St. Louis Cardinals News

Cardinals made Tink Hence and Zack Thompson minor league free agents, closing the book on two former top pitching prospects. Injuries and regression sank both, but the farm system's pitching depth now softens the blow. 🔒

Cardinals release two former top prospects in a sobering reminder of what could have been

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Cardinals re-signed RHP Randel Clemente, LHP Josh Fleming and INF Ramon Mendoza to minor league deals for 2027. Tink Hence, Zack Thompson and Sem Robberse are among those hitting minor league free agency. Mendoza's .291/.380/.437 Triple-A line stands out. 📋

Cardinals announce important roster moves early in MLB offseason

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Cardinals offseason priorities, per Jim Bowden: bullpen upgrades, a veteran starter to lead the staff, and a left-handed-hitting infield role player to balance Winn, Saggese, Jordan and Fermin. They already added lefty Eduardo Rivera from Boston. ⚾

Insider Shares Cardinals Offseason Wish List, Including More Pitching

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Cardinals and Chaim Bloom made another Red Sox trade, landing 23-year-old lefty Eduardo Rivera for 18-year-old Juan Garcia in a one-for-one swap. The 6'7" southpaw, who debuted with Boston this year, could become a bullpen weapon. 🔒

Cardinals, Chaim Bloom swing another trade with Red Sox, adding key pitching depth

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Cardinals are re-signing veteran lefty Josh Fleming to a minor league deal, per Derrick Goold. He struggled in six Memphis starts (21 ER in 29 2/3 IP, nine homers), so expect rotation depth for Triple-A, not upside. 📋

Cardinals To Re-Sign Josh Fleming

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Cardinals acquired lefty Eduardo Rivera from Boston for minor league righty Juan Carlos García. Rivera, 23, went 7-2 with a 2.59 ERA across Double-A and Triple-A in 2026 and held lefties to a .067 average in his four MLB appearances. 🎯

Cardinals acquire left-hander Eduardo Rivera in trade with Red Sox

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Richard Fitts could be the Cardinals' next swingman, filling the sixth-starter role Steven Matz and Hunter Dobbins held in recent years. With Ryne Stanek gone, how Chaim Bloom builds the bullpen will shape that plan. 🔄

Richard Fitts could be ticketed for swingman role in Cardinals rotation

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Cardinals reportedly acquired lefty Eduardo Rivera, 23, from Boston for minor-league righty Juan García, per SoxProspects.com. Rivera debuted in 2026 and posted a 6.30 ERA over 10 innings. A small-scale swap with a flyer's price tag. 🎯

MLB TRADE: St. Louis Cardinals Acquire 23-Year-Old Pitcher From Boston Red Sox

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Speculation: the Cardinals could shift from rebuilding to buying by 2028, with the 2027-28 free-agent class a possible veteran source. Tanner Houck, back from Tommy John and flexor tendon surgeries, is floated as a stabilizing arm for a young pitching staff. 🔎

These 3 2027-2028 free agents could aid the Cardinals' first foray back into competition

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Tai Peete, acquired from Seattle in the Brendan Donovan deal, hit .296/.359/.549 (126 wRC+) across High-A and Double-A, cut his strikeout rate to 26.9%, and is raking in the Arizona Fall League. FanGraphs now sees roughly a 45+ FV. 📈

Tai Peete Changed For the Better, Without Really Changing, After Becoming a Cardinal

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An opinion piece argues the Cardinals should skip veteran free-agent starters Zac Gallen (6.07 ERA), Shane Bieber and Max Scherzer (5.74 ERA). It favors internal options like Fitts, Hjerpe and Roby for the fifth rotation spot. Reclamation projects, the thinking goes, are poor value. 🧊

BUYER BEWARE: The Cardinals Should Avoid Veteran Starters in Free Agency

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Cardinals should reportedly eye a Rainiel Rodriguez extension once the expected lockout ends. The 20-year-old top prospect hasn't played in the majors, but the front office's JJ Wetherholt deal suggests a historic long-term offer could make sense. 📝

Cardinals should have a Rainiel Rodriguez extension on their radar after the lockout

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Cardinals notes from the BBWAA awards snub list: JJ Wetherholt is a Rookie of the Year finalist, while Oliver Marmol is the Manager of the Year snub. St. Louis finished fourth, but did it after moving Arenado, Gray, Donovan and Contreras. 🧾

1 snub for each BBWAA Award who deserves recognition

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JJ Wetherholt is a finalist for NL Rookie of the Year, joining Mets' Carson Benge and Reds' Sal Stewart. The Cardinals rookie's debut season earned a spot on the short list, with winners to be announced the week of Nov. 9. 🏅

Watch LIVE as BBWAA Awards finalists are announced (MLB Network)

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JJ Wetherholt is an NL Rookie of the Year finalist, joining Cincinnati's Sal Stewart and the Mets' Carson Benge. He hit .242 with 17 HR and 4.5 WAR in 139 games despite a second-half wrist injury. Winner announced the week of Nov. 9. 🏅

St. Louis Cardinals JJ Wetherholt a Finalist for NL Rookie of the Year

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Offseason housekeeping: the Cardinals signed St. Louis native Josh Fleming to a minor league deal for rotation depth, and Max Rajcic (Tommy John) was reinstated from the 60-day IL. Chase Hampton lasted one month before Baltimore claimed him. 📋

Cardinals News: Josh Fleming signed, Chase Hampton claimed, Max Rajcic reinstated

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Cardinals re-signed Bridgeton native Josh Fleming, a 30-year-old lefty, to a minor-league deal for rotation depth. He made six starts for Triple-A Memphis after joining St. Louis. Not earth-shaking, but local depth is cheap insurance. ⚾

Cardinals Bring Back St. Louis Native to Boost Rotation Depth

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Former Cardinals first baseman Bill White is on the Hall of Fame's Contemporary Baseball Era ballot, one of eight candidates for managers, executives and umpires. A 16-member panel needs 75% to elect; results come Dec. 6. 🗳️

Contemporary Baseball Era Committee unveil 8 candidates up for Hall

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Steamer's 2027 projections for the Cardinals are mostly sobering. JJ Wetherholt is pegged for 4.6 fWAR (14th in MLB) and Masyn Winn for 2.6, but Jordan Walker, Leo Bernal and Alec Burleson all dip. Projections, not promises. 📉

Steamer's projections for the 2027 Cardinals should lower fans' hopes

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