St. Louis Cardinals Extend Oliver Marmol

The St. Louis Cardinals have re-signed manager Oliver Marmol to a two-year contract extension. The contract includes a team option for 2029. Marmol, 39. led the Cardinals to a record of 78-84 with a .481 winning percentage in 2025. 

Marmol had his best season in 2022. That season, Marmol was 93-69 with a .574 winning percentage. The wins and winning percentage were both career highs for Marmol in his managerial career. 

Overall, Marmol has managed 4 seasons. Marmol has managed 648 games and is 325-323 with a winning percentage of .502. In the playoffs, Marmol is 0-2. 

Fans might not be excited about this move.  If fans set back and think for a bit, the move makes sense. The Cardinals are in a rebuild right? If I recall correctly, they are. What big name manager would want to manage in a rebuild? Probably no big-name manager. The move also gives Chaim Bloom more time to evaluate Marmol with a young roster. Marmol does well with young players, too. Players also like Marmol. You try to get the team ready to win first. Then, if Marmol proves he can't be successful with a team that can win, you look for an upgrade at manager. If Marmol were to be fired now, you'd just get someone similar to him with no MLB managing experience. Then fans would complain about that manager when he has the same issues due to not being able to win. 

If Marmol was so bad as a manager as fans think, then why does he have a better winning percentage than Tony La Russa did in his first 4 seasons as a Cardinals manager? Can someone explain that to me? La Russa even had more talent to work with than Marmol has had. 

In the National League, Marmol is the 3rd longest-tenured manager behind Dave Roberts (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Torey Lovullo (Arizona Diamondbacks).

St. Louis Cardinals 2026 Season Preview

 

Offseason additions: Starting pitcher Dustin May, starting pitcher Richard Fitts, starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins, starting pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje, starting pitcher Brandon Clarke,  starting pitcher, Yhoiker Fajardo, starting pitcher Blake Aita, starting pitcher Jack Martinez, RHP Ryne Stanek, RHP George Soriano, RHP Matt Pushard, RHP Robbie Knowles, RHP Dominic Freeberger, LHP Justin Bruihl, LHP Jared Shuster, LHP Bruce Zimmermann, RHP Scott Blewett, RHP Justin Militello, infielder Ramon Urias, first baseman/outfielder Bligh Madris, outfielder Nelson Velazquez, outfielder Tai Peete, and outfielder Colton Ledbetter.

Offseason substitutions: Starting pitcher Sonny Gray (traded to Boston Red Sox), starting pitcher Miles Mikolas (signed with Washington Nationals), RHP Jorge Alcala (minor league contract with Toronto Blue Jays), RHP Roddery Munoz (claimed off waivers by Cincinnati Reds, now with Houston Astros), LHP John King (signed with Miami Marllins), LHP Anthony Veneziano (signed with the SSG Landers in Korea), first baseman Wilson Contreras (traded to Boston Red Sox), third baseman Nolan Arenado (traded to Arizona Diamondbacks), second baseman Brendan Donovan (traded to Seattle Mariners), and outfielder Michael Siani (claimed off waivers by Atlanta Braves, now with Los Angeles Dodgers).

Point team prediction: 75-80 wins (4th place in NL Central). 

The Cardinals spent the off season heading into 2026 restocking their farm system. The Cardinals have needed to get better talent in their farm system for the last couple of seasons. On paper, the moves seem to have paid off for the new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. Baseball America ranks the Cardinals farm system the second best in baseball behind the Pittsburgh Pirates. For comparison with other sites, FanGraphs ranks the Cardinals' farm system no.1 and ESPN 9th. 

The Cardinals also hired three new player development coaches Casey Demko (infield coordinator), Hugh Quattlebaum (hitting coordinator), and Dalton Hurd (director of hitting). Demko, 29, joins the Cardinals organization after being an assistant coach for Abilene Christian University. 

Quattlebaum, 42, most recently was an assistant hitting coach with the Atlanta Braves for 1 season (2025). Before joining the Braves coaching staff, Quattlebaum was the New York Mets hitting coach for 1 season (2021). 

Hurd, 30, most recently was the Baltimore Orioles' minor hitting coordinator for 1 season (2025). Before joining the Orioles organization, Hurd was a hitting coach for the San Francisco Giants at their Arizona Complex League. 

Hurd was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 25th round in the 2018 MLB Draft. 

Overall, Hurd played 2 minor league seasons. Hurd played 33 games with 12 runs, 15 hits, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 16 RBI's, 1 stolen base, 12 walks, and a .156 batting average. 

Starting rotation (5): 

Matthew Liberatore, Dustin May, Richard Fitts, Michael McGreevy, and Kyle Leahy

Bullpen (8):

Matt Svanson, Riley O'Brien, Ryne Stanek, George Soriano, Matt Pushard, Andre Pallante, JoJo Romero, and Justin Bruihl.

Lineup:

2B JJ Wetherholt, DH Ivan Herrera, 1B Alec Burleson, 3B Nolan Gorman, LF Nelson Velazquez (Lars Nootbaar is expected to start the season in the IL), SS Masyn Winn, RF Jordan Walker, C Pedro Pages, and CF Victor Scott II

Bench (4):

C Jimmy Crooks, OF Nathan Church, infielder Ramon Urias, and infielder Thomas Saggese.

Fantasy stud:

Ivan Herrera and Alec Burleson

Prospects to watch: 

JJ Wetherholt, Quinn Mathews, and Leonardo Bernal

St. Louis Cardinals sign Ramon Urias

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed infielder Ramon Urias to a one-year contract, worth $2 million. Urias can earn up to $2 million in incentives from plate appearances. The contract includes $500,000 buyout on a mutual option for 2027. Urias, 31, hit .241 with 33 runs, 85 hits, 17 doubles, 11 home runs, 44 RBI's, 3 stolen bases, and 27 walks combined between the Baltimore Orioles and Houston Astros in 2025. 

Urias had his best season in 2022, with the Orioles. That season, Urias hit .248 with 50 runs, 100 hits, 17 doubles, 1 triple, 16 home runs, 51 RBI's, 1 stolen base, and 30 walks. The runs, hits, home runs, RBI's, and walks were all career highs for Urias. Urias also won a Gold Glove Award. 

In 2023, Urias had career highs in doubles (22), triples (3), and stolen bases (3). 

Overall, Urias has played 6 MLB seasons. Urias has played 541 games with 203 runs, 431 hits, 81 doubles, 6 triples, 50 home runs, 215 RBI's, 9 stolen bases, 137 walks, and a .257 batting average. 

This will be Urias's 2nd tenure with the Cardinals. Urias previously was in the Cardinals' minors for 2 seasons (2018-2019). 

To make room for Urias on the 40-man roster, the Cardinals have designated RHP Zak Kent for assignment. Kent, 27, was recently reacquired by the Cardinals from the Texas Rangers on February 16, 2026. 

Urias will wear no.33. 

I think the Cardinals view Urias as a veteran presence off the bench who can fill in at times. Urias also plays good defense. 

St. Louis Cardinals acquire George Soriano

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded RHP Andre Granillo to the Washington Nationals for RHP George Soriano. Granillo, 25, was 1-0 with a 4.71 ERA, 14 games, 1 save, 21 innings, 18 strikeouts, 7 walks, and a whip of 1.18 in in 2025. Granillo made his MLB debut on June 12, 2025, at American Family Field against the Milwaukee Brewers. 

In Triple-A Memphis, Granillo was 5-0 with a 1.29 ERA, 29 games, 4 holds, 2 saves, 42 innings, 58 strikeouts, 14 walks, and a whip of 0.83 in 2025.

Granillo had his best season in 2024, combined between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis. That season, Granillo has 8-2 with a 3.88 ERA, 48 games, 5 holds, 5 saves, 65 innings, 80 strikeouts, 41 walks, and a whip of 1.26. The wins and holds were both career highs for Granillo. 

In 2023, combined between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis, Granillo had career highs in games (53), saves (14), innings (68.1), and strikeouts (89). 

Overall, Granillo has played 5 minor league seasons. Granillo is 22-15 with a 3.55 ERA, 183 games, 13 holds, 31 saves, 245.2 innings, 332 strikeouts, 132 walks, and a whip of 1.22.

Soriano, 26, was 2-0 with a 8.35 ERA, 24 games, 1 save, 36,2 innings, 36 strikeouts, 19 walks, and a whip of 1.77 with the Miami Marlins in 2025. The wins were a career high for Soriano. 

In Triple-A Jacksonville, Soriano was 4-1 with a 2.32 ERA, 29 games, 1 start, 4 holds, 2 saves, 42.2 innings, 49 strikeouts, 15 walks, and a whip of 0.98.

Soriano had his best MLB season in 2023. That season, Soriano was 0-0 with a 3.81 ERA, 26 games, 1 start, 1 save, 52 innings, 52 strikeouts, 23 walks, and a whip of 1.33. The games, start, save, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Soriano. 

In 2024, Soriano had a career high (2) holds. 

Overall, Soriano has played 3 MLB seasons. Soriano is 3-1 with a 5.95 ERA, 72 games, 1 start, 2 holds, 3 saves, 118 innings, 117 strikeouts, 55 walks, and a whip of 1.47.

Overall, in the minors, Soriano has played 8 seasons. Soriano is 23-25 with a 3.40 ERA, 179 games, 62 starts, 2 complete games, 1 shutout, 17 holds, 16 saves, 490 innings, 510 strikeouts, 210 walks, and a whip of 1.27.

Soriano is a cousin of former MLB outfielder/second baseman Alfonso Soriano.

On paper, Soriano and Granillo are pretty similar if you compare their minor league numbers. Soriano seems to have the higher upside than Granillo does, but he needs to improve his command. 

St. Louis Cardinals sign Justin Militello

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed RHP Justin Militello to a two-year minor league contract. Militello, 22, was 2-5 with a 5.86 ERA, 15 games, 7 starts, 43 innings, 44 strikeouts, 28 walks, and a whip of 1.26 combined between the FCL Braves and Low-A Augusta in 2025. The wins tied a career from 2024 for Militello. The games, starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career high for Militello. 

After being released, Militello signed with the Lake County DuckHounds of the American Association. Militello was 0-0 with a 19.29 ERA, 3 games, 2.1 innings, 5 walks, and 1 strikeout. 

Overall, Militello has played 2 minor league seasons. Militello is 4-10 with a 7.71 ERA, 27 games, 12 starts, 74.2 innings, 68 strikeouts, 55 walks, and a whip of 1.06. 

The Atlanta Braves signed Militello in 2022 as an undrafted free agent out of high school. 

The Cardinals have assigned Militello to High-A Peoria. 

Militello throws hard but needs to improve his control. Militello can reach 95 miles per hour with the fastball. 

Militello seems to be a low-risk high reward type of signing. 

 

St. Louis Blues claim Jack Finley

 

The St. Louis Blues have claimed center Jack Finley off of waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Finley, 23, currently has played 22 games with 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points, and a plus 2 in 2025-2026. The games, goals, assist, and plus mark are all career highs for Finley. 

In the AHL, with the Syracuse Crunch, Finley has played 3 games with 1 goal, 2 assists, and 3 points in 2025-2026.

Finley had career highs in both assists (13) and points (32) in 2023-2024. 

In 2024-2025, Finley had a career high (14) goals. 

Overall, in the AHL, Finley has played 5 seasons. Finley has played 164 games with 40 goals, 44 assists, 84 points, and a plus 13.

Overall, Finley is currently in his 2nd NHL season. Finley has played 23 games with 2 goals, 1 assist, 3 points, and a plus 3.

Finley was drafted by the Lightning in the 2nd-round (57th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft. Finley is the son of former Blues defenseman Jeff Finley. Finley's dad played 6 seasons with the Blues (1999-2004). Jack was also born in St. Louis. 

Finley could have upside in him he gets ice time. Finley had trouble getting ice time with the Lightning.

St. Louis Cardinals claim Bryan Ramos

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have claimed third baseman Bryan Ramos off of waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. Ramos, 23, hit .167 with 1 run, 2 hits, 2 doubles, 2 RBI's, and 4 walks with the Chicago White Sox in 2025. 

In Triple-A Charlotte, Ramos hit .216 with 60 runs, 80 hits, 17 doubles, 1 triple, 16 home runs, 51 RBI's, 13 stolen bases, and 42 walks in 2025. The stolen bases tied a career high from 2021. 

Ramos had his best season in 2022, combined between High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham. That season, Ramos hit .266 with 72 runs, 123 hits, 19 doubles, 1 triple, 22 home runs, 86 RBI's, 1 stolen base, and 45 walks. The batting average, runs, hits, home runs, and RBI's were all career highs for Ramos. 

In 2021, with Single-A Kannapolis, Ramos had career highs in doubles (23), triples (6), and walks (51).

Ramos had his best MLB season in 2024. That season, Ramos hit .202 with 13 runs, 20 hits, 4 doubles, 3 home runs, 11 RBI's, and 7 walks. 

Overall, in the MLB, Ramos has played 2 seasons. Ramos has played 36 games with 14 runs, 22 hits, 6 doubles, 3 home runs, 13 RBI's, 7 walks, and a .198 batting average.

Overall, in the minors, Ramos has played 6 seasons. Ramos has played 560 games with 324 runs, 521 hits, 97 doubles, 11 triples, 80 home runs, 314 RBI's, 42 stolen bases, 226 walks, and a .249 batting average. 

Could there be higher potential in Ramos? Ramos ranked as the White Sox 3rd-best prospect in 2024. 

Ramos hits right-handed, which could help him if he does well in spring training. Ramos is out of minor league options.