St. Louis Cardinals to promote Hancel Rincon

The Cardinals plan to promote RHP Hancel Rincon from Triple-A Memphis. Rincon, 24, is currently 6-6 with a 4.03 ERA, 42 games, 3 starts, 3 holds, 1 save, 73.2 innings, 90 strikeouts, 31 walks, and a whip of 1.24 combined between Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis in 2026. The games, holds and save are all career highs for Rincon.

Rincon had his best season in 2024, with High-A Peoria. That season, Rincon was 9-7 with a 3.80 ERA, 24 games, 24 starts, 132.2 innings, 105 strikeouts, 48 walks, and a whip of 1.31. The wins and innings tied career highs from 2023 for Rincon. The starts were a career high for Rincon.

In 2025, combined between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield, Rincon had a career high (108) strikeouts.

Overall, Rincon is currently in his 7th minor league season. Rincon is 32-39 with a 3.62 ERA, 150 games, 99 starts, 4 holds, 1 save, 599 innings, 553 strikeouts, 182 walks, and a whip of 1.19.

Rincon's nickname is "El chchillo", which in English means "the Knife".

Rincon is expected to join the Cardinals on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

 

St. Louis Cardinals to promote Leo Bernal

 

The Cardinals plan to call up catcher Leo Bernal from Triple-A Memphis. Bernal, 22, is currently hitting .278 with 67 runs, 104 hits, 19 doubles, 2 triples, 16 home runs, 77 RBI's, 9 stolen bases, and 51 walks in 2026. The batting average, runs, hits, home runs, RBI's, and walks are all career highs for Bernal.

In 2024, combined between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield, Bernal had a career high (2) triples.

Bernal had career highs in both doubles (19) and stolen bases (13) in 2025, with Double-A Springfield. Bernal also won the 2025 Minor League Gold Glove Award at catcher.

Overall, Bernal is currently in his 6th minor league season. Bernal has played 485 games with 263 runs, 448 hits, 88 doubles, 7 triples, 55 home runs, 306 RBI's, 37 stolen bases, 221 walks, and a .257 batting average.

Bernal currently ranks as the Cardinals 7th best prospect.

Bernal is expected to make his MLB debut on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

St. Louis Cardinals promote Cade Winquest

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have promoted RHP Cade Winquest from Triple-A Memphis. Winquest, 26, is currently 3-1 with a 4.54 ERA, 33 games, 1 hold, 39.2 innings, 57 strikeouts, 14 walks, and a whip of 1.16 in 2026. The games are a career high for Winquest.

Winquest had his best season in 2025, combined between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield. That season, Winquest was 5-7 with a 3.99 ERA, 25 games, 23 starts, 1 hold, 106 innings, 110 strikeouts, 39 walks, and a whip of 1.36. The wins, starts, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Winquest.

In 2024, with High-A Peoria, Winquest had career highs in both holds (1) and saves (1).

Overall, Winquest is currently in his 4th minor league season. Winquest is 11-17 with a 4.24 ERA, 91 games, 38 starts, 3 holds, 1 save, 252.1 innings, 276 strikeouts, 106 walks, and a whip of 1.32.

To make room for Winquest on the active roster the Cardinals have placed RHP Peter Strzelecki (fight forearm extensor inflammation) on the 15-day IL. Winquest will wear no.63. Winquest can reach 100 miles per hour on his fastball.

This will be Winquest's 2nd time in the MLB. Winquest made the New York Yankees Opening Day roster but was designated for assignment on April 10, 2026, without appearing in a game.

Winquest was returned to the Cardinals on April 13, 2026. 

St. Louis Cardinals to promote Joshua Baez

 

The Cardinals will promote outfielder Joshua Baez from Triple-A Memphis, and he is expected to be in the starting lineup on Saturday at Wrigley Field. Baez, 23, is currently hitting .256 with 79 runs, 105 hits, 22 doubles, 3 triples, 34 home runs, 90 RBI's, 21 stolen bases, and 37 walks in 2026. The runs, home runs, and RBI's are all career highs for Baez.

Baez had career highs in hits (120), doubles (23), stolen bases (54), and walks (59) in 2025, combined between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield.

Baez currently ranks as the Cardinals 3rd best prospect.

Overall, Baez is currently in his 6th minor league season. Baez has played 452 games with 279 runs, 397 hits, 88 doubles, 12 triples, 78 home runs, 275 RBI's, 149 stolen bases, 203 walks, and a .251 batting average.

Baez still needs to improve on a few things, but it will be nice seeing what he can do in the MLB. It will also be great having Jon Jay working with Baez on his defense. 

St. Louis Cardinals claim Everson Pereira

The St. Louis Cardinals have claimed outfielder Everson Pereira off of waivers from the Chicago White Sox. Pereira, 25, is currently hitting .225 with 8 runs, 18 hits, 5 doubles, 4 home runs, 11 RBI's, 1 stolen base, and 5 walks in 2026. The runs, hits, doubles, home runs, and RBI's are all career highs for Pereira. 

In 2023, with the New York Yankees, Pereira had career highs in both stolen bases (4) and walks (8).

Overall, Pereira is currently in his 3rd MLB season. Pereira has played 77 games with 21 runs, 41 hits, 10 doubles, 6 home runs, 29 RBI's, 7 stolen bases, 20 walks, and a .172 batting average. 

Pereira is out of options, and the Cardinals will need to clear a spot on the active roster to make room for him. 

Pereira is a former top 100 guy from Baseball America. Pereira has shown big potential before but comes with a lot of strikeouts. 

Could claiming Pereria mean that Jordan Walker goes to the IL? Walker has missed the last 2 games due to knee inflammation. There's a good chance that Pereira could see playing time with the Cardinals. 

 

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.