Cardinals' Zack Thompson: Expected to be ready for spring
Rotowire
Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Tuesday that Thompson (lat) should be ready for the start of spring training, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Thompson missed the entirety of the 2025 season due to a left lat strain, encountering multiple setbacks along the way. He was removed from the Cardinals' 40-man roster last month, but the southpaw remains in the organization and will compete for a roster spot in spring training.
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Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Will be cleared to throw soon
Rotowire
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that Herrera (elbow) will begin throwing in a matter of weeks, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Herrera underwent surgery in November to remove bone spurs from his right elbow and remains in the rehab phase of his recovery. The Cardinals anticipate him being ready to go for the beginning of spring training. Herrera will receive another opportunity to catch in 2026 after injuries limited him to designated hitter in the second half, though he is not expected to be a full-time catcher.
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Cardinals' Zak Kent: Claimed by St. Louis
Rotowire
The Cardinals claimed Kent off waivers from the Guardians on Friday.
Kent was a full-time reliever for the first time in 2025. He posted a 4.58 ERA and 16:8 K:BB over 17.2 innings with the big club and a 2.84 ERA with 50 strikeouts over 38 frames at Triple-A Columbus. The righty will turn 28 in February and compete for a spot in the Cardinals' Opening Day bullpen.
Cardinals' Jordan Walker: Pleased with work at Driveline
Rotowire
Walker said earlier this week that he "found something" with his swing while working at Driveline Baseball in October that was "real exciting," Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Walker's assessment at Driveline determined that his back hip was collapsing on his swing, which caused him to drift forward and sap him of his power. He was put through drills with resistance bands and swing training that help him keep his hip back, and Walker said he feels like "I can crush anything they throw at me." In addition to his work at Driveline, Walker has also been given meal-prep and nutrition plans and gone through a strength and agility training plan given to him at Cressey Sports Performance, which focuses on flexibility. After slashing just .211/.270/.324 over the last two seasons and spending time in the minors both years to work on his swing, Walker knows he needs to show real progress in 2026, and it seems he's putting in the work to help him reach that goal. The rebuilding Cardinals plan to give the 23-year-old regular playing time in right field in 2026.
Cardinals' Kyle Leahy: Expected to capture rotation spot
Rotowire
Leahy is expected to open the 2026 season in the Cardinals' rotation, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
The trade of Sonny Gray to the Red Sox further depleted St. Louis' rotation depth, and, barring a poor showing during spring training, it sounds like Leahy will win one of the five rotation slots. Leahy threw three innings in the Cardinals' final regular season game in 2025 in what was his first-ever start at the major-league level. He did work multiple frames out of the bullpen often this season, but Leahy has not been used as a starter regularly since 2022. If he is indeed in the rotation in 2026, some workload restrictions are likely to be in place,
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Cardinals' Brandon Clarke: Traded to Cardinals
Rotowire
The Cardinals acquired Clarke and Richard Fitts from the Red Sox on Tuesday in exchange for Sonny Gray and cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Clarke has an electric arm with a big fastball and wipeout slider that helped him strike out 60 over 38 innings between Single-A Salem and High-A Greenville this season. However, he also walked 27 batters and missed a chunk of time with blister issues. The 22-year-old is a high-upside, high-risk addition to the St. Louis farm system.
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Cardinals' Richard Fitts: Dealt to St. Louis
Rotowire
The Cardinals acquired Fitts and Brandon Clarke from the Red Sox on Tuesday in exchange for Sonny Gray and cash considerations, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Fitts made 14 starts and one relief appearance for the Red Sox the past two years, collecting a 3.97 ERA and 49:23 K:BB over 65.2 innings. The right-hander is under team control through 2031 and stands a good chance to open the season in the Cardinals' rotation. Fitts ended the season on the injured list with right arm neuritis, but he entered the offseason without limitations.
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Cardinals' Sem Robberse: Returning to St. Louis
Rotowire
Robberse (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Robberse was non-tendered by St. Louis on Friday, but the club has since elected to bring him back on a minor-league deal. He's currently rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and is expected to miss the first few months of the 2026 campaign.
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Cardinals' Scott Blewett: Headed to St. Louis
Rotowire
Blewett signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Blewett spent the 2025 season with Atlanta, Baltimore and Minnesota, posting a 5.48 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 35 strikeouts over 44.1 innings (two starts). He'll get a fresh start with the Cardinals, where he figures to serve as organizational bullpen depth.
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Cardinals' Yohel Pozo: Re-signs with St. Louis
Rotowire
The Cardinals re-signed Pozo to a one-year contract Monday.
Pozo was non-tendered by St. Louis last week but is now back in the organization just a few days later on a split contract. The Cardinals already have Ivan Herrera, Jimmy Crooks and Pedro Pages competing for reps at catcher on the major-league roster, but Pozo will also factor into the mix. He slashed .231/.262/.375 with five home runs in 67 games for the Cardinals in 2025.
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