The three most recent First Round draft picks will participate: SS JJ Wetherholt (2024), OF Chase Davis (2023), and LHP Cooper Hjerpe (2022). They will be joined by 2024 MiLB & Baseball America Minor League Pitcher of the Year Quinn Mathews, 2024 Texas League MVP and Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year Jimmy Crooks, and catching prospect Leonardo Bernal.

Five players who were added to the team this offseason or late last season will report with the big league squad: RHP Michael Gomez, LHP Oddanier Mosqueda, C Chance Sisco, INF Jose Barrero, and OF Ryan Vilade.

Nine non-roster invitees will be participating in their first Major League camp, including pitchers Ian Bedell, Alex Cornwell, Edwin Nuñez, and Mathews; infielders R.J. Yeager and Wetherholt; and outfielders Nathan Church, Bryan Torres, and Davis.

Cardinals 2023 Minor League Pitcher of the Year Max Rajcic returns to the spring roster, along with other players who were in camp last season, including pitchers Andre Granillo and Drew Rom; catchers Sammy Hernandez, Carlos Linárez, and Wade Stauss; and infielders César Prieto and Jeremy Rivas. Catcher Gavin Collins will also be in Major League camp for the first time with St. Louis.

Here is a list of non-roster invitees by position:

PITCHERS (10): Ian Bedell (RHP), Alex Cornwell (LHP), Michael Gomez (RHP), Andre Granillo (RHP), Cooper Hjerpe (LHP), Quinn Mathews (LHP), Oddanier Mosqueda (LHP), Edwin Nuñez (RHP), Max Rajcic (RHP), Drew Rom (RHP)

CATCHERS (7): Leonardo Bernal, Gavin Collins, Jimmy Crooks, Sammy Hernandez, Carlos Linárez, Chance Sisco, Wade Stauss

INFIELDERS (5): Jose Barrero, César Prieto, Jeremy Rivas, JJ Wetherholt, R.J. Yeager

OUTFIELDERS (4): Nathan Church, Chase Davis, Bryan Torres, Ryan Vilade

The Cardinals pitchers and catchers will begin their first practice at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex on Wednesday, February 12, with the first full squad workout scheduled for Monday, February 17.

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Cardinals Eye Financial Relief Through Arenado Trade

St. Louis announced plans to trade Arenado earlier this offseason, citing financial concerns and a desire to restructure their roster by 2025. Team president John Mozeliak emphasized the need for fiscal flexibility and an improved player development system. Moving Arenado was seen as a critical step toward achieving these goals.

The Cardinals came close to trading Arenado to the Houston Astros, who were reportedly prepared to take on most of his salary. However, Arenado used his full no-trade clause to block the deal. His decision has added a layer of complexity to the Cardinals’ efforts to move him and recalibrate their financial situation.

Cardinals Face Trade Challenges Due to Salary Retention Reluctance

Mozeliak acknowledged the difficulties of trading Arenado while avoiding salary retention. Though shedding his contract would significantly aid the team’s financial goals, their unwillingness to retain a large portion of his salary limits potential suitors. This complicates their plans to reduce payroll and restructure the roster.

If a trade for Arenado remains unattainable, the Cardinals are considering other options, including trading starting pitchers. However, they are hesitant to part with right-hander Erick Fedde before the trade deadline. This highlights the team’s cautious approach to balancing short-term competitiveness with long-term financial and roster goals.

The post Yankees Decline Arenado Trade Over Salary Concerns as Cardinals Seek Financial Restructuring Options appeared first on Sports Al Dente.

One such player is Ryan Helsley, the 2021 National League Reliever of the Year, who will become a free agent after the 2025 season. Helsley’s strong performance in the bullpen could make him an attractive target for playoff contenders if the Cardinals find themselves out of the race by the trade deadline. His potential departure would mark a part of the broader strategy to trade veterans and build for the future.

Another pitcher that could be traded is Erick Fedde, whom the Cardinals acquired in 2024 from the Chicago White Sox. Fedde had a rocky start to his career with the Washington Nationals but turned a corner in 2024 after spending time in the Korean Baseball Organization. His 3.11 ERA and solid performance for both the White Sox and Cardinals in 2024 made him an important piece of the St. Louis rotation, potentially giving the team a valuable trade chip.

Fedde’s strong performance in 2024, with a 3.30 ERA, 9-9 record, and solid strikeout-to-walk ratio, positions him as a player the Cardinals could deal with at the trade deadline if they are not competing for the playoffs. Should he continue to pitch well in 2025, Fedde could fetch a significant return in trade, helping St. Louis replenish their farm system and further their rebuilding efforts.

The Cardinals’ strategy for 2025 will hinge on their early-season performance. If the team remains competitive in the NL Central, they may hold onto veterans like Fedde and Helsley, hoping for a playoff push. However, if they fall out of contention, the Cardinals are likely to become sellers at the deadline, moving players like Fedde to maximize their value and secure assets for the future.

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“It’s like his biological clock is ticking,” said Arenado’s agent, Joel Wolfe, on Tuesday at the winter meetings. “And if the team’s not winning it’s driving him crazy every day, every night all through the offseason. And he takes it so personal, like it’s all on him.”

Arenado, an eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner at third base, is also open to switching to first base. He hit .272 with 16 home runs and 71 RBIs this year, which was his worst season in ten years.

St. Louis traded for Arenado from Colorado before the 2021 season. In his first two years with the Cardinals, they lost in the wild-card round, and they failed to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons after that.

“The Cardinals are changing direction, which is fine. All teams do that,” Wolfe said. “So if that’s the way it is and they’ve said it might be beneficial to move you and they were open and communicated about it, he’s like: ‘I get it. Let’s just try and find a place where they’re in a different place,’ where he could just jump in and help the team go to the next level.”

Arenado has played 1,629 games in the field during his career, all at third base. He won Gold Gloves every year from 2013-2022, tying with Seattle’s Ichiro Suzuki for winning the award in his first 10 seasons.

Arenado told Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak that he’s willing to switch positions.

“If it would make Mo’s job easier to get to the right team, Nolan is more than willing to move around,” Wolfe said, quoting Arenado as saying, “‘I’m not insulted to go play first and I can win a Gold Glove over there if that’s what it takes.’”

“He wanted to be just the first to offer that so that Mo could tell other teams that,” Wolfe added.

Arenado has a .285 career batting average, with 341 home runs and 1,132 RBIs for both the Cardinals and Colorado Rockies. He has $74 million remaining on his contract for the next three seasons, part of a nine-year, $275 million deal.

Arenado has a full no-trade clause, meaning he has the final say in any trade decision.

“It’s more of just an ongoing discussion of: Would you be OK with this team? Would you be OK with that team?” Wolfe said. “We don’t want to waste Mo’s time and there are some hard no’s of where he would prefer not to go and things like that. It’s been somewhat dynamic in the discussion about how that works.”

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