Moves the Cardinals Could Have Made — But Didn’t
The Cardinal Chronicle
Moves the Cardinals Could Have Made — But Didn’t
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
The most frustrating part of the Nelson Velázquez decision is not that the Cardinals lacked options.
It’s that they had them.
This wasn’t a case of being boxed in or handcuffed by circumstance. It was a choice. A deliberate one. And that’s what makes it worth examining.
The Cardinals had multiple, very real paths to open a 40-man roster spot.
They could have moved Lars Nootbaar to the 60-day injured list — a procedural move that would have created immediate flexibility while he continues recovering from surgery on both heels.
They could have designated a back-end arm for assignment. Names like Matt Pushard or Nick Raquet were already being discussed as fringe roster pieces. In Pushard’s case, the club also had the option to pass on the Rule 5 selection entirely — returning him for $50,000 and opening a roster spot with no long-term commitment.
They could have explored moving on from infield depth such as César Prieto, particularly with JJ Wetherholt and other middle infield prospects beginning to force their way into the conversation.
And yes — they could have used Jordan Walker’s final option and sent him to Triple-A Memphis.
That’s not a knock on Walker. It’s the reality of roster construction. If the goal is to put the best 26 players on the field, then every spot should be earned — not protected. Walker still has development ahead of him, and Memphis would not have been a setback, but a step toward consistency.
Instead, the Cardinals protected depth. They protected status. And they avoided the harder decisions.
In doing so, they left behind a bat that earned the opportunity.
That’s the issue.
Spring training is supposed to mean something. Performance is supposed to matter. Opportunity is supposed to be earned. Nelson Velázquez checked every box, provided a power element this lineup clearly needs, and forced the conversation.
The Cardinals simply chose not to answer it.
At some point, this stops being about roster flexibility and starts being about organizational philosophy.
The Cardinals could have made room.
They just chose not to.