photo: JJ Wetherholt (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
The St. Louis Cardinals will welcome 27 players to spring training camp as non-roster invitees. Our history section highlights key events this past week in team annals, including a Stan Musial contract milestone.
Cardinals invite non-roster players to spring training
As is the case every year as the opening of spring training nears, the St. Louis Cardinals have invited 27 players who are not on the team’s 40-man roster to come to big league spring camp.
The list includes several past non-roster invitees, including infielder JJ Wetherholt, LHP Quinn Mathews, LHP Zack Thompson, CF Chase Davis, LF Matt Koperniak and others.
Eleven players are invited to camp for the first time. They include LHP Ixan Henderson, LHP Pete Hansen, RHP Luis Gastelum, RHP Austin Love, RHP Hancel Rincon, C Graysen Tarlow, C Andy Yerzy, 1B Blaze Jordan, infielders Ramon Mendoza and Brody Moore, and OF Mike Antico.
The list also includes recently signed players with major league experience who were signed to minor league contracts. They are RHP Scott Blewett, LHP Jared Shuster, LHP Bruce Zimmermann, and OF Nelson Velázquez. The latter’s signing of a minor league contract was announced on January 27.
The group of 27 NRIs include 10 members of The Cardinal Nation’s Top 50 Prospects for 2026, including two of the top four.
Pitchers and catchers report to camp in Jupiter, FL on February 11 and hold their first workout on February 12. The first workout for all players will be on February 16.
More details here:
News and Notes for the Offseason
This section contains information and snippets of news that don’t require extensive coverage but are of interest to Cardinal fans.
- Cardinals all-inclusive tickets, Opening Day tickets, Theme tickets and single game tickets are now on sale. Information on purchasing these tickets and more can be found here. Spring Training tickets are also available to be purchased here.
- “Banana Ball” will return to Busch Stadium in 2026. The Savannah Bananas popular entertainment baseball team will come to Busch Stadium on Friday, August 21 and Saturday, August 22 as part of their world tour.
More information about the event and how to get tickets can be found here.
The Big Picture
For the second week in a row, there is no news on the trade front to report. Brendan Donovan and JoJo Romero remain Cardinals. There have been no new rumors concerning these two players either. As the month of February is now here, POBO Chaim Bloom’s stated goal to resolve the Donovan and Romero situations by the end of January was not met.
Another goal, to acquire a right-handed hitting outfielder for the major league team, has also not been met. The Cardinals recently signed a right-handed outfielder, Nelson Velásquez, to a minor league deal. Should he make the opening day roster, he would fill the bill for that position. It is probable that the lack of signing a right-handed outfielder for the major league roster is because the 40-man roster is currently full. A trade of Donovan and/or Romero would potentially open a spot for an additional player, however.
Two right-handed hitting outfielders who were reportedly of interest to the Cardinals have already found other homes. Harrison Bader and Austin Hays were recently signed by the Giants and the White Sox, respectively. Miguel Andujar, another right-handed outfielder rumored to be of interest to the Cardinals, remains a free agent as of this writing.
Pitchers and catchers report to camp in Jupiter, FL in less than two weeks. Position players report a few days later. The offseason is almost over, though deals can and have been made during spring training.
Stay tuned for more happenings as what remains of the offseason concludes.
Trade and Acquisition Rumors
There are no new trade rumors to report.
Transactions
- 1/26 The Cardinals invited the following non-roster players to spring training, SS JJ Wetherholt, 2B Ramon Mendoza, LHP Zack Thompson, C Carlos Linarez, RHP Skylar Hales, LHP Pete Hansen, LHP Ixan Henderson, CF Chase Davis, LHP Packy Naughton, C Andy Yerzy, LHP Quinn Mathews, RHP Austin Love, RHP Luis Gastelum, 1B Blaze Jordan, SS Jeremy Rivas, C Graysen Tarlow, RHP Gerson Moreno, RHP Hancel Rincon, 2B Brody Moore, RHP Max Rajcic, LH Matt Koperniak, CF Mike Antico, RHP Sem Robberse, RHP Scott Blewett, LHP Jared Shuster, LHP Bruce Zimmermann and OF Nelson Velázquez.
Injury Report
There are no new injuries to report.
Looking Ahead
February is Spring Training month. Pitchers and catchers report on February 11 with the first workout day on February 12. Position players will report after February 12 and the first full squad workout will be Monday, February 16. The Cardinals play their first spring game at Roger Dean Stadium on Saturday, February 21 against the Washington Nationals.
The first full week of spring games will include a second game against the Nationals, and two games each with the Astros, Mets, and Marlins to conclude the month of February.
The month of March begins with a slate of games the first week that includes two games with the Pirates, one at home and one on the road, one game each with the Marlins, Orioles, and Mets, and a March 4 game with the WBC Nicaraguan team in preparation for the WBC which begins on March 5.
Blast from the Past
This week’s Blast from the Past continues with the series highlighting some notable events that occurred in the history of the franchise for a relevant period. The offseason brings occasions such as awards, retirements, baseball transactions, and other interesting events.
In this installment, we look at events that occurred during the period January 26 through February 1. For each event, its date, individual(s) involved, a description of the event, and any other relevant details are provided.
January 26, 1919 – The Cardinals announced that General Manager Branch Rickey will take on the duties of field manager as well.
January 27, 1947 – Cardinals’ co-owner Fred Saigh buys out the interest of partner Robert Hennegan to become the sole owner of the Cardinals.
January 28, 1953 – Cardinals’ owner Fred Saigh pleaded no contest to two counts of income tax evasion and was sentenced to 15 months in prison. Saigh served only five months of the sentence and later sold the Cardinals to Anheuser-Busch Brewery in 1954.
January 29, 1958 – Cardinal icon Stan Musial signed the first six-figure contract in MLB history on this date. The deal was for $100,000. Musial was 37 years old and had just come off a season during which he won the NL batting title for the seventh time.
February 1, 1970 – Cardinal pitcher Jesse Haines was selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.
February 1, 1985 – The Cardinals acquired 1B Jack Clark from the San Francisco Giants for David Green, Dave LaPoint, Gary Rajsich and Jose Uribe.
Now available – 2026 Cardinals Prospect Guide
The Cardinal Nation Prospect Guide is back for its ninth year. It includes 275 pages of in-depth commentary about the very best St. Louis Cardinals minor leaguers, including over five dozen all-new player scouting reports by Kyle Reis. Order your PDF or spiral-bound 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!
Order The Cardinal Nation’s 2026 St. Louis Cardinals Prospect Guide
Exclusively for members 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 Bluesky @mrlyn59.bsky.social.
© 2026 The Cardinal Nation, thecardinalnation.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.