The New Cardinal Way | For the Lou

[ShireNiner]

ARENADO TRADED TO SEATTLE, CARDINALS PROMOTE TOP PROSPECT
St. Louis — Derrick Goold | April 4, 2025



ST LOUIS - Just hours before opening their weekend series against the Boston Red Sox, the St. Louis Cardinals announced a trade that everyone knew was coming, sending veteran third baseman Nolan Arenado to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for switch-pitching right-hander Jurrangelo Cijntje and power-hitting outfielder Lazaro Montes.

The move signals both a commitment to the Cardinals’ youth movement and a willingness to reshape the roster around emerging stars. As part of the transaction, St. Louis assigned both Cijntje and Montes to Triple-A Memphis, while promoting top prospect JJ Wetherholt to the major-league roster.

Arenado, now 35, leaves St. Louis after four full seasons and the early portion of a fifth, delivering the elite defense and middle-order stability he was known for throughout his career. Arenado’s career totals stood at:

1,622 hits
341 home runs
1,120 RBI
.287 batting average
10 Gold Gloves
6 All-Star selections

Though his power has declined in recent seasons, Arenado remained a respected clubhouse presence and one of baseball’s most polished defenders at the hot corner.

He now joins a Mariners club looking to add veteran leadership and right-handed stability to a lineup chasing the top of the AL West.

What the Cardinals Get Back
Jurrangelo Cijntje — RHP/LHP, 21
One of baseball’s most unique pitching talents, Cijntje throws from both sides and features mid-90s velocity right-handed and a more deceptive, slider-heavy mix left-handed. Seattle fast-tracked him to Triple-A last season, and the Cardinals will continue his development in Memphis with the expectation he could debut sometime this season.

Lazaro Montes — OF, 20
Few prospects in the minors can match Montes’ raw power. The 6'4" left-handed slugger hit 30+ homers across two levels last season and gives St. Louis a long-term middle-order candidate. His strikeout rate remains high, but the Cardinals believe his approach has matured enough to take the next developmental step in Triple-A.

The Wetherholt Era Begins
St. Louis wasted no time filling the void on the MLB roster, announcing that JJ Wetherholt, the club’s top infield prospect, has been promoted ahead of tonight’s opener in Boston. The 2024 first-round pick impressed throughout the spring, showing elite contact skills, speed, and defensive versatility. He is expected to split time between second and third base.

[Captain Canada]

And Arenado is off the books! Looks like you got a pretty decent return for him too. Good stuff.

[redsox907]

does the pitcher switch pitch in the game too?

[ShireNiner]

And Arenado is off the books! Looks like you got a pretty decent return for him too. Good stuff.

Mariners were one of two teams with the payroll room and a realistic option so I'm happy with it.

does the pitcher switch pitch in the game too?

We will find out.. I actually didn't know about his throwing until I was looking up info on him after the trade.

[ShireNiner]

Cardinals Return Home After Up-and-Down East Coast Road Trip
St. Louis — MLB Reporting | April 10, 2025


Jordan Walker slides into first to beat the throw avoiding a double play in the 10th, the winning run scored on the play to beat the Pirates 3-2..

ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals wrapped up a six-game road trip through Boston and Pittsburgh with a 3–3 record, a stretch defined by strong starting pitching, the first flashes of rookie upside, and just enough late-game grit to stay above .500. Despite inconsistencies at the plate and a few missed opportunities, St. Louis heads into its second homestand feeling more settled than when they left.

The trip opened in Boston, where Tink Hence delivered the best outings of his young career—six innings, one run, seven strikeouts—but received no support in a 4–1 loss. Ivan Herrera provided the lone Cardinals highlight with a solo homer, while top prospect J.J. Wetherholt doubled in his MLB debut, showing early signs of comfort.

St. Louis responded the next night with its most complete offensive showing of the road swing, an 8–6 victory powered by home runs from Herrera, Nolan Gorman, and Wetherholt—who launched his first career blast. Herrera finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs in a breakout performance, and Matthew Liberatore improved to 2–0 with another steady outing.

The rubber match belonged to Boston, as St. Louis mustered just one hit off Kutter Crawford in a 3–1 defeat. Richard Fitts battled through traffic in his return to Boston, striking out six over 4.1 innings, but Ceddanne Rafaela’s two-RBI game proved the difference.

From there, the Cardinals moved on to Pittsburgh, where the youth movement stole the spotlight. Andre Pallante set the tone, delivering a commanding seven-inning performance in a 6–2 win over Paul Skenes. Wetherholt starred again, tripling and crushing a homer as part of a 2-for-4 day that hinted at star-level upside. Brendan Donovan added a long ball of his own.

Game two in Pittsburgh was a tight 4–3 loss, despite Masyn Winn’s incredible 4-for-4 performance, complete with a double and a stolen base. Michael McGreevy allowed just four hits over 5.2 innings, but home runs from Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz swung the game toward the Pirates. For the second time this season, the Cardinals ace received minimum run support in his start.

The Cardinals closed the trip in dramatic fashion with a 10-inning, 3–2 win, Jordan Walker gave the Cardinals the lead on a ground ball to first, beating out the double play as Victor Scott II scored from third. Andre Granillo earned the win with a clean extra inning, while JoJo Romero locked down his third save of the season.

Box Scores
| 1 | 8 | 0 | L: Hence (0-2) 6 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 7 SO
| 4 | 7 | 0 | W: Gray (2-0) 6.2 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 6 SO | S: Chapman (2)

STL HR: Herrera
Notable: JJ Wetherhold (STL):1-4, 2B in his MLB debut
--
| 8 | 13 | 0 | W: Liberatore (2-0) 5.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 SO | S: Romero (2)
| 6 |11 | 0 | L: Bello (0-1) 5 IP, 8 H, 4 R

STL HR: Herrera, Gorman, Wetherholt
BOS HR: Rafaela
Notable: Ivan Herrera (STL): 3-5, HR, 4 RBIs
--
| 1 | 3| 0 | L: Fitts (0-1) 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 6 SO
| 3 | 6| 0 | W: Crawford (1-1) 6.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 3 SO | S: Chapman (3)

Notable: Ceddanne Rafaela (BOS): 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs
--
| 6 | 9 | 0 | W: Pallante (2-0) 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB
| 2 | 5 | 0 | L: Skenes (1-1) 3 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 5

STL HR: Donovan, Wetherholt
Notable: JJ Wetherholt (STL): 2-4, 3B, HR, RBI, 2 R
--
| 3 | 9 | 1 | L: McGreevy (0-1) 5.2 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 4 SO
| 4| 5 | 0 | W: Lawrence (1-0) 0.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 SO | H: Ashcraft (2) | S: Santana (3)

STL HR: Herrera
PIT HR: Reynolds, Cruz
Notable: Masyn Winn (STL) 4-4, 2B, SB
--
| 3 | 10 | 2 | W: Granillo (1-1) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 SO | S: Romero (3)
| 2 | 6 | 1 | L: Mlodzinski (0-1) 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 SO
Final/10

STL HR: Saggese
Notable: Thomas Saggese (STL): 3-5, HR, 2 RBIs
--

NL Central Standings
(12-3)
(8-5, 3 GB)
(7-5, 3.5 GB)
(6-6, 4.5 GB)
(6-7, 5 GB)

Injury Report
Lars Nootbaar, LF - Strained Tricep - 5 days

Upcoming Homestand
(8-3)
Luzardo (1-0, 1.46 ERA) vs Liberatore (2-0, 2.92 ERA)
Suarez (1-1, 3.75 ERA) vs Fitts (1-1, 4.66 ERA)
Nola (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs Pallante (2-0, 2.08 ERA)

(7-5)
Brown (1-2, 4.86 ERA) vs McGreevy (0-1, 2.16 ERA)
Valdez (0-2, 3.06 ERA) vs Hence (0-2, 2.08 ERA)
Game 3 starters TBD

[ShireNiner]

Cardinals Finding Stability in a Post-Arenado World: A Three-Man Platoon Emerges in the Infield
St. Louis — Derrick Goold | April 11, 2025



When the Cardinals traded franchise cornerstone Nolan Arenado, the immediate question reverberating through St. Louis was simple: Who replaces him? Two weeks later, the answer isn’t a single player—but a trio. And surprisingly, it’s working. Between rookie sensation J.J. Wetherholt, breakout performer Thomas Saggese, and power-hitting veteran Nolan Gorman, the Cardinals have crafted a flexible, matchup-driven infield rotation at second and third base that has helped stabilize the roster during one of the club’s most dramatic transitions in years.

Manager Yadier Molina, now at the center of reshaping “The New Cardinal Way,” says the shared responsibility isn’t a stopgap—it’s the blueprint. “We’re not replacing Arenado with one guy,” Molina said. “We’re replacing him with three talented players who each bring something different. They push each other. They make us better. One might emerge as the man who plays the most but for now, a steady rotation to give them each a chance to earn the spot.”

J.J. Wetherholt: The Spark Plug Rookie
Entering the year as one of the organization’s most polished prospects, Wetherholt has been as advertised in his first six big league games: energetic, tough, and unafraid of big moments. In 17 at-bats, he’s hit .294 with 5 hits, 4 runs, 2 home runs, and a 0.3 WAR—including a crucial eighth-inning RBI double in Pittsburgh that tied the game and set up the Cardinals’ eventual 10-inning win. “I just try to compete,” Wetherholt said. “Whether I’m at second or third, my job is to help keep the line moving. The vets have been awesome helping me adjust.” Hitting coach Matt Carpenter has been impressed with the rookie’s instincts. “His swing decisions and his calmness—it’s rare,” Carpenter said. “He plays like a guy who’s been here for two or three years already.”

Thomas Saggese: The Hottest Bat in the Trio
If Wetherholt is the spark, Thomas Saggese is the steady consistency of the rotation. In six games, he’s slashing .364 with 8 hits, a homer, two RBIs, a stolen base, and a 0.4 WAR. His three-hit, game-winning performance in extras against Pittsburgh highlighted just how comfortably he’s settled into his role. “I’m just trying to be ready every day,” Saggese said. “That’s the beauty of this setup—Yadi communicates so well. We know our roles. We know when we’re getting the ball.” Teammates have taken notice, too. Masyn Winn, who’s becoming a clubhouse leader in his own right, praised Saggese’s preparation: “Saggs shows up with a plan every day,” Winn said. “You watch him in the cage, you understand why he barrels everything.”

Nolan Gorman: Power, Patience, and an Early-Season Search for Rhythm
By far the most experienced of the trio, Nolan Gorman admitted he’s still finding his footing. His .132 average through 11 games is well below his standard, though his 3 home runs remain tied for the team lead. Gorman’s 13 strikeouts haven’t shaken Molina’s belief. “Nolan’s going to hit,” Molina said. “When he connects, the game changes. We’re not worried.” Carpenter echoed that confidence, focusing on the process rather than the results: “He’s missing a few pitches he normally crushes, but the underlying stuff is good,” Carpenter said. “He’ll heat up. Everybody in this league knows what kind of damage he can do.” Gorman himself remains patient: “It’s early. I just need to be me,” he said. “We’re winning games. That’s what matters.”

A New Identity: Flexibility as a Feature, Not a Flaw
Together, the three infielders have posted a combined 0.5 WAR, already equal to Arenado’s early-season totals the past two years. More importantly, they’ve allowed Molina to mix and match lineups based on pitching matchups, defensive focus, and hot streaks. This is exactly the kind of baseball Chaim Bloom envisioned when he arrived in St. Louis—efficiency, depth, adaptability, and athleticism. But Molina sees something deeper “This is the Cardinal Way,” Molina said. “Young guys stepping up. Veterans helping them grow. The team winning because everyone contributes.”

[Captain Canada]

At least you were able to chase Skenes a little bit in that one, that's a plus.

[ShireNiner]

At least you were able to chase Skenes a little bit in that one, that's a plus.

When we pitch great, we can't hit. When we hit, our pitching sucks. Hard to get them all on the same page. Hence should be 2-0 with the way he's pitching.

[ShireNiner]

Cardinals finish strong at home after slow start
St. Louis — MLB Reporting | April 17, 2025


After two home stands, the Cardinals are 7-5 at home following the sweep of former NL Central rivals, the Astros.

ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals finish the home stand on a high after getting swept by the Phillies, the Cardinals turned around and swept the Astros at Busch Stadium.
The 3-3 stand, leaves the Cardinals in third place of the division that is already starting to slowly take shape this early into the season. The Cubs have expanded their leads to 4 games while the Pirates are still in last, now 7 back with the Reds starting to slip down after losing three straight.

"Finding consistency is the hardest test in baseball. The season is a grind, players have off days, off weeks happen. I am happy with the response against Houston after the Phillies games, losing the way we did in those three games is crushing but we bounced back and showed character." Molina said after the Astros final game.

Masyn Winn continues to stay how for the Cardinals with 7 hits during the homestand including two doubles. Winn is hitting .316 this season, third on the team behind Saggese and Contreras. On the flip side, Nolan Gorman continues to struggle with only 3 hits in the four games he played at home. One hit was a home run, but the strike outs continue to build with 16 on the season now. "We want to see more contact, just get the ball in play. Living on home runs and strike outs is not how we want to play." Hitting coach Matt Carpenter said. "Nolan can do that, he did it early in his career but when his power increased, so did his strike outs. We need to find a way to even that out, third base is his to lose now."

On the mound, Matt Svanson continues to shine from the bullpen, two wins in the home stand bringing him to three on the year. Through 12.2 innings pitched, Svanson has 15 strike outs and allowed three runs. Through eight games, Svanson has three wins and two holds, not blowing a hold or a save this season.
Andre Pallante continues to give the Cardinals good outings; three quality starts in three games for the young starter. Pallante will give up hits (17 through three starts) but he strands runners with only three of those batters coming around to score this season.

"Starting pitching is ahead of schedule for where I thought we would be." Chris Carpenter says, "The young guys are fearless. Hence, Pallante, Mcgreevy, all of them are stepping up for eating innings. Eight quality starts already this season is exactly what we want from the starters."

Box Scores

| 5 | 10 | 0 | W: Luzardo (2-0) 8 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 5 SO
| 1 | 2 | 0 | L: Liberatore (2-1) 5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 SO

PHI HR: Bohm
Notable: Alec Bohm (PHI): 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBI
--
| 3 | 10 | 1 | W: Duran (2-0) 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R
| 2 | 12 | 1 | L: Romero (0-1) 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 SO
F/11

Notable: Cardinals did not score with runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs in bottom of 11.
--
| 7 | 13| 1 | W: Nola (2-0) 8 IP, 6 H, 4 SO
| 1 | 7 | 1 | L: Granillo (1-2) 0.1 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 2 BB

STL HR: Gorman
Notable: Andrea Pallante (STL): 6 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 3 SO - no decision
--
| 4 | 8 | 0 | L: King (1-1) 0.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R
| 7 11 | 0 | W: Swanson (2-0) 2.0 IP, 1 SO | S: Romero (4)

HOU HR: Paredes
STL HR: Pozo 2
Notable: Yohel Pozo (STL) 4-4, 2 HR, 6 RBI
--
| 4 | 10 | 0 | L: Okert (0-1) 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R | BS: Kimbrel (1)
| 5 12 | 0 | W: Granillo (2-2) 0.2 IP | BS: Romero (1)

Notable: Houston took a 4-3 lead in the top of the 9th, Cardinals won 5-4 on walk-off pinch-hitter 2 run double by Ivan Herrera
--
| 2 | 12 | 0 | L: King (1-2) 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 SO
| 4 | 11 | 1 | W: Svanson (3-0) 1 IP, 1 H, 1 SO | S: Romero (5)

STL HR: Walker
Notable: Masyn Winn (STL): 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI
--

NL Central Standings
(16-5)
(11-8, 4 GB)
(10-8, 4.5 GB)
(10-8, 4.5 GB)
(8-11, 7 GB)

Cardinals Transactions
Activated LF Lars Nootbar from injured list
Optioned LF Matt Koperniak to Triple-A Memphis

Upcoming Road Trip
(6-12)
Richard Fitts (1-1, 3.45 ERA) vs Clay Holmes (1-0, 3.00 ERA)
Andrea Pallante (2-0, 1.42 ERA) vs Brandon Sproat (1-1, 6.75 ERA)
Michael McGreevy (0-1, 3.32 ERA) vs Nolan McLean (1-2, 2.96 ERA)
Tink Hence (0-2, 2.91 ERA) vs Kodai Senga (1-0, 1.46 ERA)

(7-5)
Matthew Liberatore (2-1, 3.52 ERA) vs Reynaldo Lopez (1-1, 3.47 ERA)
Richard Fitts (1-1, 3.45 ERA) vs Hurston Waldrep (3-1, 1.67 ERA)
Andrea Pallante (2-0, 1.42 ERA) vs Grant Holmes (1-0, 0.89 ERA)

[James]

Swept by Philly and swept Houston. What a weird set of series.