St. Louis Cardinals sign Phil Maton

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed RHP Phil Maton to a one-year contract, worth $2 million. Maton, 31, was 3-3 with a 3.66 ERA, 71 games, 18 holds, 3 saves, 64 innings, 60 strikeouts, and 24 walks combined between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets. The games, holds, and saves were all career highs for Maton. 

In 2021, combined between the Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros, Maton had a career high (85) strikeouts. 

Maton helped the Astros win the World Series in 2022. 

In 2023, Maton had a career high (66) innings. 

Overall, Maton has played 8 seasons in the MLB. Maton is 19-15 with a 4.16 ERA, 1 start, 64 holds, 5 saves, 411 innings, 458 strikeouts, 160 walks, and a whip of 1.29.

To make room on the 40-man roster the Cardinals have designated LHP Bailey Horn for assignment. 

Maton will replace Andrew Kittredge (who signed with the Baltimore Orioles, earlier in the offseason) as a setup man for closer Ryan Helsley. 

The Cardinals had interest in Maton last offseason before he signed with the Rays. 

Maton should be a good addition for the Cardinals bullpen.

St. Louis Cardinals 2025 Season Preview

 

Offseason additions: RHP Roddery Munoz, RHP Jawilme Ramirez, LHP Oddanier Mosqueda, LHP Bailey Horn, LHP Rob Kaminsky, RHP Zack Weiss, C Yohel Pozo, INF/OF Jose Barrero, OF Michael Helman, OF Ryan Vilade, and Miguel Ugueto.

Offseason subtractions: SP Lance Lynn, SP Kyle Gibson, RHP Andrew Kittredge, RHP Keynan Middleton, RHP Nick Robertson, RHP Adam Kloffenstein, 1B Paul Goldschmidt, and 1B/DH Matt Carpenter. 

Point team prediction: 70-80 wins (3rd place in NL Central). 

The win total can always change if the team plays above their heads like they did at times last season or if the offense hits better in 2025. To me I'm not worried much about the pitching. It's offense that is the concern. The Cardinals decided to hit a reset to try to get player development fixed. For whatever reason, the Cardinals front office has ignored player development for the past several seasons. Other MLB teams jumped ahead of the Cardinals in player development the Cardinals fell behind. It's nice to see the Cardinals finally trying to fix player development. It might take a few years, but the good thing is they have some good prospects already in the system. On paper the new guys coming in, should help get player development fixed. 

After 2025, Chaim Bloom will replace John Mozeliak as President of Baseball Operations. The Cardinals brought in Rob Cerfolio (from the Cleveland Guardians) to be Assistant General Manager, Player Development, and Perormance, Matt Piperpoont (from the Seattle Mariners) to be Director of Pitching, Larry Day (from the Cleveland Guardians) to be Director of Player Development, and Carl Kochan (from the Los Angeles Dodgers) to be Director of Performance. 

On the minor league side, the Cardinals brought in four coaches, only one of them is familiar with the organization. Those coaches are Ryan Barba (from the San Diego Padres) as Minor League Field Coordinator, Jose Leger (who managed the Springfield Cardinals for four seasons (2021-2024) as Assistant Minor League Field Coordinator, Austin Meine (from the Baltimore Orioles) as Minor League Pitching Coordinator, and Ethan Goforth (from the Pittsburgh Pirates) as Minor League Catching Coordinator. 

Brant Brown is the Cardinals new hitting coach and has had success before going to the Seattle Mariners. In Seattle, the Mariners had Brown as bench coach and offensive coordinator. Brown was doing two different jobs. Could that be why the Mariners offense wasn't good under Brown? Keep in mind the Mariners have had offense problems for a while. They keep letting go of different hitting coach. 

Jon Jay is back on the Cardinals coaching staff as the first base coach and working with outfielders. Willie McGee moved into a front office role (his decision). McGee will still be around at times and be able to go help outfielders out in the Cardinals minor leagues. 

To me fans should just try to watch and hope the younger players improve. Don't expect much of anything this season. If the younger players improve, then Bloom will be able to decide what should happen in 2026. Fans be glad that the Cardinals didn't go out and get stuck in another bad contact. It helps Bloom a lot after 2025 with two bad contracts gone in Miles Mikolas and Steven Matz. Erick Fedde and Ryan Helsley can also be free agents. Do the Cardinals try to trade Fedde and Matz during the season? Mikolas has a no-trade clause, so the other two would be easier to trade. Do the Cardinals trade Helsley during the season or decide to sign him to a contract extension?

Does Nolan Arenado get traded during the season? I think he could, if he does well. To me he needs to do well for more teams to really want him. If Arenado does get traded, that also helps give more playing time to one of the younger players. What if Arenado does well and the Cardinals do well? That would be great for everyone. Just things to think about. I don't think the Cardinals do well this season, but we all can be wrong at time. 

Starting rotation:

Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde, Miles Mikolas, Andre Pallante, and Matthew Liberatore.

Bullpen:

Ryan Helsley, JoJo Romero, John King, Steven Matz (long man, if the Cardinals were to do this), Gordon Graceffo, Ryan Fernandez, Chris Roycroft, and Riley O'Brien.

Lineup:

2B Brendan Donovan, LF Lars Nootbaar, 1B Willson Contreras, DH Alec Burleson, C Ivan Herrera, 3B Nolan Arenado, RF Jordan Walker, SS Maysn Winn, and CF Victor Scott.

Bench:

C Pedro Pages, INF/OF Jose Barrero, 2B/3B Nolan Gorman, and OF Michael Siani. 

Fantasy Stud:

Ryan Helsley

Prospects to watch:

Quinn Mathews, Jimmy Crooks, and JJ Wetherholt.

St. Louis Blues extend Tyler Tucker

 

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed defenseman Tyler Tucker to a two-year contract extension, worth $1.85 million. Tucker, 24, currently has played 20 games with 2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points, and a -1 in 2024-2025. The goals are a career high for Tucker. 

Tucker also has spilt time in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds this season. In the AHL, Tucker has played 19 games with 4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points, and a plus 6.

In 2022-2023, Tucker had career highs in games (26), assists (3), and points (4). 

Overall, Tucker is currently in his 3rd NHL season. Tucker has played 72 games with 4 goals, 6 assists, 10 points, and a -9. 

The contract is a good deal for both sides. Tucker is a young and physical defenseman. If Tucker can improve over the next two seasons, he can earn a bigger contract. 

St. Louis Blues acquire Cam Fowler

 

The St. Louis Blues have traded defenseman Jeremie Biakabatuka, and a 2027 2nd-round pick to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Cam Fowler, and a 2027 4th-round pick. The Ducks will also retain $2.5 million on Fowler's $6.5 million remaining over for this season and next season. 

Biakabutuka, 22, currently has split the 2024-2025 season between the ECHL Florida Everblades and the AHL Springfield Thunderbirds. In the ECHL, Biakabatuka has played 13 games with 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points, and a -1. 

In the AHL, Biakabatuka has played 1 game. 

Fowler, 33, currently has played 17 games with 4 assists, 4 points, and a -7 in 2024-2025. 

Fowler had his best season in 2022-2023. That season, Fowler played 82 games with 10 goals, 38 assists, 48 points, and a -23. The assists and points were both career highs for Fowler. 

In 2016-2017, Fowler had a career high (11) goals. 

Overall, Fowler is currently in his 15th NHL season. Fowler has played 991 games with 96 goals, 361 assists, 457 points, and a -129. In the playoffs, Fowler has played 62 games with 6 goals, 27 assists, 33 points, and a plus 3. 

The Blues are trying to upgrade their defense a little and hope that a change of scenery can help Fowler.

St. Louis Blues fire Drew Bannister; hire Jim Montgomery as Head Coach

 

The St. Louis Blues have fired head coach Drew Bannister. Bannister, 50, was 9-12-1 with 19 points in 22 games to start the 2024-2025 season. Bannister took over last season as head coach, after Craig Berube was fired on December 12, 2023. At the time of Berube's firing, the Blues were 13-14-1 with 27 points in 28 games. Then, Bannister in 54 games was 30-19-5 with 65 points. 

Overall, Bannister coached the Blues for 2 seasons. Bannister coached 76 games and was 39-31-6 with 84 points and a winning percentage of .553. 

To replace Bannister, the Blues have hired Jim Montgomery as their new head coach. Montgomery, 55, becomes the Blues 28th head coach in franchise history. Montgomery will get a five-year contract. Montgomery was recently fired by the Boston Bruins on November 19, 2024. Montgomery was in his 3rd season as the Bruins head coach.

Montgomery had his best season in 2022-2023. That season, Montgomery led the Bruins to a record of 65-12-5 with 135 points. The wins and points were both career highs for Montgomery in his NHL head coaching career. The wins and points also set an NHL record in a single season. Montgomery ended up winning the Jack Adams Award for his success in 2022-2023.

Before joining the Bruins, Montgomery was head coach of the Dallas Stars for 2 seasons (2018-2020). After being fired by the Dallas Stars, Montgomery was an assistant coach for the Blues for 2 seasons (2020-2022) under Berube.  

Overall, Montgomery is currently in his 5th season as an NHL lead cooch. Montgomery has coached 298 games and has a record of 180-64-33 with a .659 winning percentage. In the playoffs, Montgomery is 16-17 with a .485 winning percentage. 

This will be Montgomery's 3rd tenure with the Blues. As a player, Montgomery played for the Blues for 1 season (1993-1994). 

Motgomery should be able to do well with the Blues. He has a strong bond with Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, and Jordan Kyrou. Montgomery also does good job working with young players. 

The Blues have been wanting Montgomery for a while. If Montgomery had been available before the Blues decided to make Bannister the full-time head coach, he would have been hired instead. 

Motgomery's 1st game as Blues head coach will be on Monday night in New York against the Rangers. 

St. Louis Blues extend Alexey Toropchenko

 

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed right wing Alexey Toropchenko to a one-year contract extension, worth $1.7 million. Toropchenko, 25, currently has played 7 games with 1 assist, and 1 point in 2024-2025. 

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 Torpchenko. 

In 2022-2023, Toropchenko had a career high (9) assists. 

Overall, Toropchenko is currently in his 4th NHL season. Toropchenko has played 186 games with 26 goals, 17 assists, 43 points, and a -6. In the playoffs, Toropchenko has played 12 games with 2 assists, 2 points, and a plus 2. 

St. Louis Blues extend Jake Neighbours

 

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed left wing Jake Neighbours to a two-year contract extension, worth $7.5 million. Neighbours, 22, currently has played 6 games with 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points, and a -2 in 2024-2025. 

Neighbours had his best season in 2023-2024. That season, Neighbours played 77 games with 27 goals, 11 assists, 38 points, and a -16. The games, goals, assists, and points were all career highs for Neighbours. 

Overall, Neighbours is currently in his 4th NHL season. Neighbours has played 135 games with 36 goals, 17 assists, 53 points, and a -39. 

The Blues did a good job to re-signed Neighbours now. If the Blues hadn't signed Neighbours to a new contract a team could have given him an offer sheet next summer to try to steal him.