Salutations. Back at the keyboard after a weekend away from the ballpark, and what a weekend the Cardinals had at the ballpark. The Cardinals end their skid against the New York Mets with a strong doubleheader sweep at Busch Stadium, their second doubleheader sweep of the past week.
My colleague, baseball writer Daniel Guerrero, had all of the coverage and details on the highlights (expect to see that Nolan Arenado catch a lot in the coming days). Expect some updated info on Masyn Winn's ankle through the course of the chat, and the Cardinals are going to refresh the bullpen again today, too, with Gordon Graceffo poised for a return after his impressive five innings for the Cardinals this past week in Cincinnati.
You've got questions.
I've had a weekend of beignets, crawfish bread, Crawfish Monica, po-boys with debris, and live music to prepare for this chat, so bring the Tabasco and let's go ...آ آ آ
A complete transcript of the chat will be available below this window in the format you're used to with all of the other articles on StlToday. Questions are not edited for spelling or grammar. They are ignored for threats of violence or vulgarity.
Ben: Hey DG, thanks as always. Any further updates on Masyn Winn? Had heard that we'd know more after the game, and I think all that was said is "mild" sprain. That mean a day or two off at this point?
DG: We'll know more when the team does -- and that's going to happen this afternoon. With an injury like that, the player might get some treatment, see how it takes, and most of all see what it's like a day after the rest. He'll have about 24 hours between injury and then getting to the ballpark today to test it out at Busch Stadium. There will be a lot decided by the team and player once he's testing the joint -- or how it feels when he gets the day going. Swelling overnight could cause more stiffness. Treatment could reduce that and give him range of motion. Take the day. Find out at the ballpark. That's the usual rhythm of a "mild" sprain, and there may be a scan taken in there too just to see if there's any damage. Hope that helps.
KC Dave: Hi DG. T Saggese has been described as another Donnie, (multi positional). IF that is potentially true, shouldn't the Cardinals start findin him time in the OF while he is in Memphis?
DG: That is possible and it has been discussed. That will show up in the box score long after he's taking fly balls in the outfield during batting practice, and then he'll appear in games. But ... as of right now the Cardinals want Saggese to get the work at shortstop because he and Jose Barrero are the backups for Masyn Winn, and Winn misses time (see above, see later today) then you've got Saggese as the backup who can move between levels, which is valuable, and you'll see the focus being on the infield for him for that reason.
milyabe: Transactions page is showing Roddery Munoz was optioned today. Any chance McGreevy stays with the big club?
DG: Roddery Munoz had quite the transaction weekend. He was the 27th player for the doubleheader Sunday just after being optioned out to make room for McGreevy on the roster. The transaction you're seeing is the one required to return him to the minors after the doubleheader, and, yes, that means he's not eligible to return for several days (unless there's another doubleheader). The Cardinals were discussing a refresh move last night, and the expectation is that Graceffo gets the call -- he's ready, he impressed last week, and he can fill some innings. McGreevy would be out for a few days, so the Cardinals must measure availability for the coming days against a shorter bullpen. It sure lines up for a swap of right-handers after strong appearances by both in the past week, just because of availability.
Ryan: I am confused on the usage of Helsley. They're doing a reset were told, wins and losses are not as important as seeing what we have and giving runway to younger players. Then why have a closer who never pitches except with a lead in the 9th inning? Would seem to me that spot on the 26 man could be used to see what you have in multiple other guys in Memphis or Springfield.
DG: I guess. I'm not sure what you would do with Helsley in this plan. Trade him? Wait, that is the Cardinals' plan at the moment. There are two factors in play here. 1) The Cardinals and Helsley saw great return last year on committing to him in a classic closer role, and it paid off with a club record total for saves. Both sides want to see that same health and success again while realizing this team might not win as many games and thus need as many saves. (It also might score more runs ...) So they're sticking with that plan that got the best out of Helsley last year, even though the results in the standings may be different. 2) If that approach allowed him to set a club record for saves, imagine what that will do for increasing his value at the trade deadline for a team looking to add a light's reliever -- one of the best in his role -- who doesn't have the mileage and is ready to be a factor down the stretch because the Cardinals have committed to this. That is part of the asking price they can set if moved to trade him. That benefits Helsley too because he'll go to a contender and he'll hit the open market as a free agent this winter with health and without a qualifying offer to drag down the salary offers from teams. Win-win even with less wins.
Cardinal Bob: Cards have shown some life at times. Most fans I talk to don’t think Mo wants to even try to win this year. What’s the chance he might make a small move to improve the team? Fans love to watch Nolan A. Does Mo realize that? Thank you.
DG: I imagine that most fans feel that way because they've heard Mozeliak say exactly that -- and then back that up with the team's actions. Can't say the Cardinals didn't warn the fans they weren't looking to spend this year and then didn't. There's some internal pressure that the Cardinals are a move or two away from being a contender within the division. So far there's been no budge from the team's approach -- unless you want to count signing Phil Maton, and that's your call. I'd be reluctant to do so. To jar the Cardinals from their cost-cut, "transition" it sure seems like it's going to take a run by this team right into the mix atop the NL Central -- not orbiting .500. Can they do that? Sure. The youth can surge. Nolan Arenado can provide that fuel on the field. And they can put it together -- bringing the decision to the front office: The team needs a move or two to be a contender and will that engage the fans to then show up in greater numbers? We'll see. If that happens, it will be a fascinating decision that the play of the players -- the performance on the field -- will have forced the front office in the suite to make.
South City Steve: The Cardinals trimmed payroll by $60m last winter, there is another $45m in expiring contracts coming off the books next winter. What keeps DeWitt from giving new POBO Bloom the green light to spend aggressively to acquire the elite pitcher and elite bat that may be the difference in missing the playoffs or making a dent in October in 2026?
DG: Nothing.
Just their own choices.
(Quick note: They ended up cutting about $36 million from one year's opening day roster to the next, per Post-Dispatch reporting. We'll see what that means for the 40-player spending, but too often the end-of-year 40-player spending is compared to the opening day spending, and since one is 40 players and the other is 26 players -- plus injury list -- of course that cut is going to be steep in some cases. Just FYI.)
milyabe: I read in Daniel's article that the Cards are leading MLB in OAA. Are fans and national media sleeping on the Cards' defense? I'm surprised I don't hear more talk about it (excepting yesterday's fantastic displays).
DG: I'm not sure. The local media, as you note, has been writing about it for several weeks, including stories on Walker in RF and the defense elsewhere on the field, and then there's Nootbaar and his defensive metrics that have been good. I cannot speak for the national media. Maybe more need to subscribe the the Post-Dispatch's baseball newsletter, where defense was a topic several weeks ago as the Cardinals moved toward the lead in Defensive Runs Saved, too.
Spork: Going into this season, I had kind of written Libertore off as a long reliever/ spot starter at best. But so far this year it seems like he has really stepped up his game. What has he changed to make this jump, and do you think it's sustainable? Do you think this is his ceiling, or does he have more room to improve?
DG: This, today, is not his ceiling. Matthew Liberatore has more upside than this, especially as he gets the innings to continue to improve as a starter. He's been assertive and effective with his breaking ball, and since he's able to throw that slider and curve in addition to other pitches, the hitter has to respect his velocity but be ready for the breaking ball -- and cannot ignore either of them. That's the big stride for him. He's got different looks that he can throw for strikes and sustained velocity of that fastball, and that allows him to face a hitter a few times. Before, he might have those bursts of velocity, but if it sagged or the breaking ball wasn't in the zone, then hitters really didn't have to prepare for much from him.
It's also worth knowing that Liberatore is a fastidious student of the game. One of the things he does is he tracks the execution of all of his pitches. He's not looking for results, but did he execute what he wanted to on each pitch. He then looks at was the pitch call right or wrong, and notes that sometimes he executes a pitch and gets hit, and there are times he does not execute and gets away with it. This is only one example of how he's working to learn from every time out to be better the next and that's seen how this benefits him.
So have we.
Michael: Absent injury, can McGreevy crack the MLB rotation?
DG: He earned it coming out of spring training, and if there's a trade of one starter -- or lengthy stumble the team cannot ignore -- then he's the call. Sure he can.
Tbird728: McGreevy seems more than ready to be an MLB starter. Is there no move the Cards can make now to get him the starting rotation? Or will this not happen until the trade deadline when they trade Fedde, Mikolas and Matz?
DG: They can make a trade at any point. They may not get the return they want if they look desperate to do so. Good bet they won't. Fedde hasn't pitched as well as teams want to see, and there's the concern that he'll wear down like he did last season, so teams are going to want to see evidence that's the starter from 2024 White Sox not starter from the previous years with the Nationals. I've talked to a few scouts who are intrigued by how the Cardinals are using Steven Matz. They expected the Cardinals to use him as a starter to give him that stage to invite interest and increase what they could ask for him -- as a starter, not as a swingman. Some teams already saw him as a reliever for their bullpen, and so they're seeing some of that too. Matz's overall performance is drawing attention, and we'll see if that draws interest and offers. Would be interesting if the Cardinals by using Matz as protection for the rotation and a sixth starter might have actually increased the view of him from contending teams.
Michael: What about Quinn Mathews, or is he still a year away?
DG: He may be less than a year away, but he's on the doorstep, not yet. He needs the time in Class AAA Memphis to start seeing some of the results and benefit from the experience that the pitchers just ahead of him are showing the value of.
Jim from DeBary FL: I've been a Cardinals fan since 1967. I have great respect and affection for Willie McGee. Having said that, I do note the improved outfield defense, particularly in the case of Jordan Walker. Was this one of the reasons that Jon Jay was brought in, with Willie being moved out of that position. Certainly Jon can't claim all the credit, as Willie deserves some. But was the feeling that Jon could better relate to the young fielders?
DG: This is a great and fair question, and the answer is more nuanced than just Coach A or Coach B. It is, as you mention toward the end, more of a blend, and you touch on something that definitely was the reason Jon Jay was hired -- and it wasn't anything about outfield defense as much as it was exactly as you said: relating to players. Not that Willie McGee did not. But just how Jon Jay does. He's demanding and creative in a way that a player with recent experience and experience outside of the Cardinals can be. He also benefits from a receptive group because they've been told this season is their chance to prove what they can do. It's a slight twist, but consider when your Jordan Walker on a contending team and don't want to make a mistake that is costly vs. Jordan Walker on a development team told to be more aggressive and try to make outs. That's what has happened.
Some additional info ...
Willie McGee wanted more time at home with his family, and specifically saw this season as a time to do that. He's reduced his role and travel this year, though I spoke with him during spring training and he's hoping to travel more, be around the minors more next year. And he thrilled for the chance to be more of a teacher and less of the major-league demands that included "arts and crafts" for all the defensive positioning, etc. And the hours.
One other quick thing ... The Cardinals knew what kind of team they'd have this year, and one of the traits they wanted to develop within this group was some feistiness, some scrap, some underdog mentality, and there was belief internally that Jon Jay would help bring some of that because of his personality and his own career. How many times did the Cardinals start the year with someone else at center field, only to have Jay overtake that person by the end of the season as a starter? It happened several times. He and Daniel Descalso are close friends, and Jay got into the mix as a coach thanks to Skip Schumaker hiring him in Miami. His enthusiasm and how he pushed as a player were appealing traits for a young team, and that's not isolated to the outfielders.
Ryan: Did you ever find out what was coming back from Houston in the nixed Arenado deal?
DG: I did not. I know at one point in those trade talks, Lance McCullers Jr. was discussed. He had not pitched since 2022 due to injuries and surgeries, and just returned this past week. It was not a haul coming to the Cardinals at all, nor did it include like a leading prospect, just FYI.
Ryan: Maybe it will all work out for the Cards and Arenado. Muncy is in a big slump in LA. A win-win. Would help if he'd pop a few more HR's. On pace for 15. That's a little light for a 3rd baseman.
DG: Worth watching, for sure.
Craftyrighthander: Michael McGreevy (hands clapping) . . . Michael McGreevy (hand clapping). I just like this guy, and his attitude is great. I'm assuming that Mo and Chaim are reading the chat, and I wanted to give them my opinion. On another topic, how is Victor Scott viewed around the league? As always, thanks for the coverage. We are spoiled.
DG: I honestly would not presume that John Mozeliak or Chaim Bloom read the chat. (Remember when Mozeliak hosted the chat once -- that was a doozy.) Maybe your comment will get back to them.
Interesting question on Victor Scott II. I'll be honest, I haven't canvassed to many other teams about Scott. I'm just being upfront here that he's not a player I've asked other teams a lot about. That said, a few scouts with other teams noted how less rigid he appeared in his play everywhere -- more confident on the bases, more athletic in the batter's box, more daring in the outfield. During spring, one scout mentioned how much prepared Scott looked to handle a variety of ways teams might attack him, and that he was no longer overmatched or vulnerable to pitches that big leaguers could execute. He was showing more dimensions of his game, and I think we can all see how other teams are aware of him. That's a compliment. You can tell in games that other teams are paying attention to him.
Ben: Can you refresh me on what the draft lottery rules are for how often a team can be in it? Given the talks about the team's commitment to winning this year, talks of selling at the deadline, etc., it gave me pause - I know that rules changed with the new CBA in an effort to curb "tanking" and wondered how that might affect what pick StL can get given they've been a "lottery" team for a couple years in a row?
DG: Great question. Short answer: It shouldn't. The lottery determines the top six picks in the draft, so the Cardinals finished outside the lottery in 2024 when they picked 7th and selected JJ Wetherholt. The lottery was very good to them in 2025 as they finished with a winning record, and yet vaulted ahead of other teams to get the No. 5 pick for this July. It helped, for example, that the White Sox were not eligible for the lottery after the worst season like ever. Why? They had a lottery pick in 2024 and because they are a "payor" into revenue sharing -- that is a team that gives rather than receives --- they were not eligible for a lottery pick in back-to-back years. Teams that receive revenue sharing cannot get a lottery pick in more than two consecutive years. The Cardinals are not going to be a payor, and they'll likely receive revenue sharing so if they do get a lottery pick for 2026 that would likely mean they could in 2027. And then the CBA could make a new draft model by then.
JP in TN: Have you heard any names the Cardinals are linked to in the draft that you feel are legitimate?
DG: Ethan Holliday is obviously legit. Does he get to No. 5? That sure seems unlikely with talk of him going No. 1 and the Rockies picking there at No. 2. As for names ... Talking with knowledgeable folk outside of the Cardinals, they believe there will be three or four strong college bats/position players available for them, and this is of interest to the Cardinals. Wake Forest shortstop Marek Houston is one, as is Oregon State's Aiva Arquette, and Texas A&M's Jace LaViolette. Real eager to see where LaViolette's stock goes in the coming weeks because it wasn't too long ago he was being described as a candidate for No. 1 overall. And we all know how difficult it is to find an impact bat outside of the top 10 ...
Tackleberry: Is it wrong to presume that the middle-aisle free agent shopping model ends with Mo’s exit? I assume Bloom would prefer to build it before buying it but if he buys it, it will never be Soto but it also won’t be Fowler either. Fair?
DG: It is indeed wrong to presume that.
What you describe is in the eye of the beholder, and as long as you rule out shopping for the Sotos of the market -- that is an entirely fair thing to rule out for the Cardinals -- then you'll always have criticism that they're shopping in the "middle aisle" because that is where the team/roster will have to find talent, and the definition of what constitutes the "middle aisle" will likely shift on social media to feed the same criticism regardless of who leads the front office.
(Aside: Chaim Bloom signed Trevor Story to a six-year, $140-million deal with the Red Sox, and Story told reporters that there was a 'shared blame' on him and others for Bloom's firing. Would the Story deal count as a middle-aisle move in this marketplace?)
DCG: I thought Matthews was dealing with a shoulder issue. Is that cleared up? Please say yes.
DG: I cannot say yes because that would be untrue. He remains on the injured list in the minors, working his way back from and through the shoulder concern. He's into a throwing program now, which is the phase before returning to game action.
Jim from DeBary FL: I asked this question probably in your last chat. Now that Daniel Guerrero has joined you in reporting on the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals, what is the status for the paper on reporting of the players in the minors. I enjoyed the updates Daniel provided in prior years. Now, we get very little of the day-to-day performance, good or bad, of the minor leaguers.
DG: Look for an answer to this question soon. Yes, we have one fewer person on the beat now with the welcome promotion of Lynn Worthy to sports columnist. But we have a plan in place for how to provide minor-league coverage in the near future. With one fewer person on the beat, we've added a video component and a newsletter, plus some other day-to-day expansion, so we wanted to get our stride going there -- and then, in the near future, resume some of the reports that you're describing. That's the goal, and it's soon to begin. In the past two months, that info has been tucked into other articles.
Sue: Hi Derrick, thanks for this chat. I know it's probably not something you can ask, and probably not something a player would want to answer, but do you see any scenarios where Contreras, Grey or Mikolas would be open for a trade come July? I appreciate that they wanted to stay and be part of the rebuild, but at some point going to a contending team might outweigh that? Or no. What say you.
DG: I absolutely can and have asked. That is an entirely fair question to ask -- and it will be explored again depending on where the Cardinals are in the standings and where those players are in their performance as July arrives. That will not just be a question a reporter asks, but it's likely to be one that the Cardinals' front office will also ask of them. I think the answers are going to vary for sure, and there are so many variables. Mikolas may want to pursue a championship if possible; location is going to be key for Sonny Gray as his interest would be limited to a few teams if geography guides his interest. Contreras has been very open about his commitment to this team and why he stayed and what he wants to achieve. There are overlaps there with Arenado, honestly. They both know how player performance contributed to getting the Cardinals into this "reset" and want to see if player performance can yank them out of it, too.
JB: Why can't the Cardinals both compete this year and provide a "runway" for their young players to develop? The team could be more competitive if it had reliable bullpen arms beyond Helsley, Maton, and Leahy. It wouldn't cost much to make that upgrade. And given the volatility of bullpen arms from season to season, the young bullpen arms arguably shouldn't be prioritized for development in the same way as the position players and starters.
DG: Why not indeed.
That is a completely fair and defendable thing to expect from the أغر؟´«أ½ Cardinals. The answer is, in part, that the "reset" or "runway" or "transition" is the action that they're taking on the field, while the motivation off the field was exactly what it was -- cutting costs. Trimming payroll. Reducing salaries. Sure, they wanted to adjust expectations and see what happened with young players if given the "runway" without the pressure of contention, but the purpose for this is reducing payroll and resetting for a new front office, in that order.
Tackleberry: 100%! I guess most fans just don’t want to see a Harper or Scherzer opportunity pass by again. Those were both gross miscalculations by DeWitt and Mo. They over-rated their internal options and pivoted to external “B†options, neither of which was close to successful.
DG: I find it difficult to call 2022 NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt and his NL MVP finalist pal Nolan Arenado ... checks notes ... "B options" let alone unsuccessful. That is, unless -- and this would be a fair metric if applied consistently -- anything less than an NL pennant is unsuccessful.
I don't recall the B option to Max Scherzer, except there really wasn't one except for the team's risk-adverse stance against long-term pitching signings. You're right about internal options. That is where they put their bet for the most part with pitching, and it caught up with them over and over -- and they acknowledge, on the record, that not even trying to sign Scherzer was a miss on their part. That said, Scherzer and Harper are both the Sotos of their free-agent classes ...
bob: I hope Arenado finish his career with the Cardinals
DG: Would be interesting if that's where this goes. I wondered at the start of the season if the fact they didn't trade Arenado this winter is the difference between him getting a red jacket and him not in the future.
Capstone: Two questions, one serious, one more light-hearted. Serious one: both Gorman and Walker have batting/hitting holes -- is early pitch recognition something they need to work on, even more than mechanics? Light one: on Cardinals insignia, the bird has a yellow beak. Actual birds have deep orange-red beaks. Is the color just for aesthetics on insignia rather than accuracy? You can tell I'm pesky...
DG: I actually have a great answer for the beak, and it's part of a chapter in a book I wrote many years ago. (Insert plug here.) I'll get to that in a moment ...
1) Yes, to both, and yes they are working on both. For Walker it has been about identifying pitches and picking up how teams are pitching him and not reaching, fishing, etc. for it. Some of that is also mechanical as you can see from where his stance is now related to plate, its openness, etc. So he's adjusted mechanically to give himself a better chance at pitch recognition. Gorman's was more mechanical because he had to close the hole being exploited by other teams, and he made strides do that with the pitches high in the zone that his swing path put him behind. He's made improvements there. Regardless, the answer to your question is both of those things and they're being worked on.
2) Regarding the yellow. So, yes, this is something that team president Bill DeWitt III first brought up when his family became an owner of the team. You can look back in those first few years of the DeWitt ownership, and the beak was red in the logo. Seriously, go check. DeWitt said he wanted a more accurate look to the bird -- and yes, was trying to look at a two-color logo not three-color logo. (No., they weren't going to change the color of the bat, but the bird alone ...) Well, as you can imagine there was push back, and people wondered where the yellow beak went, and there were even chairs in the team's clubhouse that one had yellow and the other red, depending on the year of logo they used. DeWitt wrestled with this -- and then here's the story that he told me and even laughed as he did. He was at his kitchen window, and a cardinal landed on the branch outside, and sure enough it did look like a yellow beak from his angle. So back the yellow beak came, and has stayed.
Bake21: Hey Derek. The two players most mentioned in this re-set were Walker and Gorman. Now 30 games in they are both really struggling offensively. I know they are young and they have shown flashes in the past. But if things don't improve there has to be a point in time where the Cardinals say it isn't working. Do you think they are committing the whole season to them or is there a date they might decide to pivot to another direction, like say the trade deadline?
DG: They are, as of last check, committing this entire season to determine where they (and others) fit into the future of the organization. That is the runway, that is the plan, and with two first-round picks, that is understandable.
Millo Miller: Derrick greetings today. Big sweep yesterday. Looking ahead to 2026 a top of the rotation of Gray, Liberatore, McGreevy, and Pallante give you a pretty solid rotation. It's looking like both Liberatore and McGreevy will be able to work deep into games, I'm talking 6 plus innings. Pallante at best is a 6 inning pitcher and Gray because of his pitching approach 5 plus innings. I hope they keep Helsley and from a pitching stand point, they are not that far off from contending. Your thoughts please and thank you
DG: That seems like the beginning of a staff. Adding a surefire workhorse that frees the bullpen of use every five days would be a welcome addition -- but I also understand that it may be a nostalgic addition and the game is moving away from that. OK, cool. Fine. But then the bullpen is going to need more answers than the Cardinals have at the moment. This season, the team realized that the bullpen was likely going to be vulnerable in the seventh inning with Maton as the setup and uncertainty around him. That is what has happened. Look at the Dodgers moves to beef-up their bullpen this past winter, and unless the Cardinals have those internal answers and depth because of volatility then you're outlining a pitching staff there that has the makings -- but not the middle. And the middle is vulnerable and the middle is where games will be lost.
Ben: Not to make more out of it than it is until we find out more, but if Winn was banged up enough to warrant an IL trip, do you think StL brings back Saggese or gives Barrero some run there given he’s already here?
DG: Both would make sense as the move.
John George: I'm always reading about Exit Velocity from a batters bat. If the great Bob Gibson was still here with us, I wonder if what he would say if a reporter asked him if he ever had problems with certain players he pitched against with their Exit Velocity? In my minds eye, I see him smiling at that question. He would probably say something about his exit velocity when he'[s pitching. Ya Gotta Love Bob Gibson.
DG: I imagine it would all be in the delivery, no pun intended. If you asked the late great Bob Gibson about exit velocity, he might say something about how quickly the batter leaves the box after a strike out.
But if you take today's modern, measurable lingo and try to find the equivalent from his era, you might ask him about how he felt about hitters who always seemed to "barrel" his pitches or "drive" the pitches or hit him hard. Or, you might say, hey, are there hitters who just seem to make a different sound off the bat against you? That's exit velocity. Just goes by a different name ...
milyabe: On the broadcast yesterday, they said the team had identified a "mechanical" issue with JoJo's delivery. Am I being recklessly optimistic to think he's turned a corner?
DG: Probably not "recklessly."
mikemk: Can trading any of the starters bring some noteworthy bullpen arms? Could Helsley bring two good BP arms?
DG: Yes, sure, but the Cardinals should set a higher price. Helsley should command a bigger (maybe younger, higher upside) return.
As mentioned earlier in the chat ... the most likely move has happened.
Michael McGreevy optioned.
Gordon Graceffo promoted.
jm: I don't like saying this because I want the guy to succeed but Jordan Walker still looks lost at the plate, swatting and missing at low outside pitches and taking fastballs down the middle. He seems to have limited pitch recognition. I know he has little or no trade value and his prior back and forth between memphis and STL didn't do him any good. Is it best to just let it play out or maybe give another prospect a chance in RF for some time of Jprdan doesn't "get it" soon. your thoughts?
DG: The plan right now is to let him play through this, give him the support off the field and instruction and guidance that leads to improvement, and that's what they're all trying to do, Walker included. I think it is incorrect to say he "has little or no trade value." He has that. Do you think the Cardinals should explore that?
JB: Victor Scott II is the one young position player who has seized the runway given to him by the Cardinals and taken off for flight. Has his early season success changed the Cardinals' projection for him? He looks like he has an approach at the plate that is sustainable. And he can affect a game running the bases and in the outfield, much like Tommy Edman did for the Cardinals in CF.
DG: Projections remain the same. They've been high on him for a few years and how his game could come together. The question was always going to be how often he got on base and the ways he could do that to be a .330 OBP, .350 OBP, etc., and where that number had to be for him to be a big-leaguer. It is currently .356 and that is an everyday centerfielder with impact speed for a lineup.
Bret S: I know it's VERY early - but rank in order of probability which players get moved before the deadline - Fedde, Arenado, Helsley, Matz?
DG: Matz, Helsley, Fedde, Arenado. That is subject to change every week. And it's as probably they all will be traded as it is that only one will be. Keep that in mind.
Ryan: I'm sure you'll get this a lot today, but man. Walker and Gorman look all out of sorts at the plate. Walker has an ops .535 and ops+ of 51 and Gorman ops .574 and I think 1 for his last 21 and a ops+ of 61. Also, Gorman will be 25 in a few days. Hypothetically, is it possible they bet on the wrong guys. It's interesting they get this kind of run, but Sagesse can't find a spot. Very interesting...
DG: That's not a hypothetical for the Cardinals. That is one of the outcomes of this summer, and it's the one that we've tried to explore in the coverage, more recently in a discussion on the podcast about what if the answer for the Cardinals after all this is that they don't have the core they expected and they have to get it from outside or only see it coming in the future? When the Cardinals say they want to spend this year to determine what they have and give playing time to young players to show them what they have, the answer can be ... they don't have what they thought, and they don't have enough to contend. That is a possible outcome, and fans should be aware of that.
Bryan: When will Ivan Herrera be activated from the DL?
DG: Soon. This is on the horizon.
jb: You mentioned the welcome addition of Lynn Worthy as a columnist -- just wanted to say that I second that assessment. He has been on fire lately. Enjoy reading each one -- quickly becoming a can't miss column. Kudos to the P-D for choosing him to succeed BenFred!
DG: Great to hear. Great addition, indeed. Thank you for reading the coverage.
SpringfieldTopher: Happy Monday! Could you see the Cards hiring Yadi as the manager this off season just to fill some seats? If you take this exact team and add Yadi as the manager that would be enough to grow attendance I am certain.
DG: No. I do not see that as motivation or reasoning for such a move.
Ryan: I can see your point on Helsley for the Cards to see what he brings at the deadline. although recent deals ( see Hader, Josh ) may not be as be a great as some think and he's not Hader, sorry. My question would be why the wait with Fedde? There was no guarantee they he'd look better this year than last. Now, he's not going to fetch much. There was no real gain there so why the risk?
DG: Wait ... what? The Josh Hader deal "may not be as great as some think." Let's check in on that. The Brewers traded Hader to San Diego for four players: Robert Gasser, Dinelson Lamet, Taylor Rogers, and Esteury Ruiz. Granted, Lamet was quickly removed from the roster and had his best time behind him with the Padres. The rest?
All Esteury Ruiz did was lead the American League with 67 steals this past season. That .309 OBP isn't great at all, and as the A's have improved his playing time is minimal.
Taylor Rogers scored a three-year, $33-million deal, and he's a strong reliever, who the Brewers had first chance to keep.
Robert Gasser is currently on the 60-day injured list, but the lefty was a top-100 prospect, and he'll make an impact for the Brewers at some point this year.
So, for one player -- a closer -- the Brewers got at least two contributors, and that is a fine return on that deal. Sure seems like the Cardinals could aim for a similar return, and then in hindsight we'll see how it turns out because in hindsight we'll have more info than anyone does today.
As for Fedde ... it takes two to tango and if the Cardinals want a return based on how he pitched at his best last year and teams are offering how he's pitching now, you can see how it might take time or the pressure of a deadline to make a deal happen.
Bryan: Any chance the Cardinals trade Steven Matz to a contender this month? Are the Cardinals just going to wait until the trade deadline and hope to make any big trades then?
DG: This month? I don't know. There hasn't been anything in the past week that gives me any info like that to report. The Cardinals are not "just going to wait" for the trade deadline to make moves. They may not make a move until June but that's in part because of the standings and in larger part about how teams use the first months to see what they have in house before going shopping elsewhere.
Biff: All this trade talk, but since it's going to affect the future, who is going to make those trade decisions, Mo, Blum. or a committie?
DG: Mozeliak is in charge, but he has said that any deal that impacts the future of the team and the group that Bloom will inherit will involve Bloom. Ownership also has a say, as you'd expect. Not committee. But more coalition. Arrive at an agreed-upon decision with input from all over. Same as usual, just different voices at the table with Bloom involved.
Bryan: Luken Baker would be a good cheap fit for the Red Sox at first base. I know the Cardinals would not get much in return. That would give him a real chance to be a regular. Your thoughts on this please?
DG: I don't think the Cardinals should make a trade out of courtesy to another team. To a player? Makes for a good story. Makes a for a better team if they get a good return. Baker comes with many years of control and solid power, so they shouldn't just get cash and warm feelings for him. I've not been able to connect him to Red Sox at all, not even as Boston does search for what they'll do at first base.
Chris: Where did that 99MPH come from for Graceffo last week? He's not shown anything near that in his past call ups. Did he change something?
DG: He spent the winter working through some mechanical adjustments and approaches that unlocked the velocity, increased it, and the question became could he do it consistently. It was there in flashes before, but just not that much sizzle. He has that signature delivery, right? And so it took some time -- he said this past week -- to put together what he was working, make it connect with his delivery, and then also see what it did when he was at season-level arm strength and stamina. It clicked, he said, during a recent Class AAA start, and then he got to let it loose in the major-league appearance. Revelatory. He also is throwing that harder, sharper breaking ball that he's been working on and was able to land with that hotter velocity, too. This is what he spent the winter trying to be ready to put together in the season, and he did -- not it becomes a question of doing it again and again. He gave a glimpse of why the Cardinals were really intrigued by the idea of him as a reliever who took over a leverage role at some point this season.
Paul W.: A quick note that 150 years ago on May 4, 1875, the first all-professional game was played in أغر؟´«أ½ between the St Louis Red Stockings and the St Louis Brown Stockings. Here we are, 150 years later, still talking baseball in أغر؟´«أ½!
DG: Fantastic. Thanks for sharing the history.
Bryan: It is early but Helsley and Fedde do not look like they are helping their trade value. Did the Cardinals hold on to them to long? Any chance Helsley is traded this month to one of the contenders that needs bull pen help?
DG: I disagree with the premise with the exception of the obvious risk to any pitcher -- injury. There's a better chance of getting a bigger return near the deadline for those two players than in the offseason when free agents are also available and teams are eager to dream on their prospects without the pressure of running out of games in the standings. A team looking to gear up for October is likely to pay a higher price than one gearing up for March.
Millo Miller: Derrick, I was watching the Braves the other night. The broadcasters were talking about the Dodgers signing pitchers that have been DFA'd or released and trusting in their player development to find solutions to their pitching problems. This makes them viable pieces to their pitching staff or valuable trade chips. Just shows why the Dodgers are the model franchise, plus with the money they can spend doesn't hurt either.
DG: The money they can spend makes that possible. It wasn't all that long ago that a member of the Class AAA Memphis coaching staff noted the millions of dollars the Dodgers had planted at their Class AAA affiliate and how that was different than other clubs because they could stockpile depth there by paying players a higher price while other teams had their farmhands. Dodgers use their financial might for sure.
Biff: DG, Who's making the decisions come trade time at the deadline?
DG: Collective effort.
South City Steve: A potpourri of Mikolas questions: 1. Is what we are seeing from his last 3 starts sustainable? 2. If he does hold up, will he do right by the team that has overpaid him for the last two years and waive his NTC at the deadline? 3. I may be off here, but it feels like he believes that if he sticks around that he’ll get to stick around beyond 2025. Does this pencil?
DG: 1) There are elements that certainly are. And this is the question I asked of Mikolas (who said yes) and of the manager (who said he's eager to see, but so far yes). He had good matchups and made the most of them. 2) That is such a fascinating way to put it -- that he owes the team? I don't get that. I'll ask him if this happens -- whether he'd pursue a chance to contend for a championship. I'm not going to guess his answer until I ask. 3) I cannot speak to why you feel that way. It sure doesn't seem that way to him, around him, or to others. He has made light of it a few times where he asked how well would he have to pitch for them to "let me stick around." Sure, he'd welcome it. He likes being a Cardinal. He likes having spring training in his backyard. But he's aware of the team and where it's headed and that Chaim Bloom will be making the call for 2026.
Joliet Dave: Is the 27th man call up available for both games of a double header?
DG: Not always. Depends on the situation, travel, and what the teams agree upon. The 27th man was only available for the second game in Cincinnati. Munoz was available for both games Sunday against the Mets.
DenMizzou: Hello, Mr. Goold. Thank you for the chat. I am joining late, so I apologize if this has been asked. If the Cardinals truly are committed to seeing what they have in their prospects, why aren't McGreevy and Graceoffo being given more opportunities to start in the majors? Or, do you anticipate that happening after the All-Star break? thank you.
DG: I understand that the answer isn't consistent with "reset" or "runway," and I understand that it's an answer that many fans won't like, but it is the answer and it's true throughout the majors: The Cardinals have starters ahead of them, and yes that is partially because they have sizeable contracts ahead of them. The Cardinals are paying Miles Mikolas to be a starter, just as they are for Fedde and Gray, and, to be candid, Matz. They're going to move all four or two of those other three out of the rotation to make room for the young starters. That they did it for Liberatore with Matz is surprising -- and it's paid off. But bumping Mikolas for McGreevy? Not likely. Bumping out Fedde for Graceffo? Maybe after trade ... The contract plays. It's the biggest truism in baseball. The money spent on a player is the biggest tell ever on what a team expects from a player. That is true when it comes to an extension given a veteran pitcher or a bonus giving a first-round pick. Playing time will follow. We see that this year, too.
Jim from DeBary FL: I saw earlier a suggested starting staff for 2026 by a chatter that included McGreevy but not Graceffo. Based on the performance of both, isn't it likely both would be in the rotation in 2026.
DG: Don't discount Graceffo taking over for Helsley at closer. Just saying.
Capstone: Assuming (a big assumption) that two of the three (Matz, Mikolas, Fedde) are traded, do Graceffo and McCreevy join the MlL roster as starters for the remainder of the season (all baring injury)? What is status p of Thompson on rehab?
DG: McGreevy does. For sure. The Cardinals have positioned him that way, and that was on their mind as they made other decisions around the rotation. Graceffo -- not so guaranteed for reasons mentioned just above. As for Zack Thompson -- he is into his throwing program that is about strengthening the shoulder, the area around the injury. As of last week, he was not yet throwing a baseball with intent, but was in the opening stages of that that throwing program.
Brad: Hi Derrick, Do you have any updates on Michael Girsch's special projects?
DG: From the last time you or someone asked? I'm not sure. When was the latest update? He was an active part in the interviews that the Cardinals did to expand significantly the staff sizes in the minors, and as the Cardinals rethink their internal structure -- what roles are missing? what job descriptions need updating? what jobs need creation and then job descriptions? what background is necessary to satisfy that job description? who are some folks who could do it and be pursued by the club? etc. etc. -- those are all some of the things he's been working on doing when it comes to changing, modernizing, expanding, and rethinking the infrastructure and staffing. You can decide if that's special. But it's a project.
AJ in NoVA: Hi Derrick, Thanks for doing the chat and providing in-depth coverage of the Cardinals and MLB.
I’ve seen and heard about the difference in payment between the old TV rights deal and the new deal for 2025. I also recall you saying that the old deal (which I believe ran through 2032) had not yet reached its most lucrative years. So I was wondering what is the dollar difference between the old TV deal and the new deal beyond 2025? My apologies if I missed an article.
DG: No need to apologize because that is an evolving answer. The new deal includes language that would change from year to year based on variables such as subscribers. How many people subscribe to the streaming app are going to influence the rights fee that is paid next year. Plus, there is language for the Cardinals to leap to a more lucrative model if that's in place for MLB in 2028, when MLB wants to bring all of the teams under a deal similar to what other leagues have. So, it's fluid. The word for this "optionality" within the new shorter term deal. Cardinals were expecting a $75 million payment this year. That was lopped down to about $57 million for 2025 (a 23% cut, per sources), and the difference between 2026 payouts is expected to be in that 24%-25% or more with a difference around $20 million based on the original deal. Again, factors should change that based on subscriptions, etc. And, yes, the Cardinals had not yet hit the most lucrative years of their deal, and now cutting back what they get also limits the growth based on year to year escalators.
Big Red One: Why did Mo hold on to Matz and Helsley? And is he committed to holding on until the trade deadline before making them available?
DG: To increase the return on the deal, risking injury, yes. He's open to discussing deals ahead of the trade deadline to see when the offer can be maximized, what the Cardinals have in place as a replacement, and what the standings are saying about the direction this season is headed.
Ben: I also wonder - not to shortchange either of them, but Jon Jay got more out of less in terms of fielding and athletic ability than did Willie McGee. Or maybe better stated - Willie McGee was so physically gifted with that speed as a fielder, Jon Jay became a good fielder without said benefit, so maybe that helps said teaching moments and being able to relate to a Walker, etc. Sort of like how we rarely see HoF caliber players ending up as successful coaches/managers in sports, but the great coaches come from backgrounds where the had to figure out other ways to stay on rosters. Both WM and JJ I'm had/have their positives as coaches, but JJ fits this developmental team best. Or at least that's what I've wondered.
DG: Or, hear me out, it's actually that players benefited from having both coaches in their lives. One offering a foundation as position switches happen, and the other connecting in a different way or with different expectations to unlock even more. Personalities also connect in different ways and different times -- a 20-year-old arriving in the majors needs someone different than the same player in the same majors but at 30. Outfielders aren't the result of one coach any more than any one of us is the result of a single teacher. It takes a village.
Millo Miller: Derrick to piggyback the question about Jon Jay being brought in as a coach. Wouldn't a pitching coach with major league experience be more beneficial for the young Cardinal pitchers? This is nothing against Dusty Blake. I was just wondering what his strengths are as a pitching coach? Also when does his contract expire and if it is at the end of the year could you see the Cardinals going a different way? Thanks
DG: Not necessarily. Not at all.
The Cardinals are not eager to go "a different way" at the moment because of the results. This could change at any minute, but for a moment look at the health over the past 14 months for the Cardinals pitchers compared to the trends. The pitchers are pointing this out, and that's even before you consider the leaps made for Pallante, Liberatore, and, yes, recently Mikolas. I believe Cardinals have a contract with Blake through 2026. (There may be a longer option there that I do not know, sorry. A good reminder to me to update my notes.) Good coaches have similar traits but I don't believe they have similar paths to get there. Every week there are a lot of questions about Mike Shildt and how well he's doing as manager, and he never played pro, let alone in the majors. There is value to a coach having experience on the mound or in the box or in the arena, but that's not the only path to being a superb coach. And sometimes it just takes opportunity to show that.
Brad: The Cardinals have a DH production problem, as in 3 rbi's for the season. Can you share Oli's DH philosophy with us, and possibly compare it with other teams like the Braves, or Dodgers? I would think you'd want more production than what the Cards have received. Is Herrera being talked about as an answer for the DH? Thanks.
DG: The Cardinals do have a DH problem, but this isn't the one I was thinking of. Yes, Ivan Herrera is part of the discussion at DH, but the preference would be to get his production at catcher because his production is above average there, and as you outline would his production at DH be league average? Less than? The offensive profile for the position is much higher than catcher, as it should be. And that si the DH problem the Cardinals have. They have a handful of players who are DHs without the DH production or clear position to play every day to fit the production they do have. That's their DH problem. Too many who fit. Too few who thrive.
JB: Do the Cardinals have any theories as to why their efforts to keep their pitchers healthy have been successful so far with their major league starters but unsuccessful with their top minor league starters (Thompson, Hence, Mathews, Hjerpe, to name a few)?
DG: They don't carve it up that way. It's more organization-wide. They do like the schedule and the conservative approach and hyper awareness they give to April and they've gotten good response to it, not just in the majors. That's just where we spend most of the time focused. That is the case with the minors, too. Several of the players you mention have an injury history that pre-date what has been done recently. Mathews is coming out of the most workload as a pro, and also he had so many innings on him in college that such a move to protect him from any soreness is obvious.
... It's time to relocate to the ballpark for some pre-game reporting and interviews. Will plunge back into the chat once I've done that. Let's see what updates I can bring back ...
***
Alright, and we're back for the kick to the finish here. Some updates on injuries/ailments:
Masyn Winn feels much better and expects to be available to play defense this evening, if needed. The preference for the team is to not need him in the field late in the game and to see how he feels tomorrow for a likely return to the lineup.
Ivan Herrera remains in Class AAA Memphis, where he continues to feel some soreness in his knee when running. He'll catch for the Redbirds on Tuesday and as he feels better running then he's going to be considered for a return.
And then one pitching note:
Gordon Graceffo will be used in short bursts to see how his stuff looks in those outings, and, yes, he's going to go right into higher leverage spots if necessary. They'd like to see Graceffo be part of the setup group -- and soon. As mentioned above.
Back into your questions.
Ben: Small sample size, obviously, but how would you rate Willson’s defense, thus far into the season, both individually new to the position and how he compares to others at first around the league?
DG: Solid. Athletic. Improving with each passing experience. Going to be a position he thrives at, it sure seems.
Johnson: Hi Derrick, how come Gorman and Walker aren't getting everyday starts (and I mean every day, 95% plus). I thought that was the plan, to get them 500 at bats?
DG: It is. There is still plenty of time for either of them or both of them to get that many plate appearances, for sure. Consider if they average 4 plate appearances over the remaining games, Walker would end up with 600 and Gorman would be around 550. Why aren't they playing every day? Well, no player does the 100%, and Gorman had his playing time squeezed some by an injury and then also Nolan Arenado being on the team and the starter. Now, they're prioritizing Gorman at DH or 2B, where he starts today. Walker is getting some time work on adjustments in the cage, and he'll start the next two days and could start all but one of the games on the upcoming road trip.
Uncle Redbird: Given the pending free agency for Fedde, Mikolas, and Matz, and the team's performance to date, do you foresee another winter similar to the Lynn and Gibson contracts? (1-year offers for veterans, but lesser salaries)
Seems like we'll continue to bridge the gap due to lack of competitiveness and starting pitching prospect ascendancy.
DG: I do not, no. Not if they feel they're further away from contending than just moves like that. That seems like something they're going to avoid under the umbrella of "payroll efficiency."
Greg: You mentioned that Herrera is nearing a return, and that makes me wonder about Yohel Pozo's status. He's obviously been a real contributor at the plate. Can he be optioned? If not, what's the Cardinals' move to ensure they don't lose him?
DG: He can be optioned.
Iowa fan: As of today (and pretend that everyone is healthy), what do you see as the Cards' best starting 9?
DG: Currently? All healthy? Let's see what this lineup could do ...
1. Nootbaar, RF
2. Herrera, C
3. Donovan, LF
4. Arenado, 3B
5. Contreras, 1B
6. Burleson, DH
7. Saggese, 2B
8. Scott II, CF
9. Winn, SS.
Millo Miller: Derrick, this question pertains to pitchers pregame. I've noticed a lot of pitchers do flat ground work in the outfield. Some working on pitches others working on command. Even certain starting pitchers throw from about 60 feet on flat ground before entering the bullpen to continue their pregame prep for the start that day. I also noticed Helsley doing flat ground work and not just lobbing the ball, and this is hours before he would possibly close a game out. Any input would be appreciated and thank you
DG: Most relievers do that daily, unless there is recent use that just assures they won't be available. For starters, this is part of their routine between starts, and it is a place to fiddle with a new pitch or work on the grip of an old pitch or whatever is necessary without the mound. For a reliever like Helsley and others, think of it as a mic check. They're out there checking how the arm feels and they do this enough in their life, in their careers that they can then signal to the manager or pitching coach, yep, feeling it today, available if needed. Or they can send up a warning if not.
Jim from DeBary FL: I don't have any animosity towards Mo, though I do feel he kind of squandered what he inherited as he took over as GM. I am curious as to what we see from Bloom after he takes over. I think back to the significant changes that Whitey Herzog brought on when he first became GM; and then again the substantial changes that Walt Jocketty enacted as he took over. I like the idea of having Bloom monitoring the entire organization well before taking the reins.
DG: It will be an interesting change to watch unfold -- and then see what it means for other teams and if they follow this same model when preparing for a changeover of leadership.
Bryan: Are the Cardinals thinking about trading for Esteury Ruiz? If not, they should. He was a top prospect not that long ago. Now Scott and Ruiz in the same line up would make Cardinal baseball exciting again. Remember the great old days when Cardinal baseball was exciting? Coleman, McGee, Smith, and others of the running Red Birds.
DG: To date, they are not.
He was traded to the Dodgers in April. As mentioned above, he was part of the reduction of playing time in the outfield as the A's improved their overall team.
Iowa fan: Two things that I'll watch this year: 1. What happens if the team is reasonably close to contention (if the Cubs don't run away with the division)...and if attendance remains reduced...does that lessen the FO's interest in spending to improve the team? 2. Can Arenado find ("re-find") a middle of the order power bat? Or has age/injuries caused that aspect of his game to decline? Any thoughts?
DG: Those are fair to things to watch, and they have the attention of us in the press box and the team, too. The fan-contention question is a big one. It's the chicken-egg of the season. Which comes first? A contending team or the crowds?
Botch405: Thanks for the Chat!! Is there a plan in the works for the P-D to start printing the Cardinals' stats in the print edition, as they have always done? Also, I realize that I am a dinosaur, Cardinal fan since 1955, but I am always amused by the articles showing Gorman's metric stats and how they look really good, etc. and then see him come up to bat hitting .167. Sorry, no matter how your "metrics" look .167 is pitiful. Bob Gibson hit better than that!
DG: At the moment, there does not seem to be. That decision has been made at a level far higher than me. Same with the box scores. We continue to make the case for the best possible coverage in print and online, and as you can imagine the space and urgency for some elements of the coverage are better suited for online so that we can fit more of the other, deeper, exclusive coverage in the print product for readers.
And, yes, I understand where you're coming from about batting .167. If the person is batting .167 or, say, 17 for 101 (.168) and all 17 of those hits were home runs that would be a robust .673 slugging percentage and a quite fine .841 OPS. But it could be better. I'm not sure if those are the metrics you're exactly describing or it's the barrel rates etc. Here's the difference. Batting average, slg, etc. are narrative or quantitative stats -- some tells us what happened and others tell us how valuable it is that it happened. The other metrics (barrels, exit velocity, contact) they can be predictive stats and help better understand the direction a batter is going.
Ryan: Looking at Memphis and Springfields starters. Looks pretty rough. When they start trading, they'll need a rest of starters for the minors other wise this rebuild is going to take a lot longer than 1 year. Also, is it time for Bedell to try relieving. He's going to be 26 coming up and he's gotten rocked the last 2 years since promoted to AA & AAA.
DG: You answered your last question with your first one. Depth is pretty thin. The Cardinals showed that with their choices to start the year and the need to have McGreevy in Memphis. There is just a real lack of health and depth there for the Cardinals -- and it is a concern. Memphis had a position player pitching this past weekend. Bedell is needed as a starter. Drew Rom has started a rehab assignment, and he's needed as a starter. There's a real lack of depth in the system, and it's going to show up in the majors eventually that it's lacking.
Brad: Hi Derrick. The Cardinals have a DH issue. Collectively, the batters in the DH role have 3 rbi's for the season. Analytically, logically, that is a simply unacceptable after well over 130 PA's. How can a team that espouses saber metrics allow such abysmal performance? Has management shared their goals for the DH role production? Personally, I'd much rather the Cards look at the role more like the Braves with Marcel Ozuna, and other teams that devote a main batter to the lineup spot. Please share your thoughts on the role of DH. Thanks.
DG: They just don't have that type of roster at the moment. Could they build one that way? Sure, but it's not really been their approach, not since the days before the NL had the DH. They use the DH to rest folk, and if they were to go to a full-time DH it would likely either be Contreras, Burleson, or Gorman, and all three in that group had their struggles this season so far. Plus, there wouldn't be Gorman's arm in the field or Contreras play which is part of their appeal in the lineup, is because they hit so well for their position.
Also worth noting, a team that, as you said, "espouses sabermetrics" is not going use RBIs at all for decisions. That is a debate for another time. But it's just not a factor an analytically driven team considers.
Jack: Let's say the Cardinals finish the season like they're playing now. Donovan looks great. Nootbaar is productive. VSII and Winn are defensive darlings with some offensive potential. Herrera can hit but can't throw out a base runner to save his life. Walker, Gorman, and Burleson don't really take the expected steps forward. Rotation is semi-stable but the bullpen can't be trusted. In this case, what's the plan for 2026?
DG: Bloom's to determine but not yet with a budget of a contender. Would look a like on the pitching side as this year does on the position side -- see what they got pitching them and pitching them a lot.
BV: Thanks for the chat. Do you have a recommendation for the "best" source for on-demand video of post-game interviews? Last season, the then Bally's Sports MW twitter feed was very reliable about posting Oli's press session and at least excerpts from notable post-game interviews with players. This year, not so much. I know there is often interview video with articles on stltoday . com, but that isn't the most efficient way for an interested fan to quickly and reliably find a specific interview that they may wish to view.
DG: The Post-Dispatch has been providing post-game interviews from all home games. You can get them on StlToday.
You can find them all on this page, and sort through them as you wish, exactly as you describe.
larry harnly: how serious is quinn matthews' injury? do you see much pitching help coming from memphis?
DG: He's back in a throwing program, at last check, and he's with the team. McGreevy and Graceffo are ready to help, and there's still reason to think that Munoz and O'Brien can contribute as well this season.
ud: If they chose the All Star team right now and St Louis only got one guy on the team, do you think it would be Victor Scott II? He has been a revelation this year. I see him as having the talent to be a perennial All Star and along with Wynn, the face of the Cardinals. Now if we could just get Walker and Gorman going, we'd have something.
DG: Wouldn't it be Brendan Donovan? Or Matthew Liberatore? That's not to take away from Scott and his start, but Donovan is batting .339 and there was a recent ranking of second basemen that put him at the top. Then you have Liberatore and it's clear what he's doing compared to other pitchers.
ud: I've been impressed by Yohel Pozo and was wondering if the Cardinals will consider keeping him in the majors as a right handed designated/pinch hitter instead of Luken Baker when Ivan Herrera returns. He has outhit Baker in a similar number of plate appearances so far this year and heck he even played 650+ innings of first base in the minors so he has more defensive value than Baker as well as he is also a pretty good defensive catcher.
DG: It's a fair question and one that will certainly be discussed. I don't see, at the moment, how the Cardinals will arrive at the same conclusion that you have, and that just might be how they look at pinch-hitting and the bench. It's definitely an interesting move to consider, and they will, and I think you could make a strong defense for your move based solely on recent production.
PGBarber: Does lackluster fan support so far make it more or less likely for the front office to trade away talent in the next couple of months? Are they More kind to push for more winds hoping it brings fans back? Or are they more inclined to lean into the losses and shed payroll?
DG: They have said they're at a good spot payroll-wise. That doesn't mean shedding salary -- but it also doesn't mean adding. Trades are going to be responsive to the standings to the offers. The Cardinals want and need to replenish their depth in the minors and they see moveable major-league pieces like Fedde, Matz, and Helsley as talent they could move to do so. That's not in response one way or the other to the fans but part of where they view they are in the cycle of contention. So far, the Cardinals are getting about the support expected on ticket sales (or maybe slightly more), but that is part of why they cut costs. The question -- and they've yet to answer this because they've yet to reach this point -- is if they make an addition in July instead of the subtractions attempted in December because they're within reach of the division title, or if they stick to the plan, move talent, and focus on re-stocking the minors if they're not leading the division.
ud: Just a comment as I don't see the Cardinals inclined to change anything with regard to Steven Matz, but he has been their best pitcher so far and unless you're the designated closer, it is probably best to give your best pitcher the most innings until he isn't the best anymore. I would also be concerned if I were Marmol and the front office that the role they have carved out for Matz--moving back and forth from bullpen to starting--increases his chances of getting injured again. Again just an observation, they seem committed to keeping him where he is, but I'd consider swapping his role with Mikolas' if it were my decision.
DG: Ability and comfort within that role is something to consider. Matz has been able to move between the roles and do so comfortable. His schedule, his arm -- all of that fits. Other starters struggle with such a schedule because what brings out the best in them is the routine, and that is related to health, recovery, all of it. There are some starters that just do not thrive in the unknown of long relief.
South City Steve: I listened to the BPIB 4/25 episode w/Wheeler over the weekend, which I enjoyed. One thing you guys touched on was the lack of development of a hitter since Tavares. Do you think that when the Cards have stars, that too often the team evaluation is top heavy and the team success insulated/clouded the lack of development of the young players? Whereas this year the reality of the development or lack thereof is on full display and can't be tucked underneath a pennant chase, two MVP level seasons, or a farewell tour.
DG: I don't think so, no. When the Cardinals have stars and success at the major-league level a lot of the focus of fans and media is on the stars and success at the major-league level, as you'd expect, and as it should be. That doesn't mean it's the same for the team, where people are specifically hired and tasked with focusing on the minors and even specific levels so that whatever is happening at the big-league level is not even on their radar. I think the more likely way these things are connected is a major-league team that has stars above and is contending then has success -- and isn't drafting high. Surefire hitters are going high in the draft these days or coming from the international market, and the Cardinals didn't hit in the latter and haven't had the former until they got Wetherholt. You could make the case that Gorman and Walker are the real tests here. Talent for first round, upside that needs development, and I don't get the sense that the team has been clouded by what's happening at the major-league level or mislead by it -- but what they have done is try to straddle doing both development and contending and not really done enough of either.
Christopher: Hey Derek—really appreciate the chats each week, always a must-read.If the Cardinals’ attendance stays down this year and the offseason ends up being as underwhelming as last year’s, do you think there’s any chance Yadi replaced Oli if only from a business perspective because that move alone would put butts in seats.I know Yadi was named a special assistant a while back, but he hasn’t shown up for spring training or the regular season the last couple years. What has been reported is that it’s family related—but is it possible he’s not really going to be invested unless he’s named the manager of a team? Thanks!
DG: No. First, I'm skeptical that would put "butts in seats" for a long season. That's just me, and maybe I'm wrong on that. I'd like to give credit to fans that they don't want the theater of who is at manager in the dugout. They want contending from the team on the field. Second, I'm sticking with what the PD has reported and not sliding into speculation that reporting cannot prove. He had some family events and concerns that kept him away. He had scheduled times to be with the Cardinals and it didn't happen for whatever reason. He had other personal interests that came up, too. That last question you asked -- would you be comfortable with that as a team? What about as a fan?
Ron: Can we have pallante go to memphis and mcgreevy take his spot? He looked better than pallante
DG: That is not the plan.
Don P: Will the Cardinals have the guts to keep Puzo as a backup catcher, move on from Gorman who doesn't even hit for power anymore, and keep McGreevy? McGreevey has certainly shown he is major league ready either as a starter or long reliever. These moves would go a long way toward convincing me (and others) that the Cards actually want to win? I have given up on they moving on from their manager.
DG: McGreevy was optioned back to Memphis today -- which was entirely predictable based on why he was called up, how much he pitched, and when he would next be available. A decision with Herrera is coming up, and the expectation is Pozo will be optioned, though as detailed above there are other alternatives to be explored that the team will do so. Gorman is going to get a long look at playing time, as advertised, and it appears that they are in the middle of that. So the answer to all of your questions appear, at the moment, to be the opposite of your wishes. I can see how that would be unappealing for a fan that wants things and has to deal with team making the opposite choice.
DCG: I just listened to a few minutes of Will Leitch and Bernie podcast--don't worry, I listen to virtually every episode of BPIB. I only clicked on this one because the blurb revealed that Will had recently attended some games and had some tough comments about the game day experience. He lamented that a club once known for its attention to detail, for instance, is carrying last year's jersey in the fan store, or that the games (I assume he means the big video board) are exactly the same. The phrase that he used over and over is that it feels like Cardinals ownership/management have "given up" and "just don't care." I won't ask you to comment on something you have not read or listened to, but what kind of feedback are you getting from (reasonable) Cardinals fans this year about the experience? I guess this leads to my asking as well what your sense of how invested Cardinals ownership is in the day to days and these kinds of details compared to say ten or twenty years ago?
DG: Thanks for listening to the podcasts. To be candid, it's the same as some of us have been saying for several years -- in chats here, online, or in person, as I've shared with Cardinals officials. It's gone stale here. Some people make fun of my drumbeat for a victory song at the ballpark. They need one. I wrote recently about the vibe at Mets games and how it was lacking at Busch Stadium. I even offered up some potential things the Cardinals could do.
•آ Get a player to have a singalong walk-up song.
•آ Invite the أغر؟´«أ½ City SC supporters to a game, let them bang the drums, do the chats, and hope that it catches on in same way, some how.
There have been several advocates for the Cardinals to visit and audit other ballparks, and officials who travel have offered views of what it's like at other ballparks. The Cardinals officials are aware of this, they have an executive in ballpark ops that has discussed ways he wants to enhance this, and when Bill DeWitt III spoke about the fan experience, this is what he meant and was referencing -- updates to the look on the scoreboard, updates to events at the ballpark, and the whole experience. This is very much on their mind, and we've seen some glimpses of how they're addressing this. Helsley's entry is one example. We'll see if others. This has been an ongoing criticism and discussion that the Cardinals are aware of, and it's good to have others join the chorus.
Now, about that victory song. Pick one and do it already.
Ray Jay: Is it time the Cardinals maven from Nolan Gorman? Yeah, it's great when he hits a home run but that's too few and far between. Strikes out way too often, and Donovan is a better second baseman.
DG: Given their state goal of this season, it is not. If the goal was different this season, more familiar, more like the past decade or so, then impatience would be expected and understood.
DCG: I read the PD sports every day, so I don't know how I missed all of what you just said, but thanks for such an in-depth response.
DG: Thank you for reading the paper. Here is the most recent article about the Mets' vibe at the ballpark, as it appeared in this story.
Ben: Speaking of the Dodgers... I know this might fall outside of your purview; however, given the enormity of pitching stacked up on their IL now, in addition to the past couple of years, has there been any talk within the industry of pitchers giving second thoughts to going there? And maybe this is the nature of guys they target, so I don't know if it's a chicken or egg sort of thing. They get max Stuff out of their guys, obviously, but man. I'm starting to think twice about their approach to pitching and how they've been seemingly going through arms
DG: Definitely worth watching, especially with a CBA approaching, concern about injuries mounting, and teams looking for a correction to who can contend and how much it will cost. A storm is brewing, and the Dodgers are near the eyewall of it.
Questions out west: Record aside. What’s the mood of the front office going into next year if you have a young core of Donovan, Winn, Noot along with a couple cost controlled middle rotation starters? Is that a successful season? Is it enough of a core to supplement around or do you see them still lacking the star power to build a team to compete in midterm (say 3 years)?
DG: Great question. I wish I had a great answer. Heck, the Cardinals wish they had a great answer. Getting answers on who the next "core" of the team is going to be is the stated goal of this season, and as mentioned earlier in the chat that does mean learning who won't be in it, and two high draft picks do not make your list, which leaves the Cardinals with out the impact power bat that usually is a tent pole for a lineup. If it's Donovan, Winn, and Nootbaar that's a lot of OBP and quality defense, but not the bombastic thump expected from Walker or Gorman, and that' thump is expensive to get from the outside and difficult to develop on the inside. Can they get it at No. 5 in the draft. Maybe. But is that 2, 3, 4 more years away, and if so then that talent won't overlap with Donovan's peak or Nootbaar's peak, and may not even overlap in the same lineup at all. What happens then? Are they in this perpetual realm of "development". Sure seems like they need more answers than those three -- and it could be starters to add to it.
Yes, it will be a "successful season" for the Cardinals based on their metric if they have the answers on who will lead them into the next era.
However, those answers might be the hard ones that they are not closer to a successful era than when they started this year.
There's first pitch. Thanks for the time today and the good questions, especially the one at the end here. Well done. Appreciated the conversation. Sadly, there was not one single question about Thunderbolts*. Go see it. Enjoy.
THE CHAT WILL RETURN.
