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<h3>Have the Cards reached a crossroads with Jordan Walker?</h3>Three years ago, Jordan Walker arrived in St. Louis with the kind of anticipation reserved for cornerstone players. The organization believed in the bat enough to accelerate the timetable. A 12-game hitting streak to open his career only strengthened that belief. But development at the major league level is rarely linear, and Walker’s path has been anything but smooth.Now, entering 2026, the circumstances are different.The St. Louis Cardinals are no longer protecting a contender’s window. They are recalibrating. That gives Walker something he may not have had before — a clear runway. He is expected to open the season as the everyday right fielder. No platoon. No positional experiment. No infield blockage. The job is his.With that opportunity comes expectation.The strikeout rate has remained a concern. Defensive metrics have not settled. And last season’s negative WAR cannot be dismissed as small-sample noise. At some point, projection yields to production. Organizations can be patient, but they cannot be indefinite.Walker is still just 23 years old. That matters. Power like his does not grow on trees. But arbitration eligibility looms next winter, and the club must determine whether he is part of the next competitive core or a trade asset whose value may be diminishing.Rebuilding clubs can afford to let a young player play through struggles. They cannot afford to ignore stagnation.This season will not be about potential. It will be about adjustment, at the plate, in the field, and in approach. If those adjustments take hold, the Cardinals may finally see the player they envisioned. If not, both sides may have to consider whether a different environment serves the player. and the franchise, better.This is not a make-or-break season in the dramatic sense.It is, however, an evaluation season. And those tend to be the most telling.&nbsp;Begging the question, has the Cards reached a crossroad with Walker? Photo Credit - AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Have the Cards reached a crossroads with Jordan Walker?

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic recently reported that the Orioles are continuing to shop Ryan Mountcastle. That should ping St. Louis’ radar. Mountcastle is exactly what he appears to be: a right-handed power hitter whose value is rooted in his offense. He’s particularly tough on lefties—consistently posting strong numbers against LHP with elite exit velocities—and over a full season, you can reasonably project 18–22 home runs at Busch Stadium. He won’t draw many walks and will chase at times, but if you let him hunt pull-side pitches, he can punish mistakes and add length to the lineup.Defensively, Mountcastle is primarily a first baseman who can also DH. He’s not being acquired for versatility, but rather for his offensive production—a need that matches where the Cardinals are today. With Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras moved, and Alec Burleson both injured and was the subject of trade rumors over the weekend, Mountcastle’s role expands from a platoon option to a potential everyday run producer. Against left-handed starters, he’s almost automatic in the 1B/DH mix, likely hitting fifth or sixth to break up lefties and capitalize on runners on base. Since Busch suppresses opposite-field power for righties, the hitting plan is simple: do damage pull-side, attack mistakes inside, and avoid chasing to maintain on-base valueWhat would Mountcastle cost? Baltimore has a first base/DH logjam and typically seeks controllable pitching depth in these deals—think an MLB-ready starter with options plus a secondary piece, not a core rotation anchor. That’s a price point the Cardinals can explore without touching the top of the staff. If Baltimore asks for more, St. Louis should draw the line at mid-tier arms and reliever control, not core rotation capital.Health and performance are key factors. Mountcastle is coming off a season where he missed significant time due to a hamstring injury. According to Lindy Sports’ Fantasy Baseball Magazine, even when healthy, he posted a .653 OPS, that is well below the major league average of a 700 OPS, with seven home runs in 89 games. That profile offers some value for St. Louis, but doesn’t justify paying a premium.Bottom line: In this roster context, Mountcastle provides a right-handed presence in the lineup, claims everyday first base with DH flexibility, and gives the club insurance while injuries, player development, and trade outcomes unfold. If St. Louis can land him for controllable pitching depth, he’s a practical fit for where the Cardinals are right now. Photo Credit: Colin Murphy/PressBox

Mountcastle: A Right-Handed Solution for St. Louis?

<h3>ON-DECK: OF JOSHUA BAEZ</h3>The Texas League was put on notice in 2025.Joshua Baez didn’t just have a good season — he forced the conversation. Named a Texas League Postseason All-Star, Baez delivered 20 home runs, 54 stolen bases, and a .287/.384/.500 slash line. That combination of power and speed doesn’t whisper potential. It announces it.But this wasn’t simply a tools showcase. The underlying gains may matter even more.Baez posted a 74 percent overall contact rate while maintaining strong plate discipline. For a player once labeled “too raw,” that number carries weight. Add a 90th percentile exit velocity north of 107 mph and a hard-hit rate approaching 50 percent, and the profile shifts from intriguing athlete to legitimate offensive weapon.The raw power has always been there. In 2025, the hit tool began to catch up.Blending near-elite speed with true plus power potential, Baez now fits the modern impact outfielder mold. He affects the game in multiple ways. He pressures pitchers. He pressures defenses. And he changes innings with one swing.The 40-man roster spot matters here.St. Louis has already signaled that Baez is part of the near-term equation. With the Cardinals seeking right-handed power depth and health questions lingering in the outfield as spring approaches, opportunity could surface quickly. Injuries and performance often create openings in March, and prepared players tend to find themselves in the right place at the right time.Baez does not need to force his way onto the roster. He simply needs to continue what he started.If he breaks camp with the big club, it will be because the development is real. If he opens in Memphis, it will be the final proving ground before sustained major league opportunity.Either way, Joshua Baez is no longer just a prospect on a list.He is on deck. Photo Credit -&nbsp; MLB Pipeline

On-Deck: Joshua Baez

<h3>Should the Cardinals Take a Flier on Jack Suwinski?</h3>&nbsp; The Cardinals have made it clear they want a right-handed bat. Jack Suwinski isn’t that. He’s a left-handed, three-true-outcomes corner outfielder who can stand in center when needed. So why even talk about him? &nbsp; Because price matters, depth matters, and power plays—especially when you can control the matchups. &nbsp; Suwinski’s time in Pittsburgh unraveled for pretty standard reasons. Pitchers lived at the top of the zone with four-seamers and buried spin below it, and his in-zone contact didn’t keep up. The platoon gap against lefties stayed wide, which shrunk his role. When the bat went cold, there wasn’t enough defensive value to float his roster spot. That’s the story. &nbsp; But there’s still something here. When Suwinski holds the strike zone, the walks and barrels show up together, and suddenly you’re looking at a lefty who can run a 20+ homer pace against right-handed pitching. Busch Stadium rewards a pulled fly ball just fine, and Suwinski’s natural loft plays into that. He’s athletic enough to be serviceable in the corners and can fake center in a pinch if you protect him with late-inning defense. &nbsp; Would he fit in St. Louis? In the right role, yes. Picture him as a strong-side platoon outfielder who starts against righties and spends the rest of his time as a pinch-hitter against certain right-handed relievers—specifically the ones without elite ride on the fastball. Bat him in the lower third, let a right-handed contact bat follow him to break up strikeout clusters, and keep most of his innings in left or right field. Center should be emergency-only. &nbsp; The contract piece is straightforward. After a DFA, his market points to a minor-league deal with a spring invite or a split contract. He’d want an opt-out date if he’s not on the 26-man by a certain point. The Cardinals, in turn, should be clear about the plan: strict platoon usage, targeted work on high fastballs, and spin recognition. Give him measurable goals—trim the chase rate, lift the in-zone contact, keep the barrel quality—then reassess after about 150 plate appearances. &nbsp; How would he actually get at-bats? He’s injury insurance behind the current outfield mix. If a right-handed addition arrives as expected, Suwinski becomes the lefty counterweight—someone you can call up when you need pop against right-handed pitching without shuffling the whole roster. &nbsp; There are risks. If the high fastball hole doesn’t shrink, the cold spells are going to feel long. The way around that is discipline: hold the platoon line, pick late-game matchups carefully, and squeeze extra value from defense and baserunning with positioning and jumps. &nbsp; Bottom line: I’ll admit it: I was high on Suwinski and thought he had star potential. Maybe that’s why I’m a writer, not a scout—but I still think he’s worth taking a flier on. He won’t solve the Cardinals’ right-handed bat problem. But on a minor-league deal, he’s a smart hedge—cheap left-handed power with a defined job. If the approach tune-up sticks, he can steal you a few wins on the margins without blocking bigger plans. Photo Credit - Post Gazzette

Should the Cardinals Take a Flier on Jack Suwinski?

<h3>Scouting Report on Zak Kent (RHP)&nbsp; </h3>ProfileZak Kent (RHP) Right-handed pitcher, age 26 (born 2018 draft class, Round 9 by TEX) Size: 6'3”, ~210 lbsBackground: Developed with the Rangers; reached MLB debut in 2023 (short stint). Spent most time in Double-A/Triple-A. &nbsp; Arsenal &amp; StyleFastball: 92–95 mph, can touch 96; plays better up in the zone when command is on.Slider: Primary out pitch; mid‑80s with depth—his best bat-missing offering.Changeup: Usable third pitch vs LHB; inconsistent but flashes average.Occasional cutter reported in some looks to bridge FB/SL.Delivery: Compact with some effort; when timing is synced, he throws strikes, but command can waver. &nbsp; Performance snapshot (minors/brief MLB)Misses bats more than he walks when healthy; K-rate historically in the low-to-mid 20% range in AA/AAA.Ground-ball tendencies improve when he leans on the slider and keeps FB at the top rail.Limited MLB track record; small-sample results shouldn’t drive expectations yet. &nbsp; Injury/availability notesHad some missed time in recent years (including an oblique strain and minor lower-body issues). No major arm surgery on record, but durability/consistency has been the question. &nbsp; Fit for the CardinalsLikely depth with upside: swingman or multi-inning relief looks most immediate; spot-start potential.Pairs with STL’s pitching development focus on slider shape and FB approach at the letters.If command ticks up, could be a useful middle reliever who can handle 2–3 inning stints; ceiling of back-end starter. &nbsp; What to watch this springVelocity band (sits 93–95 vs. 91–93). Slider consistency (strike vs. chase separation). Changeup feel vs. lefties. Strike-throwing (ahead-in-count rate, first-pitch strike%). Photo Credit - Dallas Morning News

Scouting Report - RHP Zak Kent

The St. Louis Cardinals have claimed Zak Kent off waivers from the Texas Rangers, adding another right-handed arm to the mix as camp battles start to sort themselves out. Kent, 26, has been more of a depth and development piece to this point, bouncing between Double-A and Triple-A in the Rangers’ system. He’s shown the ability to miss bats at times, but command and consistency have been the separator between prospect and projection.At 6'3" with a starter’s build, Kent has worked primarily as a starter in the minors, though a bullpen conversion isn’t out of the question depending on how things shake out. This is the kind of move clubs make quietly in February—low risk, upside play, and organizational depth in a long season where arms inevitably get tested.To make room, 3B Bryan Ramos has been designated for assignment. Ramos was viewed as a young infield bat with some upside, but roster math is real. With limited flexibility on the 40-man, somebody always pays the price when pitching depth is prioritized.Bottom line? This is a depth play. If Kent finds a little consistency, it’s a savvy pickup. If not, it cost little more than a waiver claim. That’s how smart front offices churn the back end of a roster heading into Opening Day.

Cards Claim Zak Kent Off Waivers

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The 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.