Troy Brouwer Back With Blues

The St. Louis Blues have signed free agent right wing Troy Brouwer to a one-year, two way contract worth $750,000. Brouwer, 34, signed a professional tryout with the Blues on November 11, 2019. The Blues had until Thursday to decide on whether to keep Brouwer. It will be Brouwer's second stint with the Blues. Brouwer's first season with the Blues was in 2015-2016, after being acquired with goalie Pheonix Copley, and a 3rd round pick in the 2016 NHL draft from the Washington Capitals for right wing T.J. Oshie on July 2, 2015.

Brouwer helped the Blues reach the Western Conference Final for their first time in 15 seasons. For the 2015-2016 season, Brouwer played in 82 games with 18 goals, 21 assists, 39 points, and a plus 2. In the playoffs, Brouwer had 8 goals with 5 assists, 13 points, and a -1. The goals, assists, and points were a career high in the playoffs for Brouwer. After the season ended, Brouwer signed a four-year contract worth $18 million with the Calgary Flames. Brouwer lasted two seasons with the Flames before being bought out on August 3, 2018.

Brouwer spent last season with the Florida Panthers. Brouwer played in 75 games with 12 goals, 9 assists, 21 points, and a -6. He mostly played on the Panthers checking line.

Overall, Brouwer has played 13 seasons in the NHL. Brouwer has played 838 games with 181 goals, 181 assists, 362 points, and a -29. In the playoffs, Brouwer has played 102 games with 15 goals, 19 assists, 34 points, and a -7.

Brouwer won't need to come in and be a superstar. He knows a lot of the players on the Blues. The Blues currently have right wing Vladimir Tarasenko, center Alexander Steen, and left wing Sammy Blais injured. Brouwer should be able to help provide experience while missing those players.

St. Louis Cardinals Keep Adam Wainwright For 2020

The St. Louis Cardinals have re-signed starting pitcher Adam Wainwright to a one-year contact, worth $5 million. Wainwright can earn $5 million in incentives. Wainwright, 38, re-found some life in 2019. Last season, Wainwright went 14-10 with a 4.19 era, 31 games, 31 starts, 171.2 innings, 153 strikeouts, 53 walks, and a whip of 1.43. The wins were the most for Wainwright since he won 20 games in 2014. The era was Wainwright's best era in a while. Wainwright's era's the last couple of seasons were: 4.62, 5.11, and 4.46.

Wainwright is two wins away from moving into 3rd place by himself on the Cardinals all-time wins list for pitchers. Right now, Wainwright has 162 career wins. The pitchers in front of Wainwright are: Bob Forsch 163, Jessie Haines 210, and Bob Gibson 251. Wainwright ranks 2nd with strikeouts in franchise history with 1,776. Wainwright has started the 5th most games with 316. He could move into 4th in 2020. Wainwright ranks 6th in innings pitched with 2,103.2.

Will Wainwright be able to stay doing well? If his road era doesn't improve things could be bad. On the road in 2019, Wainwright had an era of 6.22. Wainwright's era was much better at home with an era of 2.56.

Overall, Wainwright will be entering his 15th MLB season. Wainwright has a record of 162-95 with a 3.39 era, 383 games, 316 starts, 22 complete games, 10 shutouts, 3 saves, 2,103.2 innings, 576 walks, 1,776 strikeouts, and a whip of 1.23. Wainwright is a three-time All-Star: (2010), (2013), and (2014). Wainwright led the NL in wins two times: (2009), and (2013). Wainwright has also won two Gold Gloves: (2009), and (2013). In 2017, Wainwright won Sliver Slugger Award.

As of right now it looks like the Cardinals starting rotation is set with Jack Flaherty, Carlos Martinez, Miles Mikolas, Dakota Hudson, and Wainwright. The Cardinals have told Martinez to prepare as a starting pitcher. You don't know if you will get the healthy Martinez and how long Wainwright can last. If the healthy Martinez shows up then Cardinals will be fine.

In 2020, it could be the last season for both Adam Wainwright and catcher Yadier Molina. If it ends up being Molina's last season of his career, it would be nice to send him and Wainwright out on a high note.

St. Louis Blues Acquire Jacob de La Rose; Trade Robby Fabbri

The St. Louis Blues have traded left wing Robby Fabbri to the Detroit Red Wings for left wing/center Jacob de La Rose. da La Rose, 24, was a 2nd round pick (34th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2013 NHL draft. The Red Wings claimed de La Rose off of waivers from the Canadiens on October 17, 2018. Last season, de La Rose played in a career high 60 games with 3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points, and was -13.

Overall, da La Rose has played 6 seasons in the NHL. De La Rose has played 195 games with 12 goals, 20 assists, 32 points, and a -26. In the playoffs, de La Rose has played 12 games. De La Rose's best season came in 2017-2018 with the Canadiens. In that season, de La Rose played 55 games with 4 goals, 8 assists, 12 points, and a -2. So far this season, de La Rose has played 16 games with 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points, and a plus 3.

Robbi Fabbri, 23, was a 1st round pick (21st overall) by the St. Louis Blues in the 2014 NHL draft. In Fabbri's rookie season, 2015-2016, he played in a career high 72 games with 18 goals, 19 assists, 37 points, and a -2. In his second season, Fabbri played in 55 games with 11 goals, 18 assists, 29 points, and a -16. Since then Fabbri hasn't done much due to battling injuries. Fabbri also wasn't going to take playing time from Sammy Blais or probably anyone else on the Blues current roster.

Overall, Fabbri has played 4 seasons in the NHL. Fabbri has played 164 games with 32 goals, 41 assists, 73 points, and a -26. In the playoffs, Fabbri has played 30 games with 5 goals, 11 assists, 16 points, and a -3.

What does the trade mean for both teams? For Robby Fabbri he gets a change of scenery, which he's needed. He was a healthy scratch a lot last season and so far this season. So far this season, Fabbri has played in 9 games with 1 goals, 1 point, and -4. As for de La Rose, he might fill in for Alexander Steen. The Blues lost Steen to an injury in tonight's 5-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers. He's 6'3 and is bigger than Fabbri who is 5'10. de La Rose is still young enough to reach his potential.

The trade for de La Rose reminds me a little of when the Blues traded for center Oskar Sundqvist. Sundqvist later found his potential last season playing in a career high 74 games with 14 goals, 17 assists, 31 points, and a -1. All were career highs for Sundqvist. The Blues now have three players on their roster who are from Sweeden: Carl Gunnarsson, Oskar Sundqvist, and de La Rose.

St. Louis Cardinals Extend Mike Shildt, John Mozeliak, Michael Girsch

On Tuesday afternoon, the St. Louis Cardinals announced that they have extended the contracts of manager Mike Shildt, along with President of baseball operations John Mozeliak, and general manager Michael Girsch. Shildt and Mozeliak both have three-year contract extensions. Girsch had his 2020 option picked up, and received a two-year contract extension. So counting the option it's three-years. Shildt, 51, just finished his fist full season as the Cardinals manager. In his first full season, Shildt's Cardinals won the NL Central going 91-71. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2015, and went to the NLCS for the first time since 2014. In defense the Cardinals went from worst to first, only making 66 errors. Shildt's entire coaching staff will return for 2020. Shildt is also one of three finalists in the running to win NL Manager of the Year.

Overall, Shildt has managed 2 seasons in the MLB. Shildt has a record of 132-99 with a .571 winning percentage. Shildt and his coaching staff will look to build off of the success they had in 2019.