Cards Central

Lars Nootbaar is in Cardinals camp, but the one thing fans actually want to know still is not clear. And if he’s not close soon, the Opening Day outfield plan might already be changing. Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer break down what Nootbaar said about his rehab, why the Cardinals explored trade talks involving him this offseason, and what it could mean if he’s not ready early. Plus, a bullpen...

The Cardinals keep getting labeled “low expectations” for 2026, but Joe Roderick got an up close look at spring training, and the vibe doesn’t match the narrative. There’s one obvious message coming from camp: these young guys are taking it personally. Joe and Brenden break down the biggest takeaways from Jupiter, including Jordan Walker’s offseason work and raw power, Masyn Winn’s next step offen...

Joe Roderick and Mike Claiborne react from Jupiter to Ivan Herrera working in the outfield with a first baseman’s mitt, why it’s worth monitoring, and what it could mean for lineup flexibility once the games begin. They also discuss how the Cardinals are structuring early spring pitching, split starts, short outings, rotation-style scheduling, and how that ramp-up impacts arms battling for roles,...

Yadier Molina walked into Cardinals camp and immediately took over the morning. Then Ozzie Smith showed up too, and the tone of spring training shifted fast. Joe Roderick and Mike Claiborne break down Yadi’s impact on the catchers, Ozzie’s early impressions (including one player he says looks drastically improved), and the biggest roster tells from defensive work in Jupiter. They also dig into why...

Joe Roderick reports from Jupiter, Florida with the latest on Ivan Herrera’s throwing session, the new evaluation tech the Cardinals are using this spring, and what the club is watching before they green-light him for heavy catching reps. We also get Joe’s notes on Ryne Stanek settling into a veteran “teacher” role, JJ Wetherholt taking early reps at second base with Nolan Gorman at third, and the...

The Cardinals look completely different in Jupiter, and it’s not just the roster. Joe Roderick explains the biggest change he’s seeing every single day, and why it could actually stick this time. From tablets behind hitters to a brand-new cage setup and a noticeably larger staff, Joe and Ethan Hannaford break down what’s new at spring training, what it means for a younger roster, and why the Cardi...

The Cardinals just got an up close look at one of the most unusual pitchers in baseball, and it immediately raises one big question, how do you actually use him in real games? Joe Roderick and Mike Claiborne break down what they saw in Jupiter, plus why the strategy, workload, and communication side might matter as much as the stuff. On this Friday edition of Cards Central 365 from Cardinals Sprin...

The Cardinals might have found their next real rotation pillar, and you can literally hear it in how they talk about him. One new pitch is stealing the spotlight in Jupiter, and it could be the difference between “solid” and “front-end.” Joe Roderick and Mike Claiborne break down the first full spring training workout at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, what they saw in live BP, and why Matthew Liber...

The Cardinals finally look like a modern organization again, and you can feel it the second you walk into Jupiter. This facility upgrade is not just shiny new stuff, it could shape who wins jobs, who develops faster, and what 2026 really looks like. Joe Roderick and Mike Claiborne report from Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium as Cardinals spring training begins, breaking down the massive renovations, t...

The Cardinals have options for once, and that’s exactly what makes this rotation call so messy. Liberatore, Dustin May, McGreevy, then chaos, because the last spots come down to who forces the issue in Jupiter. On this episode of Cards Central 365, Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer lay out their early 2026 rotation projection, argue the Opening Day starter logic, and break down the real competiti...

The Cardinals haven’t even taken the field in spring training yet, and the Opening Day lineup is already a puzzle. The leadoff spot alone could flip the entire batting order, and that’s before the first “competition” quote drops from camp. On this episode of Cards Central 365, Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer make their best early calls on the St. Louis Cardinals 2026 Opening Day lineup, includi...

Spring Training is almost here, and the Cardinals non roster invite list is basically a sneak peek at what the front office is really worried about. A few of these names could end up mattering way sooner than fans expect. Ethan Hannaford and Luke Slabaugh break down the Cardinals NRIs, the under the radar arms, and why the organization keeps stacking pitching depth. ⭐️ Become an STL Sports Centra...

The 2026 St. Louis Cardinals season is going to feel weird: star players traded, a full-on Chaim Bloom rebuild, and a fanbase that isn’t used to “wait and see.” In this episode, we break down how Cardinals fans can survive, perhaps enjoy, an unsettling 2026. We’ll cover: What Chaim Bloom’s blueprint really means for the Cardinals’ future Which young players (Jordan Walker, Masyn Winn, Nolan Gorman...

The WBC rosters just dropped, and the Cardinals’ situation is way more interesting than “who made it.” The biggest clue is what St. Louis clearly does not want Iván Herrera doing on the world stage. Joe Roderick and Ryan Fagan break down every Cardinals player headed to the World Baseball Classic, why the total is way lower than 2023, and how MLB teams manage pitch limits and spring training ramps...

The Reds just made a real move, the Cubs look loaded, and the Brewers keep refusing to die. So where does that leave the Cardinals, fighting for third, or just trying not to finish last? On this episode of Cards Central 365, Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer power-rank the NL Central heading into spring training, react to Cincinnati adding Eugenio Suárez, and lay out what would have to go right f...

The Cardinals just got one of their biggest national farm system compliments in years, and it changes the way you should view the rebuild. Baseball America has St. Louis ranked No. 2, and the names driving it are not just the ones you already know. Brenden Schaeffer and Ryan Fagan break down why the Cardinals jumped in the rankings, what it says about Chaim Bloom’s direction, and how depth matters...

In moving Brendan Donovan, the St. Louis Cardinals reshaped their next two years in one swing. The biggest twist is how they plan to handle switch-pitcher Jurrangelo Cijntje, and what that says about the organization’s new direction. In this episode of Cards Central 365, Brenden Schaeffer and Hunter Mulholland react to the three-team deal with the Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays, break down th...

Cardinals POBO Chaim Bloom is live to talk about the latest Cardinals news with the media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that we know the full return of the trade for Brendan Donovan, Randy Karraker and Joe Roderick are back LIVE to give you the details on what the Cardinals got back for trading away their All-Star 2nd baseman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katie Woo & Jeff Passan are reporting a finalizing trade between the Cardinals, Mariners & Rays around All-Star second baseman Brendan Donovan. Randy Karraker, Mike Claiborne, Joe Roderick, and Brenden Schaeffer talk about it Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The St. Louis Cardinals aren’t just “listening” on Brendan Donovan anymore, the noise around this has officially turned into real leverage and real deadlines. If a deal is getting done, this is the window where teams start showing their hand. In this episode of Cards Central 365, we break down why the Seattle Mariners keep popping up as the cleanest match, what St. Louis has to demand in return (a...

The crew on Cards Central 365 dives into the ongoing debate surrounding Brendan Donovan and the Cardinals’ rebuild, weighing the pros and cons of trading versus extending one of the team’s most versatile players. Using creative analogies and roster context, the discussion explores Donovan’s trade value, timeline fit, positional logjams, and what his future could mean for the Cardinals’ identity du...

Masyn Winn just got hit with the classic Cardinals tax: fans love him, the rankings do not. So who’s right, and what does it mean for a potential extension after the Jacob Wilson deal? In this episode of Cards Central 365, Joe Roderick and Ryan Fagan break down why Masyn Winn didn’t crack MLB Network’s Top 10 shortstops, even after a Gold Glove caliber season. They compare the “Shredder” model vs...

Nolan Arenado opened up about his time in St. Louis, and it’s the most honest he’s sounded about what went wrong. The part about the clubhouse shift after the legends left, that’s the real tell. We’re a few weeks removed from the trade to Arizona, and Arenado’s comments on Foul Territory hit on everything Cardinals fans have been arguing about: culture, leadership, expectations, and how fast it al...

The Cardinals had zero arm injuries in 2025, and that one stat might be more powerful than any recruiting pitch they could give a free agent. Dustin May noticed, asked questions, and it may have helped push him to St. Louis. On this episode of Cards Central 365, Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer break down how the Cardinals’ medical process and workload planning became a real selling point, and w...