The Cardinals have added some depth to their system, signing first baseman/outfielder Bligh Madris to a minor league deal earlier this week. The move, reported by Chase Ford, doesn’t include an invite to big league Spring Training, which gives us a clue about where Madris currently stands in the organization’s pecking order-but it’s still a name worth keeping an eye on.
Madris, who turns 30 later this month, has logged time in the majors across three seasons with the Pirates, Astros, and Tigers. In 72 career MLB games, he’s slashed .204/.273/.286 over 228 plate appearances-not exactly lighting up the stat sheet, but he’s shown flashes that suggest there’s more under the hood. His last big league action came in 2024 with Detroit, where he appeared in 21 games before spending the entire 2025 season in the minors.
Injuries played a big role in that. Madris was limited to just 60 games last year, and his season ended with a rehab stint at A-ball Lakeland before the Tigers released him in August. He didn’t resurface until winter ball in Mexico, where he turned heads with a strong showing-enough to get the Cardinals interested.
And while his major league numbers don’t jump off the page, his Triple-A track record tells a different story. Over nearly 1,800 plate appearances at that level, Madris has hit .252/.343/.440 with 59 home runs. That kind of production doesn’t go unnoticed, especially when teams are looking to round out their depth with experienced, versatile bats.
Speaking of versatility, Madris has primarily played right field throughout his pro career, with additional time at first base and in left field. In 2025, he saw more action at first base-likely a reflection of his injury situation rather than a permanent shift.
Still, if he’s limited to first going forward, that could complicate his path back to the majors, particularly in St. Louis.
The Cardinals already have left-handed hitters penciled in at both first base (Alec Burleson) and left field (Lars Nootbaar), which puts Madris in a bit of a roster squeeze. And while the team has been in the market for a right-handed outfield bat, Madris doesn’t fit that bill-he swings from the left side.
That said, he does have a minor league option remaining, since the Tigers never brought him up in 2025. That flexibility could prove useful if Madris performs well in the minors and the Cardinals need an injury replacement or a lefty bat off the bench later in the season.
For now, this is a low-risk move that adds some experience and potential pop to the Cardinals’ minor league depth chart. Madris has shown he can produce at Triple-A, and if he stays healthy, he could give the Cardinals something to think about down the line.