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Cardinals' Bruce Zimmermann: Cut from big-league camp
Rotowire
The Cardinals reassigned Zimmermann to minor-league camp Tuesday.
Zimmermann signed with the Cardinals on a minor-league deal in January after spending the 2025 season in the Brewers organization. The southpaw gave up six runs (five earned) in six innings in a late-season spot start with Milwaukee but otherwise spent the entire campaign at Triple-A Nashville, where he produced a 4.11 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 109:30 K:BB in 138 innings. After falling short in his bid for a spot on the Cardinals' Opening Day roster, Zimmermann is expected to serve as a swingman at Triple-A Memphis to begin the season.
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Cardinals' Hunter Dobbins: Pitching in minor-league game
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Dobbins (knee) will pitch in another minor-league game later this week, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Returning from last July's right ACL surgery, Dobbins threw four innings and around 65 pitches in a previous appearance on the back fields. He was pleased with how that outing went, saying "a lot of the movement profiles have increased" after "some of the tweaks we've been making." Dobbins will be permitted to field his position in the game later this week, but he will not be allowed to cover first base, as the Cardinals are still being protective of his surgically repaired knee. The 26-year-old is set to open the 2026 season either on the injured list or at Triple-A Memphis, but he's a candidate to see starts for St. Louis later this summer.
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Cardinals' Max Rajcic: Could shift to relief role
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The Cardinals could shift Rajcic to a full-time relief role after the hurler has shown an uptick in velocity out of the bullpen this spring, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Rajcic and the player development staff corrected a flaw in the pitcher's delivery at a minor-league camp after last season, as his plant foot had been leaking and not allowing him to quickly rotate his hips. The righty worked on the change over the offseason and has seen his velocity go from the low 90s to the mid-90s and peak at 97 mph. All but one of Rajcic's appearances in the minors have come as a starting pitcher, but he really struggled after being promoted to Triple-A Memphis in 2025, posting a 6.40 ERA and 28:27 K:BB over 45 innings. A move to a relief role could give Rajcic a better chance to reach the big leagues.
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Cardinals' JoJo Romero: Among closer options
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Romero is expected to be among the relievers in the mix to close games for the Cardinals this season, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Manager Oliver Marmol appears willing to let the team's closer situation "solve itself" rather than naming a go-to ninth-inning man before the season. Romero shared the closer job with Riley O'Brien down the stretch last season after Ryan Helsley was traded, and he finished with a 2.07 ERA and 55:29 K:BB over 61 innings. Goold writes of Romero that the Cardinals "still could trade the lefty for the right return," but the chances of a trade are significantly lower now than they were earlier in the offseason. In addition to Romero and O'Brien, Matt Svanson and Ryne Stanek are expected to receive consideration for closing duties.
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Cardinals' Matt Svanson: In mix to close games
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Svanson is expected to be in the mix to close games for the Cardinals this season, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Manager Oliver Marmol has indicated that he doesn't plan to name a closer heading into the season but expects the situation to "solve itself." Svanson did not record a save during his excellent rookie season, but he was particularly dominant in the second half with a 1.05 ERA and 44:12 K:BB over 34.1 innings. Riley O'Brien, JoJo Romero and Ryne Stanek are also among the candidates to see save opportunities in St. Louis.
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Cardinals' Ryne Stanek: Could be part of closer committee
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The Cardinals could use Stanek as part of a closer-by-committee strategy, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Manager Oliver Marmol said of the Cardinals' closer job that "I don't think we need to name a guy," and he expects the situation to eventually "solve itself." Riley O'Brien, JoJo Romero and Matt Svanson are also in the mix for saves along with Stanek. The 34-year-old Stanek is the elder statesman of the group but is probably better suited for a setup role. Stanek collected a 5.30 ERA and 58:32 K:BB over 56 innings for the Mets in 2025.
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Cardinals' Jordan Walker: Slow start to spring training
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Walker is just 5-for-23 with zero extra-base hits and a 2:8 BB:K so far this spring.
Per Bernie Miklasz of STL Sports Central, Walker is sporting a 60 percent groundball rate, and 80 percent of his batted balls have either been grounders or infield popups. It's too soon to make sweeping judgments, but the changes Walker made with his swing at Driveline Baseball over the offseason have yet to take hold. The Cardinals are going to give the 23-year-old plenty of leash in right field this season as he looks to right the ship after slashing just .211/.270/.324 over the last two seasons.
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Cardinals' Quinn Mathews: Reassigned to minors camp
Rotowire
The Cardinals reassigned Mathews to minor-league camp Monday.
Mathews showed encouraging signs in his last Grapefruit League appearance in racking up seven strikeouts over 2.2 innings, but he was always destined to open the season in the rotation at Triple-A Memphis. The southpaw will be seeking a bounce-back year after he stumbled in 2025 with a 3.93 ERA and 107:74 K:BB over 94 innings with Memphis.
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Cardinals' Nick Raquet: Cut from major-league camp
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The Cardinals optioned Raquet to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.
Raquet made three appearances during Grapefruit League play, yielding one run with a 5:1 K:BB across three innings. The Cardinals don't have a ton of left-handed relief depth, so the lefty-throwing Raquet is a good bet to see some action at the big-league level this season.
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Cardinals' Brycen Mautz: Dropped from big-league camp
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The Cardinals optioned Mautz to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.
The Cardinals previously hadn't dismissed the possibility of Mautz making the team as a reliever, but he will begin the season in the rotation at Triple-A Memphis. Mautz posted a 2.98 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 134:33 K:BB over 114.2 innings at Double-A Springfield in 2025.
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Cardinals' Cooper Hjerpe: Cut from big-league camp
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The Cardinals optioned Hjerpe (elbow) to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.
Hjerpe just recent resumed throwing from the mound following last April's Tommy John surgery. A former first-round pick, Hjerpe is aiming to make his season debut around midseason.
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Cardinals' Joshua Baez: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Cardinals optioned Baez to Triple-A Memphis on Monday.
Shortly after homering in his third straight Grapefruit League game, Baez is cut from big-league camp. The 22-year-old had a breakout 2025 season, hitting .287/.384/.500 with 20 homers and 54 stolen bases between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield. If Baez is able to carry over that success into a hot start in 2026, he could push for a major-league debut sooner rather than later.
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Cardinals' Chase Davis: Multi-homer spring game
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Davis swatted a pair of home runs Monday in Grapefruit League action versus the Orioles.
Davis launched a 423-foot blast off of Trey Gibson in the third inning before adding a more modest 376-foot shot to the opposite field in the seventh. It was the first multi-homer spring training game for a Cardinals player since 2023. The former first-round pick is coming off a disappointing 2025 season, having slashed just .242/.358/.353 with 10 home runs in 113 games at Double-A Springfield. Davis is likely headed back to Springfield for the start of the 2026 season.
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Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt: Cranks second spring home run
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Wetherholt went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Monday's Grapefruit League tilt versus the Orioles.
It was an opposite-field blast and the second home run this spring for Wetherholt. The top prospect has reached base at a .480 clip during Grapefruit League action, thanks in large part to a 7:4 BB:K. The Cardinals have not yet named Wetherholt their Opening Day second baseman, but it seems like a foregone conclusion.
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Cardinals' Joshua Baez: Homers in third straight game
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Baez popped a two-run home run in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles.
Baez's seventh-inning blast off of Nestor German traveled 416 feet and was measured at 109.4 mph off the bat. It's the third long ball in as many games for Baez, who was added to the Cardinals' 40-man roster this offseason after a breakout 2025 campaign that saw him slash .287/.384/.500 with 20 homers and 54 stolen bases between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield. Baez drew his first start in left field this spring Monday, and there is playing time available at that position with Lars Nootbaar (heels) expected to begin the season on the injured list. It's unlikely St. Louis would consider the 22-year-old for its Opening Day roster, but Baez could debut at some point this summer if he continues his upward trajectory.
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Cardinals' Matthew Liberatore: Dazzles in Grapefruit League outing
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Liberatore permitted two runs while striking out seven across five frames in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles.
In addition to his seven punchouts, Liberatore did not issue a walk and picked up 16 swinging strikes on 65 pitches. It's the most whiffs for any pitcher in a single appearance so far this spring and is just one off Liberatore's regular-season high of 17. The left-hander has had an impressive showing this spring with a 2.70 ERA and 14:1 K:BB over 10 innings. Liberatore is expected to draw the Opening Day start for the Cardinals, though that has not yet been made official.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Aims to return Tuesday or Wednesday
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Herrera (knee) will go through a series of workouts Monday, with an eye on returning to Grapefruit League play Tuesday or Wednesday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Herrera was scratched from the Cardinals' lineup Saturday against the Mets due to knee inflammation. He did some early-morning workouts Monday to test the knee and will continue with more activities to gauge his readiness to return to action. Herrera is projected to begin the season as St. Louis' primary designated hitter. He's also expected to be worked in at catcher, though it's possible the knee issue affects how often he's used behind the plate.
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Cardinals' Nelson Velazquez: In mix for reps in left field
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Velazquez is among the competitors for playing time in left field for the Cardinals while Lars Nootbaar (heels) is sidelined, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Nootbaar is expected to get a late start to the season as he continues his recovery from surgery on both heels. In camp as a non-roster invitee, Velazquez entered play Sunday having gone 5-for-17 with one home run, one double and a 2:1 BB:K over his first six Grapefruit League contests. The Cardinals' lineup leans lefty-heavy, which helps Velazquez's case as a right-handed hitter, but working against him is that he's the only one in the mix that's not already on the 40-man roster. Nathan Church, Jose Fermin and Thomas Saggese are also competing for reps in left field.
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Cardinals' Kyle Leahy: Spotless in third Grapefruit start
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Leahy struck out five across four perfect innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League start against the Mets.
Leahy bounced back from a rough second spring training outing with a stellar effort Saturday, requiring only 47 pitches to cruise through his four frames. The right-hander remains a favorite to capture one of the final spots in the Cardinals' rotation, and that the club is considering opening the year with a six-man setup would only increase his chances.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Scoreless frame in spring debut
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O'Brien (calf) worked around a walk and a base hit to deliver a scoreless inning of relief Saturday in the Cardinals' 3-2 loss to the Mets in Grapefruit League play.
A mild right calf strain suffered early in camp was enough to prevent O'Brien from pitching for Team South Korea in the World Baseball Classic, but after delivering a scoreless inning in his spring debut Saturday, the 31-year-old righty looks like he'll be ready to go for the start of the regular season. After the Cardinals dealt away Ryan Helsley last July, O'Brien moved into a higher-leverage role and collected four of the team's final five save chances of the 2025 campaign. With St. Louis making no major additions to its bullpen over the winter, O'Brien could head into Opening Day as the Cardinals' top option to close games, though manager Oliver Marmol may prefer to take a committee approach to the ninth inning with JoJo Romero and potentially Matt Svanson also in the mix.
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