted to Memphis.
St. Louis Cardinals release
The St. Louis Cardinals have added RHP Tink Hence, RHP Tekoah Roby (tuh-KOH-uh), OF Matt Koperniak (koh-PUR-nee-ack) and RHP Matt Svanson (SVON-suhn) to their 40-player Major League roster, protecting them from next month’s Rule 5 Draft and bringing the Cardinals roster to 39.
Hence, 22, was the Cardinals Competitive Balance Round B selection (63rd overall) in the 2020 MLB Draft. The 2024 Texas League Pitcher of the Year ranks as the No. 3 prospect in the Cardinals organization entering the 2025 season by Baseball America. He finished the 2024 season making 20 starts at Springfield (AA) and was 4-3 with a 2.71 ERA and 109 strikeouts over 79.2 innings pitched. His 12.3 strikeouts/9 IP ratio was tops in the Texas League of those with 60 or more innings pitched. He started one of the Cardinals Spring Breakout games during the 2024 Grapefruit League schedule.
Roby, 23, was acquired by the Cardinals from the Texas Rangers in a 2023 trade that sent LHP Jordan Montgomery and RHP Chris Stratton to Texas. The 2023 Arizona Fall League All-Star was a 2020 3rd round selection by the Rangers out of Pine Forest High School in Pensacola, Fla. Roby made 10 starts between Palm Beach (A) and Springfield (AA) in 2024 while recovering from a right-shoulder injury. Roby was rated as the No. 6 prospect in the Cardinals organization entering the 2025 season by Baseball America.
Koperniak, 26, was signed by the Cardinals as a non-drafted free agent out of Division 3 Trinity College in Connecticut in 2020. Born in the United Kingdom, Koperniak played for Great Britain in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Since he began his professional baseball career in 2021, Koperniak leads all minor league baseball players with a .298 career batting average and led the International League with 143 hits in 2024 while at Memphis (AAA).
Svanson, 25, was acquired by the Cardinals from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for INF Paul DeJong at the 2023 trade deadline. The right-handed reliever compiled a 4-3 record with a 2.69 ERA while leading the 2024 Texas League with 53 appearances and 27 saves. Since joining the Cardinals, Svanson has converted 32 straight save opportunities and has converted 38 straight dating back to May 2023 with the Blue Jays organization at 38, the longest active streak in Minor League Baseball.
Left-handed pitcher Drew Rom cleared waivers and was out-righted to Memphis, remaining in the organization as a minor league player.
Brian Walton’s take
I was too conservative in my predictions this year, hitting the obvious selections of Hence and Roby, but incorrectly guessing the Cardinals would pass on protecting the two Matts – Koperniak and Svanson.
All four are ranked prospects here at The Cardinal Nation and are certainly deserving.
My thought was that the Cardinals would want to head into the Rule 5 Draft with multiple 40-man roster spots available, with the hopes of snagging another Ryan Fernandez or two.
They do have one spot to deploy, thanks to the outright of Rom. And they could also make another move or two between now and the December 11 draft.
Koperniak is the only one of the quartet who is MLB ready, but all four will be in 2025 Spring Training Camp as members of the Cardinals 40-man roster for the first time.
Congratulations to each of them!
For transaction and roster information
To see all players in the system by level and position plus every transaction all year ‘round, check out the always free Roster Matrix here at The Cardinal Nation, refreshed today.
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
Now Available – 2024 Cardinals Prospect Guide
The Cardinal Nation Prospect Guide is back for its seventh year. It includes 282 pages of in-depth commentary about more than five dozen 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.
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, including access to every article in our 2025 Top Cardinals Prospects series.
Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com or for fastest turnaround, pose your questions on The Cardinal Nation’s members-only forum. Follow Brian on X/Twitter.
© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The Cardinal Nation’s 2024 Cardinals Rule 5 Protection Picks
Focusing on the 10 St. Louis Cardinals Top 50 prospects eligible for December’s Rule 5 Draft, Brian Walton explains which are most likely to be added to the 40-man roster for protection by Tuesday’s deadline.
Already a member? Log in here
Cardinals Sign Cuban Jose Barrero to Minor League Contract
The shortstop-center fielder has reportedly received a non-roster invitation to St. Louis’ 2025 big league spring training camp.
Already a member? Log in here
Ixan Henderson in His Own Words
From the Arizona Fall League, St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect Ixan Henderson discusses his successful first season as a professional, his five mound offerings and his current assignment in the AFL.
Already a member? Log in here
How the 2024 Cardinals Fared in the SABR Defensive Index
Brian Walton breaks down by position how St. Louis Cardinals fielders ranked in the key metric used in Gold Glove Award scoring. For 2024, it is all about the left side of the infield.
Already a member? Log in here
Leonardo Bernal in His Own Words
From the Arizona Fall League, St. Louis Cardinals catching prospect Leonardo Bernal discusses his beginnings in Panama, joining the Cardinals, his improving success throwing out runners, his Double-A debut and his current assignment in the AFL.
Already a member? Log in here
Thomas Saggese in His Own Words
From the Arizona Fall League, St. Louis Cardinals second base prospect Thomas Saggese discusses his beginnings with the organization in 2023, then his improving season with Triple-A Memphis, his Major League debut and his current assignment in the AFL.
Already a member? Log in here
Memphis/Glendale Manager Ben Johnson in His Own Words
From the Arizona Fall League, manager Ben Johnson discusses the 2024 season and key standouts of the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds as well as his AFL Glendale Desert Dogs.
Already a member? Log in here
Cardinals Sign Triple-A Reliever Michael Gomez
The St. Louis Cardinals added a 28-year-old reliever on a minor league contract and an infielder departed as a free agent.
Already a member? Log in here
Cardinals Re-Sign 11 Minor Leaguers, Add Two, Release One
The St. Louis Cardinals have been busy re-signing potential minor league free agents while also making changes to the Dominican Summer League roster.
Already a member? Log in here
St. Louis Cardinals Organization Roster Matrix – 2024-2025 Off-Season
NOTE: As of 2/28/25, this version of the roster matrix is no longer current. It reflects changes during the 2024-2025 off-season. It should now be considered a historical reference document. For the active roster matrix during 2025 spring training, click here.
This Roster Matrix covers the St. Louis Cardinals and the minor league system, including the MLB Cardinals and their four full-season affiliates plus two rookie level teams – during the 2024-2025 off-season.
For reference, the previous matrix outlined all organizational transactions during the 2024 regular season from the start of short season play through its conclusion. As there are no injured lists during the off-season, refer to that prior matrix for those players who ended 2024 on the shelf.
Free agents, both major league and minor league, will be removed as they declare, starting five days after the conclusion of the World Series.
A refresher
If you are new to The Cardinal Nation and not familiar with the Cardinals organization roster matrix, here is quick summary:
As the 2024-2025 off-season began, the St. Louis Cardinals had 219 players under contract from top to bottom, including 38 players (plus three on the 60-day injured list) on the 40-man roster. 40-man members are called out in bold.
The matrix places each of the 219 by position at his assigned level in the system as well as by position.
The matrix is updated whenever transactions occur.
Nowhere else will you find this current and comprehensive single-page view of the entire Cardinals organization plus a decade of history.
(Do not be concerned about the order of the players’ names within position. It has no relative significance.)
Looking ahead and back
Now that you’ve found this page once, remember one of three ways to get back here. Bookmark the page, type “Roster Matrix” in the dark blue search box at the upper right (click on the magnifying glass icon) or use the menu at the left of the page: “ROSTERS/PLAYERS/MOVES” > “TRANSACTIONS/ROSTER MATRIX”.
While you are using that menu, note TCN’s full rosters and player pages for every level and every player in the Cardinals system. These rosters remain in sync with the Roster Matrix and carry biographical information on all players.
St. Louis Cardinals
Memphis Redbirds
Springfield Cardinals
Peoria Chiefs
Palm Beach Cardinals
Florida Complex League Cardinals
Dominican Summer League Cardinals
For details behind prior years’ rosters and transactions (back to 2009), check out the earlier versions of the Cardinals organization Roster Matrix, via the following link.
Transactions
11/1: New matrix. Organization total: 219 players. 40-man roster at 41 players.
11/1: Three StL free agents: 1B Paul Goldschmidt, 1B Matt Carpenter, RHR Andrew Kitteredge. 2025 club options declined on three: RHS Kyle Gibson, RHS Lance Lynn, RHR Keynan Middleton. RHP Roddery Munoz claimed off waivers from Miami. New organization total: 214 players, 40-man at 36.
11/3: DSL OF Fernando Roquez released. DSL RHP Pedro Olivero and IF Beiker Rodriguez signed. New organization total: 215 players.
11/4: Three players off DSL 60-day IL – RHP Michael Correa, RHP Ryan Rodriguez, OF Hancel Almonte.
11/5: 11 minor leaguers re-signed for 2025. LHP Packy Naughton, Mem, RHP Augusto Calderon, PB, RHP Angel Cuenca, PB, RHP Inohan Paniagua, Peo, RHP Dionys Rodriguez, Peo, RHP Victor Santos, Mem, C Gavin Collins, Mem, C Chance Sisco, Mem, 3B Ramon Mendoza, Mem, OF Matt Lloyd, Spr, OF Darlin Moquete, Peo.
11/6: Erroneous 7/26 transaction reversed. C Luis A Rodriguez returned to FCL roster. RHR Michael Gomez signed to minor league contract with 2025 spring camp NRI, assigned to Mem. IF Arquimedes Gamboa declared minor league free agency. New organization total: 216 players.
11/16: SS/CF Jose Barrero signed to minor league contract with MLB spring camp invitation. Assigned to Mem. New organization total: 217 players.
11/19: LHP Drew Rom outrighted off 40-man roster, assigned to Mem. Four players added to 40-man: Mem OF Matt Koperniak, Spr RHR Matt Svanson, Spr RHSs Tink Hence and Tekoah Roby. 40-man roster now at 39 players.
11/22: Mem RHS Adam Kloffenstein non-tendered. New organization total: 216 players. 40-man roster now at 38 players.
12/3: OF/1B Ryan Vilade signed to minors contract with non-roster camp invite. Assigned to Mem. New organization total: 217 players.
12/10: RHP Jan E. Cabrera signed, assigned to DSL. New organization total: 218 players.
12/11: Rule 5 Draft. Four players selected, seven players lost.
Mem LHR Connor Thomas to Mil in MLB phase. Spr Ps Trent Baker (Min) and Brandon Komar (Cin) and C Aaron McKeithan (Pit), PB Ps Augusto Calderon (Phi) and Henry Gomez and SS Lizandro Espinoza (AtL) out in Minor League phase. Selected LHR Oddanier Mosqueda (NYY), RHP Jawilme Ramirez (NYM) , RHP Ángel González (ChC) and OF Miguel Ogueto (Bos) in Minor League phase. New organization total: 215 players.
12/14: International free agent C Jhonny Chaparro signed, assigned to DSL. New organization total: 216 players.
1/9/25: LHR Bailey Horn claimed off waivers from Detroit. New organization total: 217 players. 40-man roster at 39.
1/15: 12 international players signed, assigned to DSL. 3B Michael Cordero, SS Sebastian Dos Santos, RHP Juan Carlos Garcia, RHP Daniel Gomez, SS Miguel Hernandez, OF Kenly Hunter, OF Yostin Pena, IF Jesus Perez, SS Yeferson Portalin, C Juan Rujano, OF Royalny Strop, CF Yordy Valdez. New organization total: 229 players.
1/16: 26 invited to spring camp as non-roster players, denoted as (NRI).
1/23: LHP Nick Raquet signed to minors contract, placed at Mem. New organization total: 230 players.
1/28: Free agent C/1B Yohel Pozo signed, assigned to Mem. New organization total: 231 players.
1/30: Free agent RHR Zack Weiss signed, assigned to Mem. New organization total: 232 players.
1/27: Peo OF Alex Iadisernia retired. New organization total: 231 players.
2/6: 40-man UT Michael Helman acquired from Minnesota, placed at Mem. New organization total: 232 players. 40-man roster is full.
2/7: RHR Nick Anderson signed to minors contract with MLB camp invite. Assigned to Mem. New organization total: 233 players.
2/9: LHR Rob Kaminsky signed to minors contract. Assigned to Mem. New organization total: 234 players.
2/8: RHR Curtis Taylor signed to minors contract. Assigned to Mem. New organization total: 235 players.
2/19: RHR Ernie Day signed to minors contract. Assigned to Peo. New organization total: 236 players.
The St. Louis Cardinals Organization Roster Matrix (effective 02/19/25)
| St. Louis (29) | 40-man (40) | ||||||
| SP | RP | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| Gray | Liberatore (L) | W Contreras | L Baker | Donovan | Winn | Arenado | Nootbaar |
| Mikolas | Helsley | Pages | Fermin | Siani | |||
| Matz (L) | Romero (L) | I Herrera | Saggese | Walker | |||
| Fedde | John King (L) | Burleson | |||||
| Pallante | O’Brien | ||||||
| McGreevy | Fernandez | ||||||
| Munoz | Roycroft | ||||||
| Leahy | |||||||
| Horn (L) | |||||||
| Memphis (31) | |||||||
| SP | RP | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| Graceffo | Naughton (L) | Sisco (NRI) | Redmond | Prieto (NRI) | Barrero (NRI) | R Mendoza | Koperniak |
| Rom (L NRI) | Loutos | Collins (NRI) | Gorman | Antico | |||
| Bedell (NRI) | Raquet (L) | Stauss (NRI) | Scott | ||||
| Robberse | Granillo (NRI) | Pozo | Vilade (NRI) | ||||
| Z Thompson (L) | Mosqueda (L NRI) | Helman | |||||
| Mathews (L NRI) | M Gomez (NRI) | ||||||
| V Santos | |||||||
| Weiss | |||||||
| N Anderson (NRI) | |||||||
| Kaminsky (L) | |||||||
| Taylor | |||||||
| Springfield (28) | |||||||
| SP | RP | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| Hence | E Nunez (NRI) | Crooks (NRI) | Yeager (NRI) | Torres (NRI) | J Rivas (NRI) | Buchberger | Lloyd |
| Roby | Svanson | Bernal (NRI) | Harris | Moore | Church (NRI) | ||
| Cornwell (L NRI) | Ralston | Linarez (NRI) | Mendlinger | Rotondo | |||
| Rajcic (NRI) | Marrero | S Hernandez (NRI) | C Davis (NRI) | ||||
| Hjerpe (L NRI) | N Heredia (L) | ||||||
| Shreve | |||||||
| L Taveras | |||||||
| Mills | |||||||
| Peoria (28) | |||||||
| SP | RP | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| Saladin | Arias | Tarlow | Richardson | Villarroel | Curialle | Moquete | |
| Paniagua | D Rodriguez | Adkison | Paige | Salazar | Levenson | ||
| Hansen (L) | Hayes | Ugueto | |||||
| Rincon | Berrios | Jobert | |||||
| Mautz (L) | Bradt | Cho | |||||
| Henderson (L) | Jacobson | Kretzschmar | |||||
| A Gonzalez | |||||||
| J Ramirez | |||||||
| Day | |||||||
| Palm Beach (29) | |||||||
| SP | RP | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| Savacool | Gastelum | Caraballo | Friedrick | A Encarnacion | Wetherholt (NRI) | McGee | Jo Cordoba |
| Lin | Cuenca | Ma Hernandez | Kross | Gazdar | J Suarez | ||
| Davila | Sparks | Campos | Martin | Jo Baez | |||
| G Salas | Willis | Madron | |||||
| Sequera | Watson (L) | Petrutz | |||||
| Showalter | |||||||
| Kublick | |||||||
| Clemente | |||||||
| Carpenter | |||||||
| FL Complex (42) | |||||||
| P (returning) | P (returning) | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| Menes | M Martinez | C Lopez | Sullivan | Mejia | Y Guerrero | R Cabrera | |
| Odle | Fabian | Loaiza | Grant | Y Ramos | |||
| Love | B Lopez | LA Rodriguez | Pino | ||||
| Winquest | Cuello | Honeyman | |||||
| Jos King | A Holiday | ||||||
| Ynfante | |||||||
| (1st year 2024) | (from 2023 DSL) | (1st year 2024) | (from 2023 DSL) | (from 2023 DSL) | |||
| Harrison | Severino | Ra Rodriguez | A Batista | Ortiz | Y Pena | ||
| Worley | Y Herrera (L) | ||||||
| B Holiday | Oliver | ||||||
| B Davis (L) | Y Batista (L) | ||||||
| Dutkanych | Galvez | ||||||
| Findlay (L) | |||||||
| Burns | |||||||
| Brodersen | (from 2024 DSL) | ||||||
| B Thompson | K Ramirez | ||||||
| Rice (L) | |||||||
| DSL (48+1) | |||||||
| P (2022/prior) | P (1st year 2023) | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| Paulino | Asprilla | B Taveras | D Rojas | Arthur | |||
| E Carrera | Junco | Velasquez | |||||
| R Lopez | Almonte | ||||||
| P (first year 2024) | |||||||
| Correa | Ja Baez | ||||||
| Franco | X Cruz | ||||||
| Reyes | Mack (L) | ||||||
| Chinchilla | G Vargas | ||||||
| J Garcia | G Martinez | (first year 2024) | (first year 2024) | (first year 2024) | (first year 2024) | ||
| Ry Rodriguez | A Bolivar | JP Cabrera | Saez | Lebron | Amoroso | ||
| Zulueta | Moran | Guribe | Padilla | Lucena | |||
| J Hernandez | |||||||
| (first year 2025) | K Perez (SL) | (first year 2025) | (first year 2025) | (first year 2025) | (first year 2025) | (first year 2025) | (first year 2025) |
| Olivero | Chaparro | J Perez | Dos Santos | Cordero | Hunter | ||
| JE Cabrera | Rujano | B Rodriguez | Mi Hernandez | Y Pena | |||
| JC Garcia | Portolatin | Strop | |||||
| D Gomez | Valdez | ||||||
Codes
(IL): injured list
(TI): temporarily inactive list
(PL): paternity leave
(RL): restricted list
(L): left-handed pitcher
bold: on the Cardinals’ 40-man roster
(#+#): for teams, the number of active players on the roster plus number of inactive/not under contract (IL+TI+PL+RL) players
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
Now Available for Preorder – 2025 Cardinals Prospect Guide
The Cardinal Nation Prospect Guide is back for its eighth year. It includes 256 pages of in-depth commentary about more than 60 of the best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including in-depth scouting reports, 2024 recap, extensive draft and international histories and more.
Special half-price off deal for paid subscribers. Pre-order your PDF or printed book copy today.
https://thecardinalnation.com/pre-order-the-cardinal-nations-2025-cardinals-prospect-guide/
Not yet a member?
Subscribe to The Cardinal Nation for 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 X/Twitter.
© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Cardinals Claim Pitcher Roddery Muñoz from Marlins
photo: Roddery Muñoz (Thomas Shea/USA TODAY Sports)
The St. Louis Cardinals have claimed right-handed pitcher Roddery Muñoz off waivers from the Miami Marlins.
St. Louis Cardinals release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced today (Friday, November 1) that they have claimed right-handed pitcher Roddery Muñoz off waivers from the Miami Marlins.
Muñoz, 24, who debuted in the majors this season, made 18 appearances (17 as a starter) compiling a 2-7 mark over his 82.0 innings pitched. The 6-2, 210-pound Muñoz also appeared in 12 games (8 starts) with Triple-A Jacksonville in 2024 where he went 4-4 with a 4.96 ERA.
Muñoz, a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was originally signed by the Atlanta Braves as an international free-agent in 2018. He was a waiver claim by the Washington Nationals in July of 2023 and by the Pittsburgh Pirates in December of 2023. Muñoz was traded to the Marlins on December 20, 2023 and made his Major League debut on April 20, 2024 in a start against the Chicago Cubs.
Muñoz worked 5.0 or more innings in nine of his 17 starts, and enjoyed his best outing on June 13 at the New York Mets when he tossed 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.
Brian Walton’s take
With the 2024 Marlins, Muñoz struggled to a 6.53 ERA, a big part of which was due to his 26 home runs allowed. He struck out 70 and walked 42 (a career long problem) in those 82 2/3 innings (typo above). Muñoz will turn 25 years of age in mid-April.
As noted, Muñoz has now been placed on waivers by all four of his prior career organizations, with the trade to the Marlins made for cash while he was on waivers from the Nationals.
Munoz has a four-pitch mix with a 95 mph four seam fastball, a 94 mph sinker, an 88 mph cutter and an 83 mph slider. His fastball and slider are considered his best offerings.
With the Cardinals having declined their 2025 options for 2024 St. Louis rotation members Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson and trade rumors swirling around most of the remaining roster, Muñoz may provide rotation depth, whether with St. Louis, Memphis or both. An alternative is to try him relief to see if he can get the ball down and within the strike zone more frequently in smaller bursts.
Once all the free agents and players whose options were declined are subtracted, St. Louis’ 40-man roster sits at 36 players following this addition.
Now Available – 2024 Cardinals Prospect Guide
The Cardinal Nation 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.
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
2024 Cardinals Minor League Leaders – Hitting Counting Stats
Not yet a member?
Subscribe to The Cardinal Nation for 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 X/Twitter.
© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
TCN’s 2024 Cardinals Minor League Manager of the Year
Palm Beach’s Gary Kendall is The Cardinal Nation’s choice as the top manager in the St. Louis Cardinals system in 2024.
Already a member? Log in here
TCN’s 2024 Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year
Jimmy Crooks is The Cardinal Nation’s top position player in the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system for 2024. The catcher’s impressive summer included stats leadership and the Texas League Most Valuable Player Award.
Already a member? Log in here
TCN’s 2024 Cardinals Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year
After pitching at four levels and earning significant notice across the game in his first professional season, left-hander Quinn Mathews is The Cardinal Nation’s top Starting Pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system in 2024.
Already a member? Log in here
TCN’s 2024 Cardinals Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year
Palm Beach’s Luis Gastelum is The Cardinal Nation’s top relief pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system for 2024. The right-hander’s impressive summer included system-wide leadership in FIP, xFIP, strikeout rate, walk rate and strikeout to walk ratio.
Already a member? Log in here
TCN’s 2024 Cardinals Minor League Comeback Player of the Year
A former top international signee rebounded in a major way offensively in his return to the Florida Complex League, 19-year-old Jonathan Mejia. The infielder is The Cardinal Nation’s Comeback Player of the Year.
Already a member? Log in here
TCN’s 2024 Cardinals Minor League Comeback Pitcher of the Year
Bouncing back from a difficult 2023 season, 26-year-old Triple-A left-handed reliever Connor Thomas is The Cardinal Nation’s 2024 Comeback Pitcher of the Year across the St. Louis Cardinals system.
Already a member? Log in here
TCN’s 2024 Cardinals Minor League Emerging Player of the Year
With a major turnaround in results from 2023 to 2024, infielder Trey Paige is our top emerging player across the St. Louis Cardinals system.
Already a member? Log in here
TCN’s 2024 Cardinals Minor League Emerging Pitcher of the Year
With a major step forward in results during 2024, right-handed starting pitcher Chen-Wei Lin is our top emerging pitcher across the St. Louis Cardinals system.
Already a member? Log in here
Cardinals Arizona Fall League Notebook – October 24, 2024
photo: Thomas Saggese (Springfield Cardinals)
The Glendale Desert Dogs lost to the Mesa Solar Sox on Wednesday. St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Thomas Saggese singled in four at-bats.
Results from the Arizona Fall League game played Wednesday, October 23.
Glendale Desert Dogs 5 at Mesa Solar Sox 9
The Desert Dogs fell to the Solar Sox by a 9-5 score on Wednesday. One Cardinal participated in the game. Thomas Saggese hit second in the starting lineup and was the second baseman.
Saggese went 1-for-4 with three strikeouts.
In his first at bat in the first inning, Saggese struck out swinging. He struck out swinging again in the third.
Saggese singled in the fifth inning for his only hit. It was an infield single to the shortstop. He was stranded. He struck out swinging for the third time in the seventh inning.
No other Cardinal saw action.
Glendale is 8-5 in the AFL season.
Sunday’s game: at Salt River Rafters, Andrew Painter RHP (0-0, 6.75) vs. Jackson Fristoe RHP (0-0, 5.40) 3:30 CT.
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
Now Available – 2024 Cardinals Prospect Guide
The Cardinal Nation Prospect Guide is back for its seventh year. It includes 282 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including dozens of all-new player scouting reports. Order your PDF or printed book copy today!
All paid members can purchase our Prospect Guide PDF at 50% off. Thank you for your support of The Cardinal Nation!
Not yet a member?
Join The Cardinal Nation for the most comprehensive coverage of the St. Louis Cardinals from the majors through the entire minor league system.
Follow Marilyn Green on Twitter @Marilyncolor.
© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Cardinals Add Jon Jay and Brant Brown to MLB Coaching Staff
photo: Brant Brown (USA TODAY Sports)
The St. Louis Cardinals have hired two coaches with ties to the Miami Marlins for their 2025 staff, hitting coach Brant Brown and outfield coach Jon Jay, with more moves coming.
St. Louis Cardinals release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced today (Tuesday, October 22) that they have named Brant Brown as Hitting Coach and former Cardinals World Series Champion outfielder Jon Jay to the team’s Major League coaching staff where he will serve as Coach in 2025. Cardinals Hall of Famer Willie McGee, who has served as a Coach since 2018, will transition to Special Assistant to President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak.
The team also announced that it still intends to make further additions to its Major League coaching staff for 2025.
Jay, 39, was a member of the Cardinals from 2010 to 2015, and enjoyed a 12-year playing career that also included stops with San Diego (2016), the Chicago Cubs (2017), Kansas City (2018), Arizona (2018, 2020), the Chicago White Sox (2019), and the Los Angeles Angels (2021). He played in World Series in both 2011 and 2013 with the Cardinals, and will long be remembered by Cardinals fans for his role in the team’s 2011 World Series Game 6 rally.
A Miami, Fla. native, who was drafted (2nd round) by the Cardinals in 2006, Jay served as a First Base/Outfield Coach with the Miami Marlins for the past two seasons (2023-24).
Brown, 53, recently served as Bench Coach and Offensive Coordinator with the Seattle Mariners for part of the 2024 season, following a stint as Hitting Coach for the Miami Marlins in 2023. Brown previously held the positions of Los Angeles Dodgers Assistant Hitting Coach (2020-22) and Minor League Hitting Strategist (2018-19), Mariners Minor League Offensive Coordinator (2017) and Outfield Coordinator (2013-16), and various coaching roles in the Texas Rangers minor leagues (2007-12).
The Porterville, Calif. native was drafted by the Cubs in the 3rd round of the 1992 MLB Draft and played parts of five seasons with the Cubs (1996-98, 2000), Pirates (1999), and Marlins (2000).
Brian Walton’s take
The Cardinals already announced an intent to get younger for 2025. Perhaps it applies to the coaches as well as the players.
McGee is a beloved Cardinal and team Hall of Famer, but the soon-to-be 66-year-old is being replaced by the 39-year-old Jay, another popular ex-player with St. Louis. Perhaps another set of eyes can help young Cardinals outfielders including Jordan Walker and Victor Scott further develop defensively.
McGee reportedly was already under contract for 2025. His advisory duties are to be announced.
There are several common threads between the new coaches. For example, the manager who employed both Jay (2023-2024) and Brown (2023) with the Miami Marlins is Skip Schumaker. The former Cardinal player and coach remains without a job for 2025.
As noted above, Brown was hitting coach with the 2023 Marlins before moving to Seattle for 2024. Despite the Marlins’ offense ranking 26th in MLB in runs scored, the 84-win Fish squeaked into the 2023 post-season as a Wild Card. Brown was reportedly liked by the team’s hitters.
With the Mariners offense struggling out of the gates in 2024, Brown was fired by Seattle at the end of May. By August, manager Scott Servais, Brown’s former MLB teammate, and the Mariners’ hitting coach also felt the ax.
In addition to his bench coach role, Brown’s offensive assignment with the Mariners was a new position for 2024. It specialized on the mental side, general approach and midgame adjustments, rather than on mechanics and swings. It all lasted barely two months into the regular season.
Brown’s role with the Cardinals may be more all-encompassing, but with other staffing announcements coming, that remains to be seen.
Now Available – 2024 Cardinals Prospect Guide
The Cardinal Nation 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.
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
TCN’s 2024 Cardinals Minor League Rookie Pitcher of the Year
Not yet a member?
Subscribe to The Cardinal Nation for 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 X/Twitter.
© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Cardinals Enhance Player Development and Performance with New AGM
photo: Rob Cerfolio (left) (via Instagram)
In the first of a series of expected new hires, Rob Cerfolio joins the St. Louis Cardinals from the Cleveland Indians as Assistant General Manager, Player Development and Performance.
St. Louis Cardinals release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced today (Tuesday, October 22) that they hired Robert Cerfolio as their Assistant General Manager, Player Development & Performance.
Cerfolio, 32, joins the Cardinals Front Office from the Cleveland Guardians organization, where he has worked in a number of roles over the last decade:
- Director, Player Development (2022-24)
- Assistant Director, Player Development (2019-21)
- Assistant, Player Development (2018-19)
- Amateur Scouting Assistant (2016-18)
- Baseball Operations and Player Development Intern (2015)
“We are thrilled to welcome Rob and his family to the Cardinals,” said John Mozeliak, Cardinals President of Baseball Operations. “His beliefs on player development and performance are aligned with where we want to go, and he’s been a key leader in an organization whose methods and systems have stayed at the forefront of the industry while still putting people first.”
The Indian Springs, Ala. native graduated from John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham, Ala. before pitching three seasons at Yale University (2011-13). Cerfolio was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 34th round of the 2013 MLB Draft, but did not sign. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Medicine from Yale in 2014.
Rob will immediately begin a search for a Farm Director and Director of Performance to join the organization, while additional baseball operations promotions include Matt Bayer to Senior Director of Baseball Development, Kevin Seats to Senior Director of Analytics, DC MacLea (pronounced “mi-CLAY”) to Manager of Video Technology, and Brady Hall to Player Development, Video and Tech Coordinator.
Brian Walton’s take
This is a promotion for Cerfolio as his prior position of Director of Player Development with Cleveland generally equates to farm director.
Though Cerfolio will be taking direction from Chaim Bloom and was likely hired by him, the latter’s name is noticeably and curiously absent from this announcement. Bloom, the future president of baseball operations, will devote his 2025 to improve these same areas of player development and performance.
At this time, it is unclear if as an AGM, Cerfolio will report on paper and/or practice to Mozeliak, who will serve as his own general manager in the upcoming transition year. The wording of the release (and specifically, the lack of Bloom’s name) suggests this may be the case.
A common thread is that both Bill DeWitts (Jr. and III) plus Bloom and Cerfolio are Yale graduates.
Another takeaway from this announcement is that the eventual reporting chain appears to be PBO Bloom > new GM > AGM Cerfolio > farm director (TBD) + director of performance.
In other words, the Cardinals are adding a level in the new organization. Previously, Gary LaRocque was both AGM and director of player development (farm director). Going forward, those will be two separate positions.
The contrast in age between LaRocque, 71, and Cerfolio, 32, is quite substantial.
My further interpretation of the release is that the Director of Performance will be a parallel position to the farm director, with both reporting to Cerfolio. If so, that may be another structural tweak.
Previously, the performance director job was held by Dr. Robert Butler. I believe he reported to Mozeliak with a dotted line to LaRocque, though I am not sure about that. Butler, the George Kissell Award co-honoree in 2021, left the Cardinals at the end of 2023 after eight years and the position has been open since.
Filling these executive positions as quickly as possible is crucial as the Cardinals move to both staff new downstream positions and replace other spots already in the organization as part of their major modernization initiative. October is traditionally a month of significant movement across the industry as old contracts expire and new ones are signed.
Expect many more details and a series of additional announcements in the upcoming days.
Now Available – 2024 Cardinals Prospect Guide
The Cardinal Nation 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.
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
TCN’s 2024 Cardinals Minor League Rookie Pitcher of the Year
Not yet a member?
Subscribe to The Cardinal Nation for 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 X/Twitter.
© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Looking at Tommy Edman Through the Ryan Helsley Prism
photo: Tommy Edman (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports)
Brian Walton suggests that if Tommy Edman was still a Cardinal, he would be a prime trade candidate alongside closer Ryan Helsley. Instead of being upset about Edman’s Dodgers success, he wonders what could have been had the Cards begun their new initiative to get younger a few months sooner.
I am surprised that some people are surprised about the current success experienced by infielder Tommy Edman. The National League League Championship Series Most Valuable Player is a quality player whose last partial year with the St. Louis Cardinals was ruined by injury.
Many are upset by another blatant example of an ex-Cardinal performing well elsewhere on the national stage.
I get that on an emotional level but see it a bit differently in the bigger picture.
Edman is doing what he should be doing. That he has a chance to succeed in the 2024 post-season would not have occurred with St. Louis. And his days with the Cardinals were numbered, whether he was traded in July or during this upcoming off-season.
If Edman had not been dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the July deadline, he would not have been enough to pull the .500-ish Cardinals into the 2024 postseason. Coming off the injured list following a nagging wrist injury, he appeared in just 37 games to close the regular season for his new team, batting .237.
Contractually, Edman is in a very similar situation to Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley. Both are one year away from free agency. In the meantime, they are set to receive a nice salary increase in 2025, their final year of team control.
Per estimates at MLB Trade Rumors, Helsley is expected to receive $6.9 million via the arbitration process in 2025. As a result, many are calling for the non-rebuilding, but really rebuilding Cardinals to trade Helsley this offseason. ‘Maximize his value by acquiring as many MLB-ready prospects as possible from a 2025 contender while saving salary’, goes the thinking.
I get it. And if Edman was still a Cardinal, the calls for him to be traded would be identical, if not louder.
Thanks to his current two-year contract signed with St. Louis, Edman will make $9.5 million next year. He plays positions for which the Cardinals have other options. He would be as replaceable now as he was in July.
Now that the Cardinals are cutting payroll, if Edman was still with the team, he would arguably be an even more obvious trade target than is Helsley. And it was not like the infielder was likely to be re-signed to a long-term deal covering his early free agent years.
In my humble opinion, if folks want to be upset, it should not be about the Cardinals trading Edman, but instead about what they received for him and why.
The initial results from the major take from the Edman trade, right-hander Erick Fedde, were less than advertised. The club hoped that the two July acquisitions from the historically terrible 2024 Chicago White Sox, Fedde and outfielder Tommy Pham, would be immediate difference makers. It quickly became clear they were not.
Sitting here today, one can easily second-guess the acquisition of a “sell-high” pitcher from the Sox with just a year-plus remaining on his own contract. Instead, why were the Cardinals so slow to recognize the inevitable conclusion that the 2024 season was their second consecutive failure and act accordingly in late July?
With a more realistic forward-thinking view, the Cardinals could have traded Edman for a cache of young players with potential who would have fit the new focus – not trying to bolster the current leaky roster for a futile Wild Card run, but instead, getting younger and better for the future.
But what’s done is done. Fedde still has the 2025 season ahead to make the Edman trade look better for the Cardinals than it does currently.
The question of whether Fedde can do it, and how much it would matter to the 2025 team if he can, is a topic for another day.
And one can only hope that if Helsley is traded, it will return meaningful building blocks for the Cardinals’ new vision of their future.
Now Available – 2024 Cardinals Prospect Guide
The Cardinal Nation 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.
Exclusively for members of The Cardinal Nation
Not yet a member?
Subscribe to The Cardinal Nation for 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 X/Twitter.
© 2024 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Cardinals Minors Player and Pitcher of the Year – In Their Own Words
The St. Louis Cardinals 2024 Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year, Jimmy Crooks and Quinn Mathews, answer media questions.
Already a member? Log in here