Cards Central

Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer dive into the latest St. Louis Cardinals trade rumors heating up the MLB Hot Stove. Following comments by MLB insider Jon Morosi, it appears Brendan Donovan is drawing significant interest from contenders like the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets, and Phillies. In this episode of Cards Central 365, the guys debate the toughest decision facing Chaim Bloom and the front offi...

The St. Louis Cardinals have named JJ Wetherholt their Minor League Player of the Year, but is he ready for the big leagues in 2026? Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer discuss the future of the Cardinals' top prospect and whether he should crack the Opening Day lineup. In this episode, the guys break down comments from Wetherholt and Pitcher of the Year Brycen Mautz. They analyze the risks and rew...

Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer break down the St. Louis Cardinals recent moves to finalize their 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 Draft deadline. The guys discuss the decision to protect top prospects like Leonardo Bernal, Cooper Hjerpe, and Brycen Mautz, while analyzing the risk of exposing newly acquired infielder Blaze Jordan. They also dive into the surprising decision to cut flamethrower...

Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer are live on Cards Central 365 to break down the St. Louis Cardinals looming 40-man roster deadline. With the Rule 5 Draft approaching, the front office faces tough decisions on which top prospects to protect. Will names like Leonardo Bernal, Cooper Hjerpe, and Brycen Mautz secure a spot? The guys analyze the current roster math and debate which "bubble" players m...

The Pittsburgh Pirates have quietly emerged as a serious suitor for Brendan Donovan, and the fit is better than anyone expected. Joe Roderick and Grant Salsman break down why Pittsburgh is motivated, how Paul Skenes factors into the Pirates timeline, which prospects could headline a deal, and whether the Cardinals would actually trade a key piece inside the NL Central. We also look at the risks of...

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Randy Karraker and Joe Roderick fire up the hot stove to break down what the general managers meetings in Las Vegas really mean for the St. Louis Cardinals. They dive into Brendan Donovan’s booming trade market after Derrick Goold’s reporting, which contenders like the Dodgers, Guardians and Pirates make sense, and what kind of starting pitching Chaim Bloom and Rob Cerfolio should demand in return...

Brendan Donovan has become one of the hottest names at the GM Meetings, with Derrick Goold reporting that if teams are doing their jobs, roughly twenty two clubs should be checking in on the Cardinals super utility man. The Yankees and Dodgers have liked him before, and now the Royals and Guardians are among the teams linked to Donovan as Chaim Bloom listens on almost everyone and looks to reshape...

Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer map out the most likely 2026 St. Louis Cardinals rotation using in-house arms, then ask the big question: Does Sonny Gray get traded before Opening Day, or does he anchor the staff all year? They put Michael McGreevy in marker, Matthew Liberatore in pen, debate Andre Pallante’s role and tender decision, and size up Kyle Leahy and Quinn Mathews as spring options....

Rumors are swirling around the St. Louis Cardinals as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports the Texas Rangers have shown interest in outfielder Lars Nootbaar. Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer discuss what that means for the Cardinals’ offseason, how Nootbaar’s injury could impact his trade value, and which teams might actually make sense as trade partners. Could Skip Schumaker’s c...

Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer break down realistic St. Louis Cardinals moves for this hot stove season, focusing on value pitching instead of top-tier free agents. They talk one-year “pillow” deals and short two-year bets, the rotation holes after Miles Mikolas departs, and how bridge arms can buy time for prospects like Quinn Mathews and others. Names discussed include Walker Buehler as a bo...

Luke Slabaugh and Ethan Hannaford bring you Cards Central 365. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alec Burleson just captured the National League Silver Slugger Award for utility players, giving the St. Louis Cardinals a rare offseason bright spot. But could it also make him a top trade chip? Joe Roderick and Ryan Fagan debate Burleson’s long-term value, how he stacks up against Nolan Gorman and Lars Nootbaar, and whether Chaim Bloom should consider selling high or building around one of St. L...

Munetaka Murakami has been officially posted, giving MLB teams a 45-day window to negotiate per ESPN. Alex Bregman just opted out in Boston and is back on the market per multiple reports. That suddenly crowds the third base landscape, and it matters for the St. Louis Cardinals as they explore a Nolan Arenado trade and reshape the roster under Chaim Bloom. Joe Roderick and Ryan Fagan break down how...

Albert Pujols just lost out on another MLB managerial opportunity. After a reported nine-and-a-half-hour interview with the San Diego Padres, the club instead hired former reliever Craig Stammen. Pujols had previously been connected to the Angels opening, which ultimately went to Kurt Suzuki. That leaves the Colorado Rockies as the only team without a manager as of now. Pujols and longtime teammat...

Jeff Passan reports that Nolan Arenado is more open to possibilities with his no-trade clause, and the St. Louis Cardinals could have an easier path to a deal this winter. Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer break down what the report means, which teams make sense, why an AL destination could be ideal, and how a broader Cardinals reset under Chaim Bloom shapes the timeline. They also discuss why th...

MLB hot stove is officially here! The Cubs declined their three-year club option on Shota Imanaga, making him a free agent. Kyle Tucker also hits the market after his 2025 run with Chicago. Milwaukee exercised Freddy Peralta’s option while Brandon Woodruff declined his, and the first trade of the offseason is in, the Cubs sent reliever Andrew Kittredge to the Orioles for cash. Joe Roderick and Bre...

Masyn Winn just delivered a franchise milestone, winning the 2025 NL Gold Glove Award at shortstop, the Cardinals’ 100th Gold Glove all time, and becoming the youngest Cardinal to win the award. He edged out Mookie Betts among the finalists, capping an elite defensive season at short.  In this episode, Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer break down what Winn’s glove means for St. Louis in the Bloo...

The World Series is over. What can the St. Louis Cardinals emulate to get there? | Luke Slabaugh and Ethan Hannaford bring you Cards Central 365 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Yadier Molina be back in the St. Louis Cardinals dugout in 2026? Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer react to Katie Woo’s latest report from The Athletic, which says the Cardinals don’t expect Yadi to join Oli Marmol’s staff next season, but could still find him another role. The guys also break down Chaim Bloom’s behind-the-scenes changes, including a new director of hitting, expanded scoutin...

Happy Halloween from STL Sports Central! 🎃 On today’s episode of Card Central 365, Joe Roderick and Ryan Fagan discuss how Trey Yesavage’s World Series breakout could foreshadow what the Cardinals hope to develop in Liam Doyle, their 2025 first-round pick out of Tennessee. They compare Yesavage’s rise with the Cardinals’ revamped draft approach under Chaim Bloom, break down Doyle’s dominant SEC n...

Former St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Matt Adams joins Randy Karraker on Cards Central 365 to talk about life after playing, why he jumped straight into coaching with the Padres’ Triple A El Paso Chihuahuas, and the mindset that made him one of MLB’s most dangerous pinch hitters. Adams breaks down approach vs exit velo, how the shift changed at bats, why routine is everything, and the story beh...

On the 14th anniversary of the St. Louis Cardinals unforgettable 2011 World Series Game 6, baseball fans witnessed another all-time classic. The Dodgers outlasted the Blue Jays 6-5 in 18 innings, capped by Freddie Freeman’s walk-off home run — making him the first player ever with two World Series walk-off homers. Shohei Ohtani reached base nine times, tying a postseason record and adding to the n...

Matt Pauley of KMOX joins Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer on Cards Central 365 to break down the latest on St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar’s offseason injury: a condition called Haglund’s deformity. Pauley explains what he learned from his conversation with Cardinals President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom, why Opening Day isn’t off the table, and how the team’s plans to trade...

Joe Roderick and Ryan Fagan are back for another edition of Cards Central 365, presented by DraftKings, The Crown is Yours. Ryan reflects on his incredible run covering 11 World Series across two decades: from Madison Bumgarner’s legendary Game 7 performance to David Ortiz’s champagne-soaked celebrations, Rajai Davis’s game-tying homer in 2016, and the unforgettable Cubs vs. Indians classic. They...