St. Louis Cardinals trade Lars Nootbaar

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded outfielder Lars Nootbaar to the Arizona Diamondbacks for starting pitcher Daniel Eagen, left-handed reliever Sandro Santana, and a player to be named later. Nootbaar, 28, is currently hitting .234 with 22 runs, 37 hits, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 16 RBI's, 1 stolen base, and 24 walks in 2026.

Nootbaar had his best season in 2023. That season, Nootbaar hit .261 with 74 runs, 111 hits, 23 doubles, 1 triple, 14 home runs, 46 RBI's, 11 stolen bases, and 72 walks. The batting average, runs, stolen bases, and walks were all career highs for Nootbaar. 

In 2022, Nootbaar had career highs in both triples (3) and home runs (14). 

Nootbaar had career highs in hits (119), doubles (24), and RBI's (48).

Overall, Nootbaar is currently in his 6th MLB season. Nootbaar has played 575 games with 271 runs, 444 hits, 92 doubles, 10 triples, 61 home runs, 210 RBI's, 29 stolen bases, 276 walks, and a .241 batting average.

Eagen, 23, is currently 5-8 with a 4.95 ERA, 20 games, 20 starts, 87.1 innings, 109 strikeouts, 34 walks, and a whip of 1.31 with Double-A Amarillo in 2026.

Eagen had his best season in 2025. That season, Eagen was 7-8 with a 2.99 ERA, 23 games, 23 starts, 117.1 innings, 153 strikeouts, 52 walks, and a whip of 1.12 combined between High-A Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo. The wins, games, starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Eagen. The ERA was also a career best for Eagen.

Eagen ranked as the Diamondbacks 5th best prospect. 

Overall, Eagen is currently in his 2nd minor league season. Eagen is 12-16 with a 3.83 ERA, 43 games, 43 starts, 204.2 innings, 262 strikeouts, 86 walks, and a whip of 1.20.

Santana, 21, is currently 5-2 with a 2.14 ERA, 31 games, 4 holds, 4 saves, 46.1 innings, 70 strikeouts, 20 walks, and a whip of 1.10 combined between High-A Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo in 2026. The wins, games, holds, saves, and strikeouts are all career highs for Santana. The ERA is also a career best for Santana. 

In 2025, combined between the Arizona Complex League and Single-A Visalia, Santana had a career high (59.1) innings. 

Santana ranked as the Diamondbacks 26th best prospect. Santana can reach 95-97 miles per hour with his fastball. 

Santana is currently in his 4th minor league season. Santana is 13-9 with a 3.46 ERA, 75 games, 4 starts, 8 holds, 8 saves, 153.1 innings, 186 strikeouts, 81 walks, and a whip of 1.30.

Nootbaar is signed through 2027. The Diamondbacks get a player who should be able to help their lineup in Nootbaar. When healthy, Nootbaar is a good player. 

The Cardinals get a solid return with Eagen and Santana. Eagen and Santana should be able to help the Cardinals at some point in the future. 

St. Louis Cardinals acquire Caleb Ferguson

The St. Louis Cardinals have acquired left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson from the Cincinnati Reds for $250,000 in international bonus space. Ferguson, 30, is currently 1-0 with a 4.01 ERA, 26 games, 1 start, 3 holds, 1 save, 24.2 innings, 22 strikeouts, 11 walks, and a whip of 1.50 in 2026. 

Ferguson had his best season in 2023, with the Los Angeles Dodgers. That season, Fergson was 7-4 with a 3.43 ERA, 68 games, 7 starts, 17 holds, 3 saves, 60.1 innings, 70 strikeouts, 23 walks, and a whip of 1.15. The wins, starts, holds, saves, and strikeouts were all career highs for Ferguson. 

In 2025, combined between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners, Ferguson had career highs in both games (70) and innings (65.1). 

Overall, Ferguson is currently in his 8th MLB season. Ferugson is 25-17 with a 3.69 ERA, 359 games, 15 starts, 68 holds, 7 saves, 351.2 innings, 387 strikeouts, 140 walks, and a whip of 1.31. In Ferguson's career against him, left-handed hitters hit .225 and right-handed hitters hit .249.

Ferguson can be a free agent after the season. 
 

St. Louis Cardinals trade Dustin May, JoJo Romero

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded starting pitcher Dustin May, and left-handed reliever JoJo Romero to the Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder Josiah Ragsdale, and outfielder Alexander Frias. May, 28, is currently 5-7 with a 4.38 ERA, 21 games, 21 starts, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 109 innings, 106 strikeouts, 35 walks, and a whip of 1.28 in 2026. The complete game and shutout are both career highs for May. May also has 10 quality starts, which tie a career high from 2025.

May had a career high (4) holds in 2019, with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In 2020, May helped the Dodgers win the World Series. 

May had his best season in 2025, combined between the Dodgers and Boston Red Sox. That season, May 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. The wins, games, starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for May.

Overall, May is currently in his 7th MLB season. May is 24-27 with a 3.99 ERA, 92 games, 78 starts, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 5 holds, 433 innings, 403 strikeouts, 148 walks, and a whip of 1.22.

Romero, 29, is currently 1-3 with a 3.35 ERA, 44 games, 20 holds, 43 innings, 43 strikeouts, 16 walks, and a whip of 1.30.

May had his best season in 2025. That season, May was 4-5 with a 2.07 ERA, 65 games, 24 holds, 8 saves, 61 innings, 55 strikeouts, 29 walks, and a whip of 1.25. The saves, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Romero. The ERA was also a career best for Romero. 

In 2024, Romero had career highs in wins (7), games (65), and holds (30). 

Overall, Romero is currently in his 7th MLB season. Romero is 16-14 with a 3.51 ERA, 241 games, 84 holds, 12 saves, 235.2 innings, 226 strikeouts, 87 walks, and a whip of 1.24.

Ragsdale, 22, is currently hitting .316 with 85 runs, 98 hits, 21 doubles, 2 triples, 19 home runs, 51 RBI's, 31 stolen bases, and 67 walks combined between High-A Wisconsin and Double-A Biloxi in 2026. The batting average, runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI's stolen bases, and walks are wall career highs for Ragsdale.

Ragsdale ranked as the Brewers 13th best prospect. 

Overall, Ragsdale is currently in his 2nd minor league season. Ragsdale has played 108 games with 100 runs, 119 hits, 22 doubles, 2 triples, 19 home runs, 57 RBI's, 40 stolen bases, 83 walks, and a .313 batting average.

Frias, 18, is currently hitting .342 with 52 runs, 78 hits, 16 doubles, 4 triples, 8 home runs, 62 RBI's, 19 stolen bases, and 29 walks combined between the Arizona Complex Leagues and Single-A Wilson. The batting average, runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI's, stolen bases, and walks are all career highs for Frias.

Frias ranked as the Brewers 11th best prospect.

Overall, Frias is currently in his 2nd minor league season. Frias has played 87 games with 74 runs, 108 hits, 21 doubles, 4 triples, 9 home runs, 79 RBI's, 26 stolen bases, 43 walks, and a .334 batting average.

The Brewers upgrade their starting rotation and bullpen with the additions of Dustin May and JoJo Romero. May and Romero can be free agents after the season. 

On paper the Cardinals get a great return with Ragsdale and Frias. It's shocking that the Brewers would give up two top prospects for two rentals. There's a chance that Ragsdale could become a centerfield option for the Cardinals in the future. 

 

St. Louis Blues extend Connor McMichael

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed center Connor McMichael to a six-year contract extension, worth $40.5 million. McMichael, 25, played 78 games with 14 goals, 32 assists, 46 points, and a plus 8 with the Washington Capitals in 2025-2026. The assists were a career high for McMichael.

McMichael had his best season in 2024-2025. That season. McMichael played 82 games with 26 goals, 31 assists, 57 points, and a plus 19. The games, goals, points, and plus mark were all career highs for McMichael.

Overall, McMichael has played 6 NHL seasons. McMichael has played 315 games with 67 goals, 87 assists, 154 points, and a plus 4. In the playoffs, McMichael has played 18 games with 5 goals, 3 assists, and 8 points. 

The Blues acquired McMichael from the Capitals on June 23, 2026, along with Milton Gastrin and a 2026 1st-round pick for center Jordan Kyrou. 
 

St. Louis Cardinals extend JJ Wetherholt

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have re-signed second baseman JJ Wetherholt to an eight-year contract extension, worth $112.5 million. The contract includes $19.5 million in performance bonuses. From the performance bonuses, the contract could end up being worth $132 million. 

Wetherholt, 23, is currently hitting .267 with 57 runs, 91 hits, 10 doubles, 13 home runs, 36 RBI's, 9 stolen bases, and 38 walks in 2026. 

Overall, Wetherholt is currently in his 1st MLB season. 

Wetherholt has developed himself into one of the top rookies this season in the MLB. It's great to see the Chaim Bloom reward Wetherholt with a long-term contract extension. Could the Cardinals extend first baseman Alec Burleson or right fielder Jordan Walker next?

St. Louis Blues sign Dillon Dube

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The St. Louis Blues have signed center Dillon Dube to a one-year, one-way contract, worth $850,000. Dube, 27, signed a professional tryout contract with the (AHL) Springfield Thunderbirds on December 10, 2025. 

Dube ended up playing 46 games with 20 goals, 17 assists, 37 points, and a -1 with the Thunderbirds.  In the playoffs, Dube played 12 games with 5 goals, 3 assists, 8 points, and a -3.

Dube last played in NHL in 2023-2024, with the Calgary Flames. That season, Dube played 43 games with 3 goals, 4 assists, 7 points, and a -13. 

Dube had his best season in 2022-2023. That season, Dube played 82 games with 18 goals, 27 assists, 45 points, and a -6. The games, assists, and points were all career highs for Dube. The goals tied a career high from 2021-2022 for Dube.

Overall, Dube has played 325 games with 57 goals, 70 assists, 127 points, and a -17. In the playoffs, Dube has played 22 games with 4 goals, 2 assists, 5 points, and a -1. 

 Dube could end up being a good signing for the Blues. Dube became a fan favorite with the Thunderbirds.

St. Louis Blues sign Ross Johnston

 

 

The St. Louis Blues have signed left wing Ross Johnston to a three-year contract, worth $6 million. Johnston, played 62 games with 3 goals, 11 assists, and 14 points with the Anaheim Ducks in 2025-2026. The assists and points were both career highs for Johnston. The goals tied a career high from 2017-2018 for Johnston. 

 

Johnston played a career high (68) games in 2023-2024. 

 

Overall, Johnston has played 10 NHL seasons. Johnson has played 307 games with 14 goals, 32 assists, 46 points, and a -17. In the playoffs, Johnston has played 10 games with a -1. 

 

Johnston reunited with former Ducks teammates defenseman Cam Fowler and center Mason McTavish. Johnston is also reunited with former Ducks head coach Greg Cronin (Blues assistant coach). 

 

The Blues add some toughness and grit to their roster with the addition of Johnston. The Blues have needed some toughness and grit.