St. Louis Cardinals sign Ryne Stanek

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed RHP Ryne Stanek to a one-year contract, worth $3.5 million. The contract includes a team option for 2027, worth $6 million. Stanek, 34, was 4-6 with a 5.30 ERA, 65 games, 11 holds, 3 saves, 56 innings, 58 strikeouts, 32 walks, and a whip of 1.57 with the New York Mets in 2025.

Stanek had his best season in 2021, with the Houston Astros. That season, Stanek was 3-5 with a 3.42 ERA, 72 games, 21 holds, 2 saves, 68.1 innings, 83 strikeouts, 37 walks, and a whip of 1.21. The games and holds were both career highs for Stanek.

In 2018, with the Tampa Bay Rays, Stanek had a career high (29) starts. 

Stanek had career highs in innings (77) and strikeouts (89) in 2019, combined between the Rays and Miami Marlins.

In 2022, Stanek helped the Astros win the World Series. 

Stanek had career highs in both wins (7) and saves (7) in 2024, combined between the Seattle Mariners and Mets.

Overall, Stanek has played 9 MLB seasons. Stanek is 21-23 with a 3.85 ERA, 466 games, 56 starts, 89 holds, 14 saves, 458.1 innings, 531 strikeouts, 232 walks, and a whip of 1.32.

Stanek could be a good addition for the Cardinals' bullpen if they can help him get back on track. Stanek hasn't been good the past couple of seasons. Stanek can reach 98.5 miles per hour with his fastball. Stanek also had a good slider, which had a 45% whiff in 2025.

The Cardinals have had success in the last two seasons with similar relievers (RHP Andrew Kittredge and RHP Phil Maton).

Stanek is reunited with Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. Bloom drafted Stanek in the 1st round (29th overall) in the June 2013 MLB Draft.

St. Louis Blues Extend Philip Broberg

 

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed defenseman Philip Broberg to a six-year contract extension, worth $48 million. Broberg, 24, currently has played 45 games with 2 goals, 12 assists, and 14 points in 2025-2026.

Broberg had his best season in 2024-2025. That season, Broberg played 68 games with 8 goals, 21 assists, 29 points, and a plus 21. The games, goals, assists, points, and plus mark were all career highs for Broberg. 

Overall, Broberg is currently in his 5th NHL season. Broberg has played 194 games with 12 goals, 44 assists, 56 points, and a plus 16. In the playoffs, Broberg has played 27 games with 3 goals, 2 assists, 5 points, and a plus 20. 

Broberg would have been a restricted free agent after the season. It's great to see the Blues sign Broberg to long-term contract. 

Do the Blues re-sign center Dylan Holloway to a long-term contract next? Holloway can be a restricted free agent after the season. 

St. Louis Blues re-sign Alexey Toropchenko

 

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed right wing Alexey Toropchenko to a two-year contract extension, worth $5 million. Toropchenko, 26, currently has played 27 games with 2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points, and a -5 in 2025-2026. 

Toropchenko had his best season in 2023-2024. That season, Toropchenko played 82 games with 14 goals, 7 assists, 21 points, and a -3. The games, goals, and points were all career highs for Toropchenko. 

In 2024-2025, Toropchenko had a career high (14) assists. 

Overall, Toropchenko is currently in his 5th NHL season. Toropchenko has played 286 games with 32 goals, 33 assists, 65 points, and -12. In the playoffs, Toropchenko has played 19 games with 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points, and a plus 9. 

Toropchenko would have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2026. 

Toropchenko has developed into a solid fourth-line player for the Blues. 

St. Louis Cardinals trade Willson Contreras

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded first baseman Willson Contreras, and $8 million (which will cover part of the $41.5 million Contreras is still owed) to the Boston Red Sox for starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins, starting pitcher Yhoiker Fajardo, and starting pitcher Blake Aita. Contreras, 33, hit .257 with 70 runs, 126 hits, 31 doubles, 1 triple, 20 home runs, 80 RBI's, 5 stolen bases, and 44 walks in 2025. The runs, hits, doubles, and RBI's were all career highs for Contreras. 

Contreras has been an All-Star 3 times: (2018, 2019, and 2022). In 2016, Contreras helped the Chicago Cubs win the World Series. 

Contreras had a career high (5) triples in 2018.

In 2019, Contreras had a career high (24) home runs. 

Contreras has a career high (6) stolen bases in 2023. 

Overall, Contreras has played 10 MLB seasons. Contreras has played 1,078 games with 954 hits, 208 doubles, 11 triples, 172 home runs, 548 RBI's, 37 stolen bases, 419 walks, and a .258 batting average.

Dobbins, 26, was 4-1 with a 4.13 ERA, 13 games, 11 starts, 61 innings, 45 strikeouts, 17 walks, and a whip of 1.28 in 2025. Dobbins made his MLB debut on April 6, 2025, at Fenway Park against the Cardinals. 

Fajardo, 19, was 1-4 with a 2.25 ERA, 19 games, 17 starts, 72 innings, 83 strikeouts, 27 walks, and a whip of 1.10 combined between the Florida Complex League (Rooke ball) and Single-A Salem in 2025.

Fajardo ranked was the Red Sox 23rd best prospect. Fajardo can reach 96 miles per hour with his two-seam fastball and 97 with his four-seamer.

 Overall, Fajardo has played 2 minor league seasons. Fajardo is 2-8 with a 2.93 ERA, 32 games, 30 starts, 122.2 innings, 147 strikeouts, 35 walks, and a whip of 1.13.

Aita, 22, was 5-7 with a 3.98 ERA, 23 games, 19 starts, 115.1 innings, 99 strikeouts, 30 walks, and a whip of 1.05 combined between Single-A Salem and High-A Greenville in 2025. 

Aita can reach 92-95 miles per hour with his fastball.

Overall, it was Aita's 1st minor league season.

On paper the trade seems like it's good for both sides. The Cardinals add more pitching. Yes, the Cardinals lose one of their best offensive bats in Contreras, but you win with pitching. Do the Cardinals have a plan to try to make the offense better in 2026? What move will the Cardinals make next? It seems like Chaim Bloom is doing more of what was needed for the Cardinals current rebuild. 

Contreras is also reunited with former Cardinals teammate, starting pitcher Sonny Gray. Contreras and Gray will return to Busch Stadium in 2026 on April 10th-12th.

St. Louis Cardinals sign Dustin May

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed starting pitcher Dustin May to a one-year contract, worth $12.5 million. The contract includes a mutual option for 2027, worth $20 million or a $500,000 buyout. May, 28, was 7-11 with a 4.96 ERA, 25 games, 23 starts, 132.1 innings, 123 strikeouts, 56 walks, and a whip of 1.42 combined between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Reds Sox. The wins, games, starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for May. 

May helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 2020. 

In 2019, May had a career high (4) holds. 

Overall, May has played 6 seasons in the MLB. May is 19-20 with a 3.86 ERA, 71 games, 57 starts, 5 holds, 324 innings, 297 strikeouts, 113 walks, and a whip of 1.20.

To make room for May on the 40-man roster, the Cardinals have designated outfielder Matt Koperniak for assignment.

In May the Cardinals get a pitcher who has upside in him if they can get him healthy. May had Tommy John surgery in 2023. In 2024, while trying to work his way back, May had surgery for an esophageal tear. That caused May to lose 40 pounds, and his velocity was down. That's two big reasons why May didn't do well in 2025, and because he missed so much time. Those two injures also aren't easy for any pitcher to come back from right away.

If May does well then, it's a win for the Cardinals and May. May then could be traded at the trade deadline for prospects or even re-signed if he likes it in St. Louis. 

The Cardinals current rotation could be Matthew Liberatore, Dustin May, Michael McGreevy, Richard Fitts, and Kyle Leahy. Do you try to find another starting pitcher to upgrade one of those spots? Leahy will compete for a starting rotation spot in spring training. 

St. Louis Blues Claim Jonatan Berggren

 

The St. Louis Blues have claimed right wing Jonatan Berggren off of waivers from the Detroit Red Wings. Berggren, 25, currently has played 15 games with 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points, and a -3 in 2025-2026. 

Berggren had his best season in 2022-2023. That season, Berggren played 67 games with 15 goals, 13 assists, 28 points, and a -14. The goals, assists, and points were all career highs for Berggren. 

In 20242-2025, Berggren played a career high (75) games. 

Overall, Berggren is currently in his 4th NHL season. Berggren has played 169 games with 31 goals, 33 assists, 64 points, and a -31.

Berggren was drafted by the Red Wings in the 2nd-round of the 2018 NHL Draft (33rd overall). 

Berggren is an interesting wavier claim by the Blues. Berggren once was considered to be a high-upside prospect. Maybe a change of scenery can help Berggren? 

St. Louis Cardinals select Matt Pushard

The St. Louis Cardinals have selected RHP Matt Pushard in the 1st-round of the MLB Rule 5 Draft from the Miami Marlins. Pushard, 28, was 4-5 with a 3.61 ERA, 49 games, 1 start, 5 holds, 4 saves, 62.1 innings, 73 strikeouts, 23 walks, and a whip of 1.16 in Triple-A Jacksonville in 2025. The wins, games, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Pushard.

Pushard had a career high (9) saves in 2023, combined between Single-A Jupiter, High-A Beloit, and Double-A Pensacola. 

In 2024, Pushard had a career high (14) holds, combined between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Jacksonville.

 

Overall, Pushard has played 4 minor league seasons. Pushard is 10-12 with a 3.21 ERA, 134 games, 1 start, 20 holds, 14 saves, 174 innings, 199 strikeouts, 67 walks, and a whip of 1.11.

The Cardinals 40-man roster now stands at 40.

Pushard seems like he's a late bloomer. Pushard seems like he's the most MLB-ready reliever. Pushard is great at getting strikeouts. It will be interesting to see if Pushard can make the Cardinals Opening Day roster in spring training.