St. Louis Blues Acquire Kevin Hayes

 

The St. Louis Blues have traded a 6-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft to the Philadelphia Flyers for center Kevin Hayes. The Flyers will pay 50 percent of Hayes' contract for the next 3 seasons. Hayes, 31, played 81 games with 18 goals, 36 assists, 54 points, and a -22 in 2022-2023. The games were a career high for Hayes. The assists tied a career high from 2018-2019 for Hayes. Hayes also was an All-Star for the 1st time in his career. 

Hayes had a career high 25 goals in 2017-2018, with the New York Rangers. In 2018-2019, combined between the Rangers and Winnipeg Jets, Hayes had a career high 55 points. 

Overall, Hayes has played 9 seasons in the NHL. Hayes has played 634 games with 155 goals, 231 assists, 386 points, and a -22. In the playoffs, Hayes has played 56 games with 8 goals, 18 assists, 26 points, and a plus 5. 

Hayes should be a good addition for the Blues roster. It will be interesting to see what else Blues general manager Doug Armstrong does to improve the Blues and get them back on track this offseason. 

St. Louis Cardinals Re-Sign Miles Mikolas to Two-year Contract Extension

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have re-signed starting pitcher Miles Mikolas to a two-year contract extension, worth $40 million. Mikolas, 34, was 12-13 with a 3.29 ERA, 33 games, 32 starts, 1 complete game, 202.1 innings, 153 strikeouts, and 39 walks. The games, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Mikolas. Mikolas also had 22 quality starts, which were another career high. 

Mikolas had his best season in 2018. That season, Mikolas was 18-4 with a 2.83 ERA, 32 games, 32 starts, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 200.2 innings, 146 strikeouts, and 29 walks. The wins, starts, complete game, and shutout were all career highs for Mikolas. The ERA was a career best for Mikolas. 

Mikolas has been an All-Star 2 times: (2018, and 2019). 

The Cardinals have also announced that Mikolas will be the Opening Day starting pitcher on March 30, 2023, against the Toronto Blue Jays. 

Overall, Mikolas has played 7 seasons in the MLB. Mikolas is 45-40 with a 3.70 ERA, 143 games, 115 starts, 3 complete games, 2 shutouts, 1 hold, 723 innings, 536 strikeouts, 145 walks, and a whip of 1.15.

On paper it's a great win for both sides. Mikolas has wanted to stay with the Cardinals beyond 2023 and has proven he's a reliable starting pitcher. Charlie Morton and Chris Bassitt both have signed similar contracts to Mikolas. There's a good chance that Mikolas would have made more money in free agency. 

The Cardinals now have two starting pitchers signed beyond 2023, Mikolas and Steven Matz (both expire after 2025). 

St. Louis Cardinals 2023 Season Preview

 

Offseason additions: SP Adam Wainwright (re-signed), C Willson Contreras, C Tres Barrera, RHP Wilking Rodriguez, RHP Guillermo Zuniga, LHP Anthony Misiewicz, LHP Andrew Suarez, infielder, Jose Fermin, infielder Taylor Motter, infielder, Juniel Querecuto, and OF Oscar Mercado.

Offseason subtractions: 1B Albert Pujols (retired), C Yadier Molina (retired), SP Jose Quintana, OF Corey Dickerson, and OF Ben DeLuzio. 

Point team prediction: 88-91 wins (NL Central Champions, lose in NLCS). Oliver Marmol will be heading into his second season as the Cardinals manager. Marmol had a good season in his first year as the Cardinals manager, leading them to 93-69 record and winning the NL Central for their first time since 2019. The Cardinals didn't fair too well in the Wild Card round, being swept in 2 games by the Philadelphia Phillies. Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols both retired after the season. The Cardinals will look different without Molina behind the plate for the first time since 2004. To replace Molina, the Cardinals signed Willson Contreras from the Chicago Cubs. 

Lineup: 

RF: Lars Nootbaar

LF: Jordan Walker

1B: Paul Goldschmidt 

3B: Nolan Arenado

C: Willson Contreras 

CF: Tyler O'Neill

DH: Juan Yepez/Nolan Gorman (depending on the pitcher)

2B: Brendan Donovan 

SS: Tommy Edman

Bench: 

Tres Barrera (he seems to have impressed the Marmol)

Taylor Motter (until Maysn Winn is ready, I think Paul DeJong will be traded or cut loose if he doesn't start hitting).

Dylan Carlson

Starting rotation:

Jack Flaherty, Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz, Jordan Montgomery, Adam Wainwright

Bullpen:

Ryan Helsley, Giovanny Gallegos, Jordan Hicks, Wilking Rodriguez, Genesis Cabrera, Drew VerHagen, Jake Woodford, and Andre Pallante. 

Fantasy Stud: Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado 

Prospects to watch: Jordan Walker and Masyn Winn

St. Louis Blues Acquire Jakub Vrana

The St. Louis Blues have traded minor-league forward Dylan McLaughlin, and a 7th-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Detroit Red Wings for left wing Jakub Vrana. The Red Wings will pay 50% of Vrana's salary. 

Vrana, 27, currently has played 5 games with 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, and a plus 1 in 2022-2023. Vrana missed a lot of this season due to being in the players assistance program. 

Vrana had his best season in 2019-2020, with the Washington Capitals. That season, Vrana played 69 games with 25 goals, 27 assists, 52 points, and a plus 3. The goals, assists, and points were all career highs for Vrana. In 2017-2018, Vrana helped the Capitals win the Stanley Cup. 

Overall, Vrana is currently in his 7th NHL season. Vrana has played 326 games with 98 goals, 91 assists, 189 points, and a plus 30. In the playoffs, Vrana has played 38 games with 3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points, and a -3. 

Vrana gets a good change of scenery with the Blues to get his career back on track, after falling out of favor with the Red Wings. Vrana can be a good player if healthy. The trade should be great for both sides. 

St. Louis Blues trade Vladimir Tarasenko to New York Rangers

 

The St. Louis Blues have traded right wing Vladimir Tarasenko, and defenseman Niko Mikkola to the New York Rangers for left wing Sammy Blais, defenseman Hunter Skinner, a conditional first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, and a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. The fourth-round pick will become a third-round pick if the Rangers make the playoffs this season. The Blues will also pay 50% of Tarasenko's remaining salary. 

Tarasenko, 31, currently has played 38 games with 10 goals, 19 assists, 29 points, and a -18 in 2022-2023. 

Tarasenko has been an All-Star 4 times: (2015, 2016, 2017, and 2023). 

Tarasenko had his best season in 2021-2022. That season, Tarasenko played 75 games with 34 goals, 48 assists, 82 points, and a plus 7. The assists and points were both career highs for Tarasenko. In 2015-2016, Tarasenko had a career high 40 goals. Tarasenko played a career high 82 games in 2016-2017. In 2018-2019, Tarasenko helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup over the Boston Bruins. 

Overall, Tarasenko is currently in his 11th NHL season. Tarasenko has played 644 games with 262 goals, 291 assists, 553 points, and a plus 57. In the playoffs, Tarasenko has played 90 games with 41 goals, 19 assists, 60 points, and a -22. 

Mikkola, 26, currently has played 50 games with 3 assists, 3 points, and a plus 2 in 2022-2023.

Mikkola had his best season in 2021-2022. That season, Mikkola played 54 games with 3 goals, 10 assists, 13 points, and a -6. The games, goals, assists, and points were all career highs for Mikkola. 

Overall, Mikkola is currently in his 4th NHL season. Mikkola has played 139 games with 4 goals, 16 assists, 20 points, and -12. In the playoffs, Mikkola has played 16 games with 2 assists, and 2 points. 

Blais, 26, currently has played 40 games with 5 assists, 5 points, and a plus 1 in 2022-2023. 

Blais had his best success with the Blues before being traded to the Rangers for left wing Pavel Buchnevich. Blais had his best season in 2020-2021. That season, Blais played 36 games with 8 goals, 7 assists, and 15 points. The assists tied a career high from 2019-2020 for Blais. The goals and points were both career highs for Blais. 

Overall, Blais is currently in his 6th NHL season. Blais has played 173 games with 17 goals, 27 assists, 44 points, and a plus 2. In the playoffs, Blais has played 27 games with 3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points, and a plus 1. 

Skinner, 21, has split time in the AHL with the Hartford Wolf Pack and in the ECHL with the Jacksonville Icemen. In the AHL, Skinner has played 8 games with 2 assists, 2 points, and a -2. In the EHCL, Skinner has played 22 games with 3 goals, 5 assists, 8 points, and a plus 9. 

In 2021-2022, in the AHL. Skinner played 49 games with 4 goals, 9 assists, 13 points, and a -1. 

The trade might not be that great, but it will be decided by who the Blues get with their picks in the draft and if they develop too. Skinner probably was just a throw in and but has the potential to be good, if he can improve his game. Skinner has a great slap shot, which on June 29, 2022, in a hockey skills contest was 107.2 mph. 

Blais isn't afraid to hit players, which lots of players on the Blues roster seem to be scared to do. Currently, Blais has 16 blocked shots and 119 hits. The blocked shots are a career high for Blais. In 2019-2020, Blais had a career high 155 hits. Maybe, Blais becomes a spark for the Blues after the trade? Another good thing about Blais, is that he knows Craig Berube style hockey. 

St. Louis Cardinals sign Willson Contreras

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have found their new catcher to replace future Hall of Famer Yadier Molina, they have signed free agent catcher Willson Contreras to a five-year contract, worth $87.5 million. The contract includes a team option for 2028, worth $17.5 million. Contreras, 30, hit .243 with 65 runs, 101 hits, 23 doubles, 2 triples, 22 home runs, 55 RBI's, 4 stolen bases, and 45 walks with the Chicago Cubs in 2022. The runs were a career high for Contreras.

Contreras helped the Cubs win the World Series in 2016. Contreras has been an All-Star three times: (2018, 2019, and 2022). 

Contreras had his best season in 2017. That season, Contreras hit .276 with 50 runs, 104 hits, 21 doubles, 21 home runs, 74 RBI's, 5 stolen bases, and 45 walks. The batting average, RBI's, and stolen bases were all career highs for Contreras. In 2018, Contreras had career highs in hits (118), doubles (27), triples (5), and in walks (53). Contreras had a career high 24 home runs in 2019. 

Overall, Contreras has played 7 seasons in the MLB. Contreras has played 734 games with 353 runs, 636 hits, 133 doubles, 10 triples, 117 home runs, 365 RBI's, 22 stolen bases, 279 walks, and a .256 batting average. 

Contreras should be a great addition for the Cardinals lineup. The Cardinals also killed two birds in one stone by signing Contreras/ Their number one priority was to find a starting catcher, it fills that need. Contreras can also bat 5th in the lineup. 

The Cardinals might lose a bit of defense, since Conteras isn't really that good on defense. But his offense should make up for that. What if Ivan Herrera also develops overtime? That would help the Cardinals a lot too. Then you could have one DH at times and the other at catcher. All in all, it it's a win-win for Contreras and the Cardinals. It should be interesting to see what the Cardinals decide to do next.

St. Louis Cardinals name Matt Holliday bench coach; announce rest of coaching staff for 2023

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have hired former left fielder and 7-time All-Star Matt Holliday as the teams' new bench coach. Holliday, 42, replaces Skip Schumaker (who became manager of the Miami Marlins). Holliday had been working for Oklahoma State University as an outfielding and hitting coach for the 4 seasons (2019-2022). 

Brandon Allen, 36, has been promoted from Triple-A Memphis to be assistant hitting coach. Allen has been working as a hitting coach in the Cardinals minors since 2017. Allen was hitting coach for the Memphis Redbirds the last 2 seasons (2021-2022). Allen would have been their hitting coach in 2020, if the season wasn't cancelled due to COVID-19. Turner Ward, 57, has been promoted on the Cardinals coaching staff to be the main hitting coach. 

Dusty Blake, 40, has been promoted to pitching coach. Blake has been pitching strategist for the last 2 seasons with the Cardinals (2021-2022). Before joining the Cardinals coaching staff, Blake was pitching coach for the Duke University Blue Devils for 3 seasons (2018-2020). In 2020, the Blue Devils set a school record for consecutive scoreless inning (37). The Blue Devils also had their 1st ever perfect game. In the same season, the Blue Devils led the Atlantic Coast Conference in ERA. 

Julio Rangel, 47, will be assistant pitching coach/bullpen coach. Rangel was pitching coaching for 2 seasons with the Texas Rangers (2019-2020). The last 2 seasons, Rangel has been pitching coordinator with the Boston Red Sox (2021-2022).

The rest of the coaching staff will remain the same. Patrick Elkins (run production), Stubby Clapp (first base coach), Ron "Pop" Warner (third base coach), Willie McGee (coach), Jamie Pogue (bullpen catcher), and Kleininger Teran (bullpen catcher).

On paper they all appear to be good hires for Oliver Marmol's coaching staff. It will help a lot if the Cardinals upgrade the roster.