A Bevy of Roster Moves Made on Sunday

Cardinal Chronicle
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur

A Bevy of Roster Moves Made on Sunday

JUPITER, Fla. — With Opening Day now less than two weeks away, the St. Louis Cardinals took another step toward shaping their 2026 roster on Sunday, trimming seven players from major-league camp as the club begins the final push toward the March 26 opener against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The organization announced that Luis Gastellum, Gerson Moreno, Packy Naughton, Matt Koperniak, Blaze Jordan, Jeremy Rivas, and Ryan Fernandez have been cut from big-league camp.

This phase of spring training always carries a certain quiet tension. The moves are not so much about disappointment as they are about the unavoidable math of roster construction. As camp enters its final stretch, innings, at-bats, and bullpen appearances increasingly go to the players still competing for roles on the Opening Day roster.

A Notable Camp for Packy Naughton
Among the group departing major-league camp, Packy Naughton may have made the strongest impression.

The left-hander has appeared in 37 major-league games across three seasons, but missed the entire 2025 season due to injury. This spring provided an encouraging glimpse of what a healthy return might look like.

In limited work, Naughton posted a 1.50 ERA across six innings, showing improved command and the type of calm mound presence that once made him an intriguing depth option for the organization.

While he will not break camp with the club, his performance suggests he could factor into the Cardinals’ pitching depth at some point during the 2026 season.

Still a Few Decisions to Make
Even with the latest cuts, the roster picture is not fully settled.

Two areas remain under close evaluation as camp moves toward its final weeks.

Left Field Competition

With injuries and offseason movement reshaping the depth chart, the Cardinals continue evaluating several candidates. Nelson Velázquez, Thomas Saggese, José Fermín, and Nathan Church remain in the mix as the club weighs how it wants to structure the outfield heading into Opening Day.

Each brings a different profile. Velázquez offers legitimate power, Saggese and Fermín bring defensive flexibility, and Church represents a younger option still pushing for an opportunity.

Bullpen Alignment

The bullpen picture also remains fluid. The Cardinals currently have six legitimate rotation options, meaning at least one arm could ultimately shift into a relief role depending on how the final rotation decisions unfold.

Spring training often answers those questions during the final week of camp, when innings tighten and the staff begins to simulate regular-season usage patterns.

The Final Stretch

The Cardinals now head into a scheduled off day Monday, giving the staff and front office a brief pause before the final decisions of camp begin to come into focus.

With Opening Day drawing closer, the next round of roster moves will likely determine the final bench spots, bullpen alignment, and the still-unsettled situation in left field.

For now, the process continues — one roster move at a time.

 
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