2024 St. Louis Cardinals season

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The 2024 St. Louis Cardinals season is the 143rd season for the St. Louis Cardinals, a Major League Baseball franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It is the 133rd season for the Cardinals in the National League and their 19th at Busch Stadium III.

Season standings

National League Central

National League Wild Card

Previous season

The Cardinals finished the 2023 season 71–91, which was good for a .438 winning percentage. The season was the first losing one for St. Louis since the 2007 season, and finishing twenty games below .500 resulted in the Cardinals finishing last in their division for the first time since the 1990 season. The Cardinals also missed the postseason for the first time since the 2018 season, snapping a four year postseason appearance streak.

Offseason

As announced before the start of the season, 42-year old Adam Wainwright retired after an 18 year career with the Cardinals, which included three All-Star selections, two Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger, and four top-three Cy Young Award finishes.^[1] Despite struggling with both injury and performance his final season, Wainwright was able to join the 200 win club which he achieved through a 1–0 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers on September 18, 2023.^[2]

The team added former Cardinals' infielder Daniel Descalso (2010–14) as its new bench coach on November 20, 2023, replacing Joe McEwing who got a job in the front office, assisting president of baseball operations John Mozeliak.^[3]

To start the offseason, it was made clear by John Mozeliak that the Cardinals were looking to add two or three starting pitchers to the 2024 squad, either by trade or free agency.^[4] This objective was a result of the very poor performance of the team's pitching in 2023, who combined for the 7th-worst ERA in the league at 4.79,^[5] numerous injuries during the season, and the departing of several starters at the trade deadline and end of season, including Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty, and Adam Wainwright.

On November 21, 2023, the team officially announced that former Cardinals' starter Lance Lynn, 36 (2011–15, 2017) will return in a one-year deal for $11 million, with performance incentives and a 2025 club option.^[6] The same day, the team signed Kyle Gibson, 36, a former Missouri Tigers college pitcher (2006) to a one-year deal for $12 million, also with a 2025 club option.^[7][8]

On November 27, 2023, it was announced by Jon Heyman on X and later confirmed by the club that starting pitcher Sonny Gray, 34, had been signed to a three-year deal for $75 million, which also includes a fourth-year 2027 club option that includes a $5 million buyout, and a no-trade clause. Gray had a spectacular 2023 campaign, which resulted in an 8–8 record over 32 starts with a 2.79 ERA, his third All-Star selection, and a 2nd-place finish in AL Cy Young voting.^[9] Later that day, Gray was officially introduced to media and signed.^[10]

On November 30, former

On December 5, the Cardinals in the second annual draft lottery for the 2024 Major League Baseball draft, will get the #7 draft pick that initially projected them with the #5 pick.^[12]

The Rule 5 draft on December 6, at the Winter Meetings, the Cardinals selected RHP Ryan Fernandez, 25, 6-ft, 0-in., 170-lbs., from Boston.^[13][14]

On the same day, retired Cardinals'

On December 11, the team finalized its coaching staff in adding a new coaching position, the Assistant Pitching Coach. They hired former Cardinals' LH reliever Dean Kiekhefer (2016). He was pitching coach for Single-A Palm Beach in 2021, and assistant pitching coordinator for player development in 2022 and 2023. The Cardinals have also promoted Daniel "DC" MacLea to the staff as the major league Coordinator, Technology and Systems. MacLea has been with the Cardinals since 2018, first as a performance specialist from 2018–21 and then as technology integration coordinator for player development in 2022-23.^[17]

On January 5, 2024, the team acquired RH reliever

On January 8, the Cardinals hired Chaim Bloom, 40, as an advisor to John Mozeliak. Bloom was the Boston Red Sox's chief baseball officer from 2019-2023. He will work under Mozeliak, advising on a variety of baseball operations areas. Mozeliak said in explaining the move, "I have known Chaim for a long time and feel that this is a great opportunity for the St. Louis Cardinals. It will be good to get an outside perspective of our organization from someone who is as well-respected as Chaim. Having a fresh set of eyes on all aspects of our baseball operations should be helpful." Before he became Boston's chief baseball officer, Bloom spent 15 years (2005–19) in the Tampa Bay Rays' baseball operations department, including the final three as the club's senior vice president of baseball operations.^[19]

On January 19, former Cardinals' player (2011-2021) LH-hitting Matt Carpenter, 38, signed a one-year deal for $740,000 to be a DH. In 2023, he hit .176 over 76 games with San Diego, then Carpenter was traded to the Atlanta Braves on December 15 before being released three days later. He was an NL All-Star in 2013, 2014 and 2016. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, the Cardinals transferred RH-reliever James Naile to the KIA Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization for cash considerations. Carpenter will likely be in a battle with Alec Burleson and Luken Baker for the final spot on the 26-man roster. ^[20]

On January 22, the Cardinals avoided arbitration with CF Tommy Edman, with a two-year deal worth a reported $16.5 million. "Tommy's strong fundamental play, athleticism and versatility remain a valuable asset that we view as an important part of our team identity," said president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak. Edman can now shift his focus to fully recovering from the arthroscopic surgery he had on his ailing right wrist following the 2023 season. He hit .248 with 13 home runs and a team-high 27 stolen bases in 2023, while making starts at shortstop (46), second base (40), center field (37) and right field (six). His stellar defensive versatility in 2023 made him a Gold Glove finalist for the third straight season. His 89 stolen bases over the past three seasons are tied for the second most in the Majors with Trea Turner and Starling Marte, behind only Ronald Acuña Jr. (119).^[21]

On February 3, the Cardinals signed free agent RH-reliever Keynan Middleton, 30, to a one-year reported $6 million contract, with a club option for 2025, for a possible $11 million total. The buyout for 2025 is $1 million. He struck out 17 batters in 14 1/3 innings and compiled a 1.88 ERA with the Yankees late last season. The Yankees acquired him from the Chicago White Sox just before the trade deadline last July. In his total of 51 games, he was 2-2 and a 3.38 ERA, with 64 strikeouts in 50.2 IP. His signing adds to the team's need for more swing-and-miss presence out of the bullpen.^[22]

Spring Training

The Cardinals signed veteran shortstop, free agent LH Brandon Crawford, 37, on February 27, on a one-year deal. As insurance behind rookie Masyn Winn, who hit .172 in 2023. Crawford spent his entire 13-year career with the San Francisco Giants, a three-time All-Star, and four-time Gold Glove winner. He is a career .250 hitter. Crawford batted .194 with a .273 on-base percentage in 2023, in an injury-marred season in which he played just 94 games. Crawford said about backing-up Winn, "I'm here to help him out any way I can and obviously help the team any way I can, also. That's what was appealing."^[23] The deal was worth a reported $2 million. To make room for Crawford on the 40-man roster, infielder Buddy Kennedy was designated for assignment.^[24]

On March 14, Center Fielder Tommy Edman will start the season on the IL due to lingering inflammation and swelling in his right wrist, recovering from wrist surgery in Nov. 2023. He will soon be put on the 10-day IL. He is a former Gold Glove second baseman, was projected to be St. Louis' starting center fielder after playing 42 error-free games there late in the 2023 season. He had surgery on his right wrist in early October when the season ended, but he has yet to make much significant progress because of lingering inflammation and swelling. Edman, who recently got second and third opinions on the soundness of the wrist structurally, has yet to hit live pitching, and batting from the right side causes the most pain in his wrist. He signed a two-year extension in January. Dylan Carlson can stake his claim as St. Louis' Opening Day starter in center field. Rookie speedster Victor Scott II, who has gone from the No. 29 prospect in the Cardinals' system to No. 4, per MLB Pipeline could also compete for the position. Scott won a Gold Glove and stole 94 bases in the Minor Leagues in 2023. The Cardinals are already without Lars Nootbaar, the projected starting left fielder. He recently fractured two ribs on his left side while trying to make a twisting, turning catch in left field. His status for Opening Day remains unclear.^[25]

On March 15, the Cardinals extended manager's Oliver Marmol, 37, contract from the end of this year through 2026. Marmol's original three-year deal signed in late-2021 after replacing fired manager Mike Shildt was set to expire at season's end. President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak said on why the sudden extension now, "We believe in them. To go into the season with a ... lame-duck manager just seemed to be the wrong strategy given the fact that with the roster we've assembled, we believe we're going to be competitive."^[26]

On March 16, manager Oliver Marmol announced that RH-reliever

On March 17, manager Oliver Marmol announced that Sonny Gray will not make his scheduled Opening Day start on Thu. March 28, due to his right hamstring strain. Miles Mikolas will start against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Mikolas is 0-2 in his Opening Day starts. Gray signed a three-year contract in November 2023, felt his right hamstring "grab at him" on March 4 in the second inning of a 1-0 loss. Unlike in 2022, when he suffered two hamstring injuries and tried to push through the pain, Gray immediately stopped and motioned for catcher Willson Contreras to come to the mound.^[28]

On March 23, the Cardinals re-assigned outfielder

While playing in center field in the second inning in the first of two games against the Cubs on March 25, Dylan Carlson sustained a left shoulder injury in a collision with right fielder Jordan Walker when both were chasing a fly ball.^[30] Victor Scott II will be the Opening Day center fielder after the team learned that Carlson will miss several weeks with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder. An MRI exam on Monday (March 25) night revealed that Carlson sustained damage to his left shoulder after landing on the warning track after the collision. The team views the injury that will keep Carlson out for a few weeks and not months.^[31]

The final spring training game on March 26, was a 7-2 win over the Cubs at

The Cardinals started the season, 1–3, on March 28, after dropping the first two games against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, before winning the third game, but lost the fourth game.

Traveling to San Diego, they won the first two games, before dropping the third to be 3–4. Opening Day at Busch Stadium on April 4, at the 3:15pm start time, with 47,273 in attendance, duration of game 2:47 (start time weather: 49 °F (9 °C), wind 15 mph (24 km/h) out to right field, Overcast but no precipitation), winning 8–5 against the Miami Marlins. Again winning the first two games (April 4, 6), then dropping the third game to start the first 10 games with an even 5–5 split. Losing the first game to the Phillies on April 8, in 10-innings in a tough 3–5 loss. Reliever John King was sent to AAA, to activate ace starter Sonny Gray on April 9. He won the second game against the Phillies in his first start of the season, 3–0, while on a strict 65-pitch limit to build up his arm strength after delayed 12 days from starting the season's March 28 opener, and 36 days since he last pitched in Spring Training on March 4, because of a strained right hamstring. He pitched the minimum of five innings for the win, facing 18 batters, on 64 pitches (43 strikes), giving up only five singles, striking out five, no walks, with five groundouts (plus two double plays) and two flyouts. Gray's sweeper--one he considers a slider, and the pitch that limited hitters to a .097 average in 2023, gave him his last two strikeouts.^[35] Closer Ryan Helsley earned his fourth save of the season after playing 12 games, with the win making the team returning to .500 at 6–6.^[36]

The Cardinals dropped the final game against the Phillies on April 10, 3–4; Team record now 6–7 (.462) 5th place (50 Runs, 55 Runs Against), last in the NL Central, trailing the

The team rallied late on April 12, at Arizona after blowing a 6–0 lead with Arizona tying it at Chase Field with a six-run fifth inning, but the Cardinals gave up no more for a 9–6 win. Nolan Arenado hit his first HR in 39 games stretching back to Aug. 19, 2023, a three-run homer in the first inning. His best friend, who hit together and surf together throughout the offseason, is fellow Southern California native Lars Nootbaar. He played in his first game after recovering from fractured ribs, who slugged a key two-run HR in the third inning to build-up that initial 6–0 lead. Paul Goldschmidt singled in the lead run in the seventh, followed by Masyn Winn tripling in a run in the eighth, followed by Victor Scott II's sacrifice fly for the final run. Ryan Helsley recorded his fifth save with a perfect ninth, striking out two. The team evened its record at 7–7, 5th place (59-61 Runs-Runs Against), three games behind NL Central leaders Milwaukee 9–3, and Pittsburgh 10–4.^[39][40]

On April 21, the Cardinals optioned OF speedster and elite CF defender Victor Scott II to AAA-Memphis, along with RH reliever Andre Pallante, 25. Scott needed work to improve his hitting, with his 5-for-59 (.085/.138/.136 and .274 OPS, -22 OPS+) with three Doubles, two Walks, 15 SO, six runs, six RBIs, and two Stolen Bases. They recalled RH reliever Nick Robertson, 25, and C Pedro Pagés. Palante in nine games had a 6.30 ERA. He threw three IP, giving up five hits and three runs (2 earned), walking one, striking out none, in the latest loss 5-12 on April 20, to the Brewers. The Cardinals are 9-12 (.429), losing their last three consecutive games, now five games behind the Brewers, scoring 76 Runs to 93 Runs Against (-17) in their 21 games.^[47] The lack of HRs for the Cardinals (13) and the amount of them off St. Louis pitching (26), the sixth-worst in MLB, have been a big reason for the poor start, remaining in last place in the NL Central. Only the White Sox have hit fewer HRs (10) than the Cardinals who have not hit one in seven consecutive games. Miles Mikolas, 35 (1-3, 6.49 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 5 HRs allowed in 26.1 IP over 5G) took the loss, pulled after 4.2 inn. after having a 4-2 lead after the third inning of the April 20 game against the Brewers, but gave up two runs via a HR in the first, and then three runs via two HRs in the fourth. Mikolas has given up at least five earned runs in a start for the third time in 2024.^[48] Batters have hit .311/.353/.538 (.891 O-OPS) against him, each of those (BA/OBP/SLG and O-OPS statistics are career worsts in his nine-year MLB career.^[49]

Sonny Gray (2-1, 1.04 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, .226 O-BA), lost his no-runs-allowed streak, and no-losses season on April 21, after 6.1 innings, giving up two runs in the seventh after one out, for the only scoring of the day for either team. He had 17.1 IP in his three starts before the two runs scored, giving up 14 hits, one walk, and 23 strikeouts. In the game he gave up five hits and a walk, striking out a season-high 12. Back-to-back singles, a stolen base, and a third single accounted for the two runs. LH-reliever JoJo Romero relieved to finish the inning. The 0-2 loss dropped the Cardinals to 9-13 (.409), mired in last place, six games behind the NL Central leading Brewers, who swept the series. This was the team's second game shutout by opponents, getting only six hits, leaving 10 on-base, and just one extra-base hit, a double by Masyn Winn in the second inning. The team was 0-for-9 for runners in scoring position. The Brewers have led all of MLB with the best road winning percentage (9-2, .818) before the win. The Cardinals lost their sixth-consecutive series finale, averaging a small 3.62 runs per game. ^[50]

After an embarrassing 1-14 blowout loss to

Major League Baseball draft

The 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) First-Year Player Draft will be held in Fort Worth, Texas on Sunday, July 14, and will end on Tuesday, July 16, after the 2024 MLB Draft Lottery took place on December 5, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee during the Winter Meetings. The draft assigns amateur baseball players to MLB teams.

The Cardinals in the second annual draft lottery for the 2024 Major League Baseball draft, will get the #7 draft pick that initially projected them with the #5 pick. The Minnesota Twins will have a pick (#33) immediately following the Prospect Promotion Incentive (PPI) picks as compensation for losing Sonny Gray, who signed with the Cardinals after rejecting his qualifying offer from Minnesota. The Cardinals will lose their second-highest draft pick in exchange for signing Gray. The Draft will remain at 20 rounds, and after the first round, the non-postseason teams will choose in reverse order of winning percentage. In all 20 rounds, the playoff clubs will choose in reverse order of their postseason finish (Wild Card losers, Division Series losers, Championship Series losers, World Series loser, World Series winner). Within each of those playoff groups, teams are sorted by revenue-sharing status and then reverse order of winning percentage.^[54] Draft experts pick the first 10 who they believe will be signed in July 2024 in Arlington, Texas.^[55]

2024 Draft Order

2024 Draft Tracker (STL Cardinals)
Cardinals Draft Signings Tracker

References