St. Louis Cardinals re-sign Tommy Edman

The St. Louis Cardinals have re-signed infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman to a two-year contract extension, worth $16.5 million. The contract buys out the rest of Edman's arbitration years. Edman can become a free agent after the 2026 season. Edman, 28, hit .248 with 69 runs, 119 hits, 25 doubles, 4 triples, 13 home runs, 47 RBI's, 27 stolen bases, and 35 walks in 2023. 

In 2021, Edman won a Gold Glove Award. 

Edman had his best season in 2022. That season, Edman hit .265 with 95 runs, 153 hits, 31 doubles, 4 triples, 13 home runs, 57 RBI's, 32 stolen bases, and 46 walks. The runs, home runs, RBI's, stolen bases, and walks were all career highs for Edman. In 2021, Edman had career highs in both hits (168) and doubles (41). Edman had a career high 7 triples in 2019.

Overall, Edman has played 5 seasons in the MLB. Edman has played 596 games with 343 runs, 590 hits, 121 doubles, 19 triples, 53 home runs, 222 RBI's, 106 stolen bases, 151 walks, and a .265 batting average. 

The contract should be good for both sides. It's nice to see the Cardinals and Edman avoid arbitration while rewarding Edman.  
 

St. Louis Cardinals Sign Matt Carpenter

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed utility player Matt Carpenter to a one-year contract, worth $740,000. Carpenter, 38, hit .176 with 18 runs, 33 hits, 12 doubles, 5 home runs, 31 RBI's, 1 stolen base, and 41 walks with the San Diego Padres in 2023.

Carpenter has been an All-Star 3 times: (2013, 2014, and 2016). Carpenter also won a Silver Slugger Award in 2013. 

Carpenter had his best season in 2013, with the Cardinals. That season, Carpenter hit .318 with 126 runs, 199 hits, 55 doubles, 7 triples, 11 home runs, 78 RBI's, and 72 walks. The batting average, runs, hit, doubles, and triples were all career highs for Carpenter. The runs, hits, and doubles also led the MLB.

In 2015, Carpenter had a career high 84 RBI's. Carpenter had a career high 109 walks in 2017. In 2018, Carpenter had a career high 36 home runs. Carpenter had a career high 6 stolen bases in 2019. 

Overall, Carpenter had played 13 seasons in the MLB. Carpenter has played 1,452 games with 798 runs, 1,225 hits, 322 doubles, 28 triples, 175 home runs, 644 RBI's, 28 stolen bases, 759 walks, and a .260 batting average. 

Carpenter returning to the Cardinals is a low risk move. The Cardinals know there was a leadership problem last season, and they seem to be trying to fix that problem. Nolan Arenado even complained about the team not having enough player leadership in 2023. 

The way to fix that problem is by getting players who you know can be leaders. Which on paper is something the Cardinals have done this offseason. I think it's also only stop gaps until younger players improve and emerge as leaders. One of those younger players is emerging as a leader is Brendan Donovan. 

I think the Cardinals will add more pitching before they go to spring training. The last two remaining active players from the Cardinals' 2011 World Series team are Matt Carpenter and starting pitcher Lance Lynn. 

St. Louis Blues re-sign Nathan Walker

 

The St. Louis Blues have re-signed left-wing Nathan Walker to a two-year contract extension, worth $1.55 million. Walker, 29, currently has played 2 games with 1 goal, 1 point, and a plus 1 in 2023-2024. Walker started the season in the AHL with the Springfield Thunderbirds. In Springfield, Walker played 30 games with 13 goals, 16 assists, 29 points, and a plus 9. 

Walker helped the Washington Capitals win the Stanley Cup in 2017-2018. 

Walker had his best season in 2021-2022, with the Blues. That season, Walker played 30 games with 8 goals, 4 assists, 12 points, and a plus 1. The goals and points were both career highs for Walker. In 2022-2023, Walker had career highs in both games (56) and assists (8). 

Overall, Walker is currently in his 7th NHL season. Walker has played 113 games with 14 goals, 14 assists, 28 points, and a plus 7. In the playoffs, Walker has played 5 games with 1 assist, 1 point, and a plus 2. 

It's nice to see Walker earn a contract extension. It could mean the end of left-wing Sammy Blais as a Blue.

St. Louis Cardinals acquire Andrew Kittredge

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded leftfielder Richie Palacios to the Tampa Bay Rays for RHP Andrew Kittredge. Kittredge, 33, was 2-0 with a 3.09 ERA, 14 games, 1 hold, 1 save, 11.2 innings, 10 strikeouts, and 2 walks in 2023. 

Kittredge had his best season in 2021. That season, Kittredge was an All-Star and was 9-3 with a 1.88 ERA, 57 games, 4 starts, 7 holds, 8 saves, 71.2 innings, 77 strikeouts, and 15 walks. The ERA was a career best for Kittredge. The wins, games, holds, saves, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Kittredge. 

In 2019, Kittredge had a career high 7 starts. 

Overall, Kittredge has played 7 seasons in the MLB. Kittredge is 18-7 with a 3.65 ERA, 181 games, 15 starts, 15 holds, 15 saves, 214.2 innings, 206 strikeouts, 56 walks, and a whip of 1.23. 

Palacios, 26, hit .258 with 9 runs, 24 hits, 6 doubles, 6 home runs, 16 RBI's, 2 stolen bases, and 6 walks in 2023. The batting average, runs, home runs, and RBI's for Palacios. 

In 2022, Palacios had career highs in hits (26), doubles (6), stolen bases (2), and walks (9).

Overall, Palacios has played 2 seasons in the MLB. Palacios has played 86 games with 16 runs, 50 hits, 12 doubles, 6 home runs, 26 RBI's, 4 stolen bases, 15 walks, and a .244 batting average. 

The trade should help both teams. The Cardinals needed bullpen help and Kittredge should be a great addition for it. The Rays were looking for a left-handed hitting outfielder, after they traded Luke Raley to the Seattle Mariners. 

Do the Cardinals add another bullpen arm or two to go with Kittredge? To me Kittredge is now the Cardinals second best bullpen arm. 

St. Louis Blues Trade Robert Bortuzzo to New York Islanders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The St. Louis Blues have traded defenseman Roberto Bortuzzo to the New York Islanders for a 2024 7th-round pick. Bortuzzo, 34, currently has played 4 games and is a plus 2 in 2023-2024. 

In 2018-2019, Bortuzzo helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup. Bortuzzo had his best season in 2017-2018. That season, Bortuzzo played 72 games with 4 goals, 9 assists, 13 points, and a plus 11. The goals and points were both career highs for Bortuzzo. In 2013-2014, with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Bortuzzo had a career high 10 assists. Bortuzzo had a career high 73 games in 2021-2022. 

Overall, Bortuzzo is currently in his 13th NHL season. Bortuzzo has played 537 games with 20 goals, 54 assists, 74 points, and a plus 41. In the playoffs, Bortuzzo has played 55 games with 2 goals, 2 assists, 4 points, and a plus 1. 

The trade is pretty much a salary dump for the Blues. The Islanders were also in need of a defenseman. It should help both teams.

St. Louis Cardinals Trade Tyler O'Neill to Boston Red Sox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have traded leftfielder Tyler O'Neill to the Boston Red Sox for RHP Nick Robertson, starting pitcher Victor Santos. O'Neill, 28, hit .231 with 27 runs, 55 hits, 14 doubles, 9 home runs, 21 RBI's, 5 stolen bases, and 28 walks in 2023. 

O'Neill has won 2 Gold Glove Awards: (2020, and 2021). O'Neill, 28, had his best season in 2021. That season, O'Neill hit .286 with 89 runs, 138 hits, 26 doubles, 2 triples, 34 home runs, 80 RBI's, 15 stolen bases, and 38 walks. The batting average, runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI's, stolen bases, and walks were all career highs for O'Neill. 

Overall, O'Neill has played 6 seasons in the MLB. O'Neill has played 477 games with 239 runs, 363 hits, 67 doubles, 3 triples, 78 home runs, 217 RBI's, 40 stolen bases, 136 walks, and a .248 batting average. 

Robertson, 25, was 0-1 with a 6.04 ERA, 18 games, 1 start, 22.1 innings, 26 strikeouts, and 9 walks in 2023. It was Roberton's 1st MLB season. 

Overall, Robertson has played 4 minor league seasons. Robertson is 7-8 with a 3.61 ERA, 150 games, 3 starts, 23 saves, 184.2 innings, 231 strikeouts, and 61 walks. 

Santos, 23, didn't pitch in 2023 due to an injury. Santos last pitched in 2022. In 2022, combined between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, Santos was 10-12 with a 4.97 ERA, 28 games, 25 starts, 2 complete games, 145 innings, 126 strikeouts and 34 walks. The wins, games, starts, complete games, innings, and strikeouts were all career highs for Santos. 

Overall, Santos has played 5 minor league seasons. Santos is 32-29 with a 3.72 ERA, 101 games, 71 starts, 3 complete games, 1 save, 445 innings, 403 strikeouts, and 76 walks. 

The Cardinals got what they could for O'Neill. If you thought that a team would give up a lot for him, I'm sorry but they wouldn't. That's because O'Neill has only had 1 good season and has problems staying healthy. Maybe O'Neill just needed a change of scenery? Sometimes players like that do better with a different team. It will be interesting to see what the Cardinals do with the money freed up from O'Neill being traded.
 

St. Louis Cardinals Sign Sonny Gray

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed free agent starting pitcher Sonny Gray to a three-year contract, worth $75 million. The contract includes a team option for 2027, worth $30 million and it comes with a $5 million buyout. The buyout is included in the overall guarantee. 

Gray, 34, was 8-8 with a 2.79 ERA, 32 games, 32 starts, 184 innings, 183 strikeouts, and 55 walks with the Minnesota Twins in 2023. Gray finished as the runner-up to New York Yankees starter Gerrit Cole in the AL Cy Young. 

Gray has been an All-Star 3 times: (2015, 2019, and 2023). 

Gray had his best season in 2015, with the Oakland Athletics. That season, Gray was 14-7 with a 2.73 ERA, 31 games, 31 starts, 3 complete games, 2 shutouts, 208 innings, 169 strikeouts, and 59 walks. The wins and shutouts both tied career highs from 2014 for Gray. The ERA was a career best for Gray and the complete games were a career high. In 2014, Gray had career highs in games (33), starts (33), and innings (219). Gray had a career in strikeouts (205) in 2019, with the Cincinatti Reds. 

Overall, Gray has played 11 seasons in the MLB. Gray is 98-85 with a 3.47 ERA, 279 games, 270 starts, 6 complete games, 4 shutouts, 1,571 innings, 1,521 strikeouts, 544 walks, and a whip of 1.20.

How does Gray look against the other teams in the National League Central? 

Against the Chicago Cubs, Gray is 4-3 with a 2.98 ERA, 11 games, 11 starts, 60.1 innings, 79 strikeouts, and 14 walks. 

Against the Reds, Gray is 0-1 with a 2.35 ERA, 1 game, 1 start, 7.2 innings, 4 strikeouts, and 1 walk. 

Against the Milwaukee Brewers, Gray is 4-3 with a 2.82 ERA, 13 games, 13 starts, 70.1 innings, 91 strikeouts, and 30 walks. 

Against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Gray is 4-4 with a 4.35 ERA, 10 games, 9 starts, 51.2 innings, 53 strikeouts, and 16. 

As of right now the Cardinals starting rotation looks like it could be Sonny Gray, Miles Mikolas, Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn, and Steven Matz. Gray would be a good no.2 if the Cardinals were to acquire a no.1 starter. On paper, the Cardinals have improved their starting rotation slightly from last season. Again, a no.1 starter would be if they were to find a way to accomplish that. In order to do that, Matz would probably need to be traded or moved to the bullpen. Matz has trouble staying healthy. 

I think the Cardinals probably shift to the bullpen next. I think if the Cardinals had a good bullpen last season, they would have made the playoffs. It's also nice to see the Cardinals being active early and making moves, I don't think many people thought they'd do anything early.