The Cardinals are about to get a jolt, and it could force a difficult roster call.
JJ Wetherholt is getting closer to coming back from wrist tendinitis, and Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Tuesday that the current expectation is for him to return during St.
Louis’ next home stand. Goold also wrote, “JJ Wetherholt (wrist tendinitis) took swings Monday at Oracle Park and began a progression that is designed to bring him back to the lineup during the upcoming home stand,”
That’s the good news. The bad news is the Cardinals just finished a brutal three-game set against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, capped by a collapse in which St.
Louis blew a 6-1 lead and watched San Francisco score six runs in the eighth inning alone to complete the sweep. The Cardinals are now three games under .500 at 72-75, and while they are not officially eliminated from a playoff spot, a Wild Card run does not look like it’s in the cards.
Still, Wetherholt’s return would matter, and it would immediately put pressure on the roster. Someone has to come off to make room, and the most likely name to watch is Ramón Urías, unless an injury elsewhere creates an easier path. Masyn Winn was scratched Wednesday with a sore thumb, so if he needs to go on the Injured List, that would solve the issue without much drama.
If the Cardinals have to make a straight roster cut, though, Urías stands out as the likely odd man out. Thomas Saggese has been sent back up to the big league club and has been one of the hottest bats in the lineup, so he’s not going anywhere.
José Fermín has held down his utility role well all season and also should be safe. Bryan Torres has been useful too, entering Wednesday with a .259/.329/.378 slash line and a .707 OPS before going 1-for-3 in the game.
That leaves Nolan Gorman and Victor Scott II as other possible options, but both could still matter down the stretch and into 2027, which gives the Cardinals reason to keep giving them runway.
Urías doesn’t offer that same long-term appeal. He entered Wednesday hitting .157/.268/.337 with a .612 OPS, and his bat hasn’t come around even when he’s been healthy. He does have a mutual option for 2027, but those are rarely picked up, and he does not look like part of the Cardinals’ future plans.
So when Wetherholt is ready, the Cardinals will have a decision to make. Unless something changes with an injury, Urías is the one who should be moved out.
In Other News...
Cardinals Are Learning Two Very Different Things About Their Young Outfielders
The Cardinals spent the final month of the season getting a better look at two young pieces they hope will matter in the near future, and the early read has already been different for each. Thomas Saggese has settled in well since his promotion, putting together a series of successful swings and giving the club something to consider as it sorts out the infield picture. Victor Scott, meanwhile, has brought a different kind of evaluation into focus as the team weighs what his role could be in St. Louis.
Scotts opportunities have been limited, but the Cardinals have still learned enough to keep his development front and center. His athleticism remains part of the appeal, yet his baserunning choices have also shown how much more there is to sort through before the roster puzzle is complete. For a club looking ahead to next season, the contrast between the two young outfielders is useful, because it gives St. Louis a clearer sense of where the immediate help may be coming from and where the bigger questions still remain. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Linked To Costly Rotation Upgrade Worth Watching
CBS Sports Mike Axisa has floated the Cardinals as a possible destination for Michael King if the right-hander chooses to opt out of his current deal with the Padres. King has been one of the more intriguing names to watch on the pitching market, and with a 3.00 ERA this season, it is easy to see why a team looking for rotation help would take a long look.
For St. Louis, the fit is obvious enough on paper. The Cardinals have been searching for ways to strengthen the starting staff, and a pitcher with Kings track record would qualify as a meaningful addition. Nothing official has surfaced yet, though, and whether the interest turns into a real pursuit will depend first on what King decides to do with his contract situation. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Prospect Brandon Clarke Is Starting To Look Like A Real Option
Brandon Clarkes rise through the Cardinals system has taken another step, with the 23-year-old left-hander moving from High-A Peoria to Double-A Springfield. St. Louis acquired Clarke in a trade with the Red Sox, and he has spent this season making a convincing case that he belongs on a faster track, pairing a 3.86 ERA with a strikeout-to-walk ratio that has stood out inside the organization.
The promotion came as part of a broader roster move that also involved Nate Dohm, but Clarke is the name that matters most for the Cardinals pitching depth right now. Double-A will offer a clearer test of how real the gains are, and it will be the next place to see whether the progress he has shown can keep translating against a tougher level of hitters. [Read more 🡒]