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Pushard looks like a solid relief-only guy who has closed some games for Miami’s AAA team. More than a strikeout per inning. Reasonable walks. 6 foot 4. 250 pound right hander.
For those annually worried about the #stlcards losing position players in the ML phase of the Rule 5 Draft, it doesn't happen. 12 of 13 taken this year are RHPs. A Cardinals hitter was taken only once since at least 2002 and likely longer. Blaze Jordan and others stay put.
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) December 10, 2025
Matt Pushard in and Cade Winquest out in the ML phase.
AAA phase: Ryan Murphy from SF in with Sean Harney, Matt Lloyd and Zane Mills out.
I have an unfounded, baseless theory that the Yankees meant to select Hancel Rincon in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft but mistakenly selected Hansel Rincon (who was a minor league FA signing about two weeks ago) from Milwaukee instead.
Also, did we get lucky losing Cade Winquest to the Yankees? The Yankees are obviously free spenders and are consistently aggressive at the trade deadline. Winquest could potentially find himself as the odd man out in a roster crunch and get returned to St. Louis.
I think that may be the case “Blue”. Because it’s the Yankees and they will have less appetite to hold onto a pitcher who isn’t performing well, I could easily see Winquest returning to the Cardinals for a net gain of $25,000 to Bill and the team.
Also of note, even though he had already left us via free agency (and signed elsewhere), Roddery Munoz got taken.
I am glad that Pete Hansen survived the draft. I was the lone ranger voting for him in our top 50 list. Hopefully he gets an opportunity at Memphis in 2026 and continues to do well.
When I heard the Yankees drafted Rincon I was like damn they got another guy from us but then I saw how the first name was spelled. The fact there is a Hancel Rincon and Hansel Rincon is bonkers.
net gain of $25,000 to Bill and the team
That cost has changed. It now costs $100K to sign a Rule 5 player and $50K to buy him back if he doesn’t work out for the acquiring team.
Something about the Rule 5 is weird. If the player is good enough to get drafted in the Rule 5, the fans want him back. But if he’s not good enough to stick with the acquiring team, it makes the player’s former team, and maybe the fans, too, wonder if it’s worth it to give back half of that $100K that they got for the player in the Rule 5.
Since I already mistakenly named this topic 2026 R5 draft, I am going to throw out some names who could get added to the 40 man roster. Mathew’s, Henderson, and Baez seem like locks. Gastulum, Lin and even Jordan seem possible. If Gastulum and Love pitch well i can see them as in season adds. Its our depth at relief that is pretty solid now. As has been mentioned, Hence could be used in relief as well.
Why was Baez not considered eligible for the 2025 Draft? He signed in 2021 and would have played 5 years. He should have been eligible for the draft this year, yes?
BHC, players on the 40-man roster are exempt from the Rule 5 Draft. Keeping Baez from being eligible is why he was added to the 40-man last month.
Fingers crossed we have a HUGE debate over the Cards #1-5 prospects in 10-11 months….
RR, Doyle, Joshua Baez, Leo B, #13 pick, #32(ish) pick, trade acquisitions are all very real possibilities that I’m sure we all agree is a great problem to have that needs a lot of discussing.
Any long shot guesses on who could be a top 1-5 prospect other than the ones I listed?
My guesses of guys who could get there who we rated far lower are Franklin, Gurevitch, Clarke, Young, and Dutkanych. All of these have extreme upsides, but also really low floors.
I’m thinking that Joshua Baez will be playing RF by the end of the 2026 season. All the rest that you named look like top 5 to me, also. Hopefully, Brandon Clarke will be up there despite the realistic pessimism about his health. If Ixan Henderson doesn’t reach the majors in 2026, I would expect him to be knocking at the door of the top 5.
For business reasons, and Team control reasons I respectfully hope you are wrong Mud. Given the 2027 “up in the air”/“who knows” season I’m hoping zero of the guys I listed, especially Baez and Doyle are in STL at the end of 2026.
Not because of results, because of not taking a chance at losing a year of service time.
It’s a game, but…. It’s Monopoly and chess, not checkers.I get what you’re saying. It makes sense. But if Baez hits at Memphis like he did at Springfield, and if Walker is still striking out so much, and carrying a BA of .215 and an OPS of .584, it’s going to be hard to tolerate. But, then, business is business.
Cade Winquest DFA’ed by Yankees. Made the team out of spring but never debuted.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) April 10, 2026
I think we could see Winquest coming back to us. There was virtually no way he was staying with the Yankees. So I guess if no one claims him he gets returned to the Cards?
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