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(I’ll have a transcript of the chat below the text box that I’ll look to update as often as possible as this goes on.)

David J: Daniel: Finally, the Cards appear ready to pull the plug on Fedde and bring up McGreevy. It has been clear to me since spring training that McGreevy deserved a spot over Fedde but especially Mikolas. Mikolas's ERA is over 5.

David J: Daniel: I hit send to0 early on my post - sorry. To finish, we need to find a replacement for Mikolas in the rotation to be competitive. Once again, I propose Matz. He has been strong out of the pen, but he would be much more valuable in the rotation. A rotation including McGreevy and Matz is FAR superior to one with Fedde and Mikolas.

Guerrero: Erick Fedde’s next turn in the starting rotation isn’t until July 12. As my P-D teammate, Derrick Goold, reported from Chicago, there is some discussion for Fedde not to make that start and subbing in another option like McGreevy, who would be eligible to return to the majors on July 10. I expect we’ll learn more on those discussions and what will go into it in the coming days. To the second half of your question on Matz, that would be an interesting option to slide into the rotation if a spot opens, but one that would surely have different variables involved. Like you said, he’s been strong out of the bullpen. He’s offered flexibility by providing length and by pitching in shorter bursts. I think those things would be factored with him. Those were variables the Cardinals looked at back at the start of June when they looked at inserting a spot starter into their rotation for the long stretch.

Dan Jensen: Why is there a time frame regarding a pitcher's return from the minors to the Cardinals?

Guerrero: That’s just how options work. By rule, pitchers must be in the minors for a minimum of 15 days unless they are brought up as the 27th player for a doubleheader or are replacing an injured player.

bigron: Any updates on Herreras health, they surely miss his bat, hope they can teach him to either catch better or play LF as he needs to be in there every day. Also are there any other pitchers ready for big league starts in the minors besides McGreevy.

Guerrero: The last time we heard about Herrera was that he intensified his workouts and increased his running while in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½. The hope for the Cardinals is that he is able to be cleared for a rehab assignment in about a week, which means that would keep him out until after the All-Star break, but put him in a spot to be back in the lineup after the break.

Guerrero: To follow up on the second half of this question: If we're talking starting pitching, the depth behind McGreevy isn't very deep, especially when it comes to guys on the 40-man roster. Gordon Graceffo has been moved into a relief role and pitched really well from there (0.55 ERA in 16 1/3 innings of relief in June and one run allowed in 4 1/3 inning to begin July). Tekoah Roby reached Triple-A Memphis in June and is just five starts in at the level. Tink Hence is back from the IL but still catching up on innings while in Double-A. Zack Thompson, who was kept a starter last year while with Memphis, is still on the IL. And top pitching prospect Quinn Mathews, who isn't on the 40-man roster, is also back from injury and catching up on innings with Memphis.

Ray Jay: Looking ahead, if none of them are traded, is there room for Winn, Donovan, Gorman, Saggese, and perhaps Wetherholt?

Guerrero: I think there could be because there is some positional versatility with those guys, but there are a few moving pieces there that would need to happen for them to each get playing time. Donovan’s ability to play the outfield offers flexibility, and Gorman offers an option at DH. But if I think a bigger part of this equation is Nolan Arenado’s status. He’s under contract through 2027. Four of the names you mentioned are already in the majors. The fifth (Wetherholt) is playing very well in his first full professional season and is already at Double-A. 

GD: Time to end this charade and dismantle the 2025 Cards and look to 2026. Most embarassing 6 game stretch I can recall in some time.

Guerrero: Getting outscored 41-11 and being shut out in four of the last six games certainly makes a 1-5 stretch feel even rougher. 

chico: Mo needs to go and find somebody in a trade,like other teams do.Leave matz alone.We also need some help in the outfield,am I right?

Guerrero: Cardinals outfielders have combined for a .678 OPS (24th in the majors, per FanGraphs), so I get where you’re coming from that an offensive boost there could help this club. But I think any moves there may go back to the long-term impact of what that does to this current outfield group. The Cardinals set out to give “runway� to the young players, and I think that may play a role there.

Joe B: Can JJ Wetherholt play CF? Should the Cardinals consider a position switch since the infield is crowded and CF is wide open for a guy who can hit?

Guerrero: Wetherholt has never played center field in pro ball or in college. He had some left field and right field reps in *checks notes* 2021 when he was *checks notes again* playing in a collegiate summer league. He's stuck to shortstop and second base in the minors, so I think center field is an option. Plus you have a young center fielder now in Victor Scott II who is not only tied for the team lead in outs above average, but also is ranks among league leaders in runs prevented in center field.

Jim: watching the cubs- cardinals this weekend, it was obvious how far the cardinals have fallen. The crowds at the game, the obvious difference in the teams and how far the leadership has let this former proud franchise fall.

Guerrero: What you mentioned about the crowds at the game stood out to me from afar. And I don’t mean that in any negative way to fans. People have the right to spend their time and money how they want. I get that the Cardinals-Cubs series at Busch Stadium at the end of June was a mid-week series, and this past series at Wrigley Field was a holiday weekend series with a primetime game, but those differences do catch your attention.

DCG: DG:I think this recent downturn will end up saving the FO from themselves. At no point did I ever think it made sense to try to give up assets to add at the trade deadline for a team that's going nowhere, even if it sneaks into the playoffs. The only exception would be getting a good pitcher with multiple years left on his deal, but I imagine the cost would be exorbitant. My thinking is that they need to play the long game, and they're going to be going through the "long runway" all over again next year, only with pitchers. Fedde and Mikolas will be gone. After McGreevey, it's a lot of questions marks, so they need to be stockpiling pitching assets with at this deadline. And they still haven't figured out if Walker and Gorman are long term solutions. So, 2026 will still be about building. They can't lose sight of that.

Guerrero: Giving up assets, especially if they came from a farm system that has gone through a recent overhaul, for the short term would not have made sense, considering we knew the goal moving forward was a youth movement. But I think that’s what also makes this scenario tough. The Cardinals wanted to use this year to see what they have for 2026 and beyond. And, like you mentioned, there will still be some questions because two of the sports in the starting rotation have been occupied by veterans on expiring contracts. Assuming those are two open spots in the rotation heading into spring training 2026, there are prospects on the rise that could push for those spots. And that would also mean allowing them that runway to adjust to the major, too. I get where you’re coming from that building toward the future could also require some building in 2026 if the club is committed to building from within.

BryanB: With all the talk of pitching help the offense needs help too. What can they do to help the offense down the road

Guerrero: Getting Ivan Herrera back, likely after the All-Star break, may provide a boost. But if the Cardinals are going to stick with the “runway� we’ve heard them talk about this year, it may come down to guys swinging their way out of tough stretches. Month-to-month, the Cardinals’ offensive numbers as a club have dipped (.738 team OPS in March-April but .715 in May and .701 in June), and that’s come as some guys cooled off through this past month. I think some players getting banged up recently and missing a couple of games here and there hurts that flow as well. But overall, this is the group we’ve seen them roll with and I think it may be up to them to give the club an offensive lift.

South City Steve: If you have a car that has two flat tires you don't keep driving on those tires just because you already paid for them (huge point of frustration during the Mozeliak Era), because at some point it starts to damage the rest of the car. I actually understand giving Fedde a little more rope because IF he can rebound he can be traded. But Mikolas has stated he won't waive his NTC so just cut bait now and let McGreevy take his spot.

Guerrero: With what you mentioned about allowing Fedde the chance to potentially rebound, I think some different factors go into that solidified spot. I think his salary ($7.5-million) would have attracted some appeal for teams looking for a cost-effective addition to their roster if he were to be traded and his success last year before the trade (3.11 ERA in 121 2/3 innings) give the idea that success in the first half could make him a valuable trade piece. 

Mo was a BP pitcher: What defensive position do you see JJ Wetherholt occuppying long-term for the major league team?

Guerrero: If Masyn Winn is still holding down shortstop, I think Wetherholt could spend most of his time at third base or second base. He’s capable of handling both, but his arm could help him stick at third base. He hasn’t played there yet as pro. He’s been kept at shortstop and second base. The Cardinals like that set up as it allows Wetherholt to develop range going to both sides.

Mo was a BP pitcher: Who do you have rated as the top 2 available pitchers in the upcoming MLB draft?

Guerrero: Seth Hernandez, a righty from Corona (California) high school is the top pitcher in the class and could go No. 1. (He'd be the first right-handed prep arm to go No. 1 overall. I think Kade Anderson from LSU may be the No. 2. Anderson, a lefty dazzled at the College World Series and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player as he helped LSU to a national title. Anderson did have Tommy John while in high school, but I don't think that should give much hesitation.

Bryan C: What can the Cardinals get for Steven Matz? They need to trade him before he gets hurt?

Guerrero: I’m sorry I don’t have a clearer answer on this. But, IF the Cardinals look to deal Matz, I think how the pitching market shapes up and the role teams feel Matz can fill will determine what kind of haul a Matz deal can return.

Dan Jensen: What is a sweeper?

Guerrero: Just think of it as a variation of a slider that has more break across the strike zone and doesn't have as tight of a break and a little less velocity than your average slider may have.

Ed AuBuchon: With the 5th pick in the draft Cardinals need to pick the best college pitcher on the board. Trading for or signing a free agent is just too expensive.

Guerrero: I think taking a top college pitcher gives a boost to the pitching depth in the minors and could get them someone with an ETA to the majors that may not feel that far off.

Bobo's Pet Monkey: The team's recent run of not scoring puts an even bigger spotlight on Pages providing nothing at the plate. Oli and the pitching staff clearly love Pedro, but he hasn't hit better than .226 in any month this season and his current average is approaching Mendoza territory. From his lack to playing time behind the plate despite a hefty average, the team clearly doesn't seem to trust Pozo's ability to call a game anymore than it does Herrera, so is it time to give Jimmy Crooks a look? If the mantra is give the kids a chance, why not start the clock on seeing what Crooks can provide, rather than continuing to run out a guy who's clearly no more than a solid backup?

Guerrero: Pages has brought some solid defense behind the plate in certain areas that we can quantify with advanced stats (plus-two in framing, above-average pop time, plus-one in fielding run value, per Statcast) and in stats that don’t show up like calling a game. One of the consistent qualities of this Cardinals team has been its defense, and that starts with Pages behind the plate. Despite his struggles on offense, he’s played a key role for this club. We saw just how key he is behind the plate when the Cardinals filled the DH spot with Ivan Herrera upon his return from the IL. The Cardinals wanted to give Crooks a long run as Memphis’s catcher following his promotion to the level at the start of this year. They’ve ensured that playing time for him, and he’s experienced a few ups and downs there. I think there is a benefit to that regular playing time in the minors to get him as ready as possible so you don’t rush him to the majors.

Todd: If this season is about finding out what they have in their young players, why would you sign Hampson?...someone definitely not in the teams long term plans. I get that he is versatile, but we have young players that can fill those positions for shorter periods.

Guerrero: Because there’s guaranteed playing time or at-bats for Hampson in his role. He’s appeared in 10 games but taken 16 at-bats. He brings versatility and experience in a bench role. Using that bench spot for a young player to play on occasion would not be the best approach if the alternative is having them play every day in the minors.

12fan: Thanks for manning the chat today. You are a glutton for punishment! On the bright side--In their last 11 games the Cardinals have won 4 of the 5 games they have scored in.

Guerrero: #GlassHalfFullMentality

U R ON THE INTERNET BUDDY: This trade deadline, the Cards need to be more concerned with talent/prospect return as opposed to salary relief. With that said, Mikolas's contract (NTC aside) makes him a liability. What could Fedde realistically fetch from a team?

Guerrero: Like I mentioned earlier, when someone brought up a potential Steven Matz trade, returns depend on how needy teams are, how available pitchers are, and how well they are pitching.

DCG: Daniel: This has to be the last hurrah for Nootbaar, no? Not all the hopes and prayers and reading the tea leaves of exit velocities is going to turn him into a core player. It's year five, he's approaching 28. He is what he is. Time to move on. I'd rather see a guy like Church get a lot of ABs after the ASG and see if his breakout year is for real. I think the Cardinals' goal needs to be to leave 2025 with as few unknowns as possible.

Guerrero: I don’t think that is the case for Nootbaar. He should still be a regular as he gets a chance to rebound after the All-Star break. I get the eagerness to see what else the system can provide but I don’t think cutting Nootbaar’s runway short to, in this scenario, bring up an outfielder who has 25 Triple-A games under his belt would make sense to me. I still think you have to let Nootbaar get that full season in to get a full read on him. That’s the difficult part of the stated goal of this season and where the Cardinals are in the standings.

Evan: What exactly are the options being considered for Fedde? There is zero trade value there, even if they just want to offload the remainder of his meager salary. Besides a DFA/release, what can they even do with him? Keep him on the roster and skip his turn in the rotation so he can figure things out? Send him to the bullpen? Would they keep him on the roster at this point because they are still worried about AAA SP depth? Can't imagine that whoever is behind McGreevy as the next man up can do much worse at this point.

Guerrero: To what you noted about the next pitcher behind McGreevy, one way I’ve looked at is not so much of how much worse would they be but rather what is the best spot for them right now. Outside of McGreevy, the starting prospects on the 40-man don’t appear to be ready. One (Sem Robberse) was knocked out for the year because of injury and others, like Tink Hence and Tekoah Roby, still need to make up for innings in the minors after being sidelined in each of the past two seasons. I don’t think rushing someone to the majors would be the wise move for their long-term development. As for Fedde, the Cardinals could have him skip his next start and use McGreevy in a spot start that day. That is one option. I think we will learn more in the coming days about what the club may do.

ud: I have to give you credit for your response last week to my question about holes in the 40 man roster. You said starting pitching and since then Fedde and Mikolas have been terrible and McGreevy got shelled in Nashville. So now my question is, is one starter acquired by the deadline enough to keep this team afloat? The harder question is will they keep running Fedde and Mikolas out there if they keep giving up crooked number after crooked number inning after inning?

Guerrero: I think an additional arm could help most teams and in this case could help the Cardinals in the now, but I don’t think it helps them with the objective for the season they set out before spring training started. Adding a veteran arm that is a rental or who is one a short-term deal could not only cost the Cardinals prospects but also take away innings from a young player they want to get a clear picture of. Up to this point, McGreevy’s runway in the majors has been limited. If the goal is still to see what you have going into next year, adding a starter may not help with that even if it does over the next couple of months.

MFOOZ: Daniel, it's been four years since the big MiLB re-org. Have you seen any big differences in the guys coming up? I imagine it's been good for some and not so good for others (talking about owners and colleges, as well as the players).

Guerrero: I think the biggest difference I’ve seen with the farm coming out of 2020 and into the 2021 season, when Palm Beach became Low-A and Peoria became High-A, is the overall success of the farm teams as a whole. I’m not talking about the individual talent that has come up, but the team success. Low-A Palm Beach has been a consistent playoff team since Gary Kendall became manager and won the Florida State League title last year despite the constantly changing roster. Double-A Springfield, under former manager Jose Leger and current manager Patrick Anderson, has consistently made the playoffs, too. I think that there’s a value in winning as an organization that helps with prospect development. That success has come after a dreadful 2021 when the Cardinals affiliates combined for a .394 winning percentage that, per Baseball America, marked the lowest in the modern era of the minors dating back to 1963. The Cardinals tried to move guys too quickly up a level coming out of the pandemic-canceled season in 2020, but have now seen affiliates produce winning seasons since the start of 2022.

South City Steve: With the lack of organizational pitching depth, you'd think this winter Bloom would want to fortify the top of this rotation to the point where 2x a week you are getting Gray and Gray 2.0 (or better), followed by Liberatore and so on. So at least you have two slump busters back to back.

Guerrero: By saying this winter, I imagine you mean in free agency or on the trade market. Considering the new regime hasn’t taken over and we haven’t reached the offseason yet, I feel like how Bloom could navigate the first offseason as president of baseball operations for the Cardinals is a bit of an unknown. Obviously, that approach would be influenced by the ownership’s approach. But if you’re going to try and find a Gray 2.0, that would come at a price, whether that be dollars or prospects. I just don’t see the Cardinals pulling from their farm system when it has been an important aspect of Bloom coming to ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½.

Jim: Any thoughts if the Cards move Matz, does that open a bullpen spot for Graceffo?

³Ò³Ü±ð°ù°ù±ð°ù´Ç:ÌýRegardless of handedness, Graceffo being able to provide multiple and work in shorter stints would make him a candidate to fill a role like that IF it opens up.

Guerrero: My apologies for the gap in responses. We have some news: top Cardinals prospect JJ Wetherholt was promoted to Class AAA Memphis. Story will be up at STL Today dot com shortly.

Ben: Hey Daniel, thanks for the great work and ongoing coverage! With all the Wetherholt talk here, any insights as to why he isn't in Memphis at this point?

Guerrero: Looks like we have some resolution to this question...

Guerrero: Ok, with that being said, I need to update the news story on Wetherholt and must end that chat here. Thanks to everyone for participating. Apologies if I couldn’t get to your question or comment. As always, we appreciate the engagement and the readership. The Cardinals return to Busch Stadium tomorrow for one more homestand before the All-Star break. We’ll have you covered here at STL Today dot com and in the pages of the Post-Dispatch. Hope the rest of the week goes well for everyone. Best, Daniel Guerrero.

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