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The Cardinal Chronicle Armchair GM: The Matt Pushard Decision St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurSpring training always forces one uncomfortable decision — the kind that isn’t about talent as much as it is about timing.As the Cardinals get ready to finalize their Opening Day roster, the emergence of JJ Wetherholt has accelerated the clock. A non-roster invitee entering camp, Wetherholt is hitting .375 with a home run and a 1.356 OPS through early March. He looks poised, disciplined, and increasingly like a player who belongs.If he makes the club — and momentum suggests he will — the Cardinals must add him to the 40-man roster.That means someone moves.If we are playing Armchair GM, the most logical pressure point is Matt Pushard.Pushard was selected from the Miami Marlins in the December 2025 Rule 5 Draft. That designation comes with restrictions. Under Rule 5 requirements, Pushard must remain on the active 26-man roster for the entire season. If the Cardinals cannot commit to carrying him all year, he must be offered back to Miami for $50,000.Through the first week of Grapefruit League play, Pushard has thrown one inning.One inning is not a verdict — but it is a signal.Meanwhile, the Cardinals must weigh roster realities. Players such as Justin Bruihl, George Soriano, and Bryan Ramos are out of minor league options. If they do not make the active roster, they must be designated for assignment.On the infield side, the presence of Alec Burleson, Nolan Gorman, and Ramon Urias complicates depth and flexibility decisions if Wetherholt steps in as projected.This is not about whether Pushard has ability. Rule 5 selections are often developmental upside plays. The question is whether the Cardinals are prepared to dedicate a full active roster spot to him in a season where evaluation of young core pieces takes priority.If I’m in the GM’s chair, I return Pushard to Miami.Not because he cannot pitch — but because flexibility matters more than obligation. In a year where youth is forcing opportunity, the Cardinals cannot afford to box themselves in over a winter gamble.Sometimes the smallest roster move reveals the clearest organizational direction.

Armchair GM: The Matt Pushard Decision

The Cardinal Chronicle St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurCardinals Adjust Camp Roster, Roby Optioned to MemphisThe St. Louis Cardinals made a series of roster moves on February 2 as the organization continued to shape its spring training camp and begin the process of assigning players to their likely starting levels for the 2026 season.Right-handed pitcher Tekoah Roby was optioned to Memphis (AAA), positioning the promising young arm to open the season at the top level of the Cardinals’ minor league system. Roby remains one of the more intriguing pitching prospects in the organization and will likely be a depth option for the major league staff as the season progresses.In addition, the Cardinals reassigned several players to minor league camp, a routine step during spring training as the club narrows the number of players remaining in major league camp.The following players were reassigned:SHP Jurrangelo Cijntje LHP Pete Hansen LHP Ixan Henderson RHP Austin Love RHP Hancel Rincón RHP Sem Robberse LHP Jared Shuster LHP Zack Thompson C Graysen Tarlow OF Mike Antico Reassignments to minor league camp do not remove players from the organization’s plans but simply return them to the minor league side of camp to continue their development and prepare for the upcoming season.With camp progressing in Jupiter, the Cardinals will continue to make incremental roster adjustments as the club evaluates talent across the organization and prepares both the major league and minor league rosters for Opening Day.&nbsp; The Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

Cardinals Adjust Roster, Roby Optioned to Mempis

The Cardinal Chronicle Spring Training Notebook St. Louis, MO By Ray Mileur<h3>Riley O’Brien Targeting Friday Debut After Calf Issue</h3>JUPITER, Fla. — Right-handed reliever Riley O’Brien is tentatively scheduled to make his 2026 Grapefruit League debut Friday against the Baltimore Orioles, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.O’Brien has been slowed early in camp by a calf issue, but the club appears encouraged enough by his progress to line him up for his first spring appearance later this week.The hard-throwing right-hander remains an intriguing bullpen arm for St. Louis. Acquired from Seattle late last season, O’Brien showed flashes of swing-and-miss stuff with a power fastball that can reach the upper-90s along with a sharp breaking ball.For the Cardinals, the primary focus right now is simply getting O’Brien healthy and game-ready as the club continues sorting through its bullpen depth during spring training.If Friday goes smoothly, O’Brien could begin building a regular spring workload as the Cardinals evaluate potential relief roles heading into the 2026 season.Health, consistency, and command will ultimately determine where he fits, but the organization still sees late-inning potential in the 29-year-old right-hander.For now, Friday’s outing represents the first step back onto the mound this spring.

O’Brien Targeting Friday Debut After Calf Issue

O'Brien takes the mound in JupiterRight-hander Riley O’Brien threw a live batting practice session on Monday, and if he bounces back well, he’s expected to make his first spring appearance later this week.O’Brien’s 2025 season was interrupted by a calf injury that ultimately kept him from participating in the World Baseball Classic. That was a tough break, especially with an opportunity to showcase himself on an international stage. Instead, he spent the spring rehabbing and working his way back.When healthy, O’Brien brings a power arm out of the bullpen and has shown the ability to miss bats. For a club looking to solidify depth and define roles early in camp, his progress this week is worth watching.Spring is about building strength, building trust — and sometimes just getting back on the mound.This is a step in the right direction.

O'Brien takes the mound in Jupiter

The Cardinal Chronicle St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurSpring Roster Trimmed as Cardinals Reduce Camp to 57The St. Louis Cardinals announced Monday that they have reduced their Spring Training roster to 57 players, moving 11 players to minor league camp as Grapefruit League play begins to sort itself out.Right-handed pitcher Tekoah Roby was optioned to the Memphis (AAA) roster. The move keeps one of the organization’s more promising young arms on a steady development track while clearing space in major league camp as competition intensifies.Eight non-roster pitchers were reassigned to minor league camp: Jurrangelo Cijntje, Pete Hansen, Ixan Henderson, Austin Love, Hancel Rincón, Sem Robberse, Jared Shuster, and Zack Thompson. Catcher Graysen Tarlow and outfielder Mike Antico were also reassigned.The Cardinals now have 39 players on the major league roster remaining in camp, along with 18 non-roster invitees.At this stage of spring, these moves are less about headlines and more about alignment. The organization is narrowing its focus, giving innings and at-bats to those competing for Opening Day roles while allowing others to return to minor league camp for regular work.For players like Roby and several of the young arms reassigned, this is not a setback. It’s part of the process. Development is deliberate. Memphis will play a significant role in shaping depth for the 2026 season, and history tells us the Cardinals rarely build a season with just 26 men.Camp is getting leaner. The competition is getting tighter. And the decisions are beginning to matter.The Cardinal Chronicle Preserving the Past, Promoting the Present, and Projecting the Future.

Cardinal Spring Training Transactions

The Cardinal Chronicle World Baseball Classic Guide St. Louis, MO By Ray MileurThe 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) is set to run March 5–17, with games scheduled across four international venues: San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tokyo, Japan; Houston, Texas (Daikin Park); and Miami, Florida (loanDepot Park). The tournament’s pool stage will take place March 5–11, with the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship round following through March 17.Twenty national teams will compete for the global title in this sixth edition of the Classic. Pool play will be conducted in a round-robin format at four sites before advancing to a single-elimination knockout stage.2026 World Baseball Classic Schedule &amp; PoolsPool A (Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico): Puerto Rico, Cuba, Canada, Panama, Colombia.&nbsp;Pool B (Daikin Park, Houston, TX): United States, Mexico, Italy, Great Britain, Brazil.&nbsp;Pool C (Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan): Japan, Korea, Australia, Chinese Taipei, Czech Republic.&nbsp;Pool D (loanDepot Park, Miami, FL): Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Netherlands, Israel, Nicaragua.Pool play will then be followed by quarterfinal games in Houston and Miami, with semifinal games and the championship later in Miami. The title game is scheduled for Tuesday night, March 17 at 8 p.m. Eastern.All 47 Classic games will be broadcast across Fox, FS1, FS2 and Tubi platforms, providing extensive coverage for the global tournament.St. Louis Cardinals RepresentationThe Cardinals will be represented by multiple personnel on provisional rosters for the Classic this March. Among those currently in Major League camp as of this writing are C Leo Bernal (Panama), RHP Gordon Graceffo (Italy), INF Thomas Saggese (Italy), INF Luis Gastelum (Mexico), OF Matt Koperniak (Great Britain) and INF Bryan Torres (Puerto Rico). Coaches Stubby Clapp (Canada) and Julio Rangel (Panama), along with Assistant Athletic Trainer Chris Conroy (Puerto Rico), are also included on provisional WBC rosters.The Classic gives Cardinals fans a global stage to follow players representing their heritage and national teams this spring, with games kicking off early March and running into the heart of March Madness week in the United States.Looking AheadAs pool play unfolds in the coming days, fans will get their first glimpses of intense international baseball competition leading into the knockout rounds. The Cardinals’ affiliations in multiple countries’ camps offer a unique vantage point on how their talent is woven into the worldwide game.

World Baseball Classic Guide

The St. Louis Cardinal Chronicle 

The St. Louis Cardinal Chronicle is dedicated to preserving Cardinals history, covering today’s game, and following the next generation through the minor leagues. Written in the tradition of the old beat writers, it’s baseball with perspective — steady, faithful, and rooted in a lifelong love for the game.