Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn had surgical procedure to take away a cyst from his hand following the season, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak revealed at yesterday at a press convention to introduce new hitting coach Brant Brown and new assistant GM Rob Cerfolio (X hyperlink through John Denton of MLB.com). Winn lately had the stitches eliminated, and the minor process isn’t anticipated to affect his offseason routine.
The 22-year-old Winn was a vivid spot in a lackluster season that has prompted the Cardinals to step again, give attention to participant growth and embark on one thing of a reset. They’re broadly anticipated to hearken to provides on varied veterans this offseason, and Mozeliak has already said that the membership’s payroll will go down subsequent yr.
Not one of the Cardinals’ 2024 shortcomings will be pinned on Winn. The budding star performed his first full huge league season and turned in a strong .267/.314/.416 batting line with 15 homers, 32 doubles, 5 triples and 11 stolen bases (in 16 makes an attempt). He fanned in a nicely below-average 17.1% of his plate appearances and matched that sound offensive recreation with wonderful glovework at shortstop. Winn slumped badly within the season’s remaining month (.196/.234/.382) however was hitting .283/.330/.424 by Sept. 1. It’s not clear if the cyst hampered his swing down the stretch, however it gained’t be a difficulty going ahead somehow.
Elsewhere on the harm entrance, Mozeliak supplied encouraging updates on right-hander Sonny Grey and left-handed reliever JoJo Romero (X hyperlink through Jeff Jones of the Belleville Information-Democrat). Grey completed the 2024 season on the injured listing because of proper forearm irritation however is predicted to have a traditional offseason. Like Grey, Romero completed the season on the shelf because of irritation in his flexor tendon. He’s simply now progressing to a throwing program that can dictate how the remainder of his offseason performs out. The Cardinals don’t anticipate any extra surgical procedures past Winn’s minor process, in keeping with Mozeliak.
The well being of each Grey and Romero is of additional intrigue, given the Cardinals’ shift in route. Each veterans may very well be candidates to be traded over the winter. Grey is getting into the second season of a three-year, $75MM contract and could have his say over the place or whether or not he’s moved, as that pact included a full no-trade provision. That, coupled with the backloaded nature of the contract, may make him a tough commerce candidate. He earned $10MM of his $75MM assure this previous season. He’ll be paid $25MM in 2025 and $35MM in 2026, with a $5MM buyout on an possibility for the 2027 season. Grey, the AL Cy Younger runner-up with the Twins in 2023, pitched to a 3.84 ERA in 166 1/3 innings with St. Louis this previous season.
Romero is a extra easy case. The 28-year-old is arbitration-eligible for the second time this winter — projected for a $1.9MM wage by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz — and is underneath membership management for one more two seasons. He’s coming off a career-best 3.36 ERA with a 21% strikeout fee, a 6.6% stroll fee, a 48.8% ground-ball fee and 30 holds. Romero was unhittable towards lefties (.181/.244/.250) however yielded a far much less encouraging .264/.329/.466 line to right-handers. Nonetheless, as an inexpensive and comparatively controllable lefty who averages 95.1 mph on his heater and isn’t any stranger to high-leverage spots, he’d absolutely draw curiosity because the Cardinals look to spice up their farm system.
Modifications all through the Cardinals group are simply getting began. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Submit-Dispatch writes that the newly employed Cerfolio will now be tasked with hiring a brand new director of efficiency and a brand new farm director. Cerfolio will help Chaim Bloom in main each departments. Goold notes that the participant growth and participant efficiency departments had been beforehand separate entities however will probably be extra cohesive.
“It by no means bought to the purpose the place we bought to the purpose it was operating at 100% by way of collaboration,” Mozeliak stated of the prior participant growth and participant efficiency setup. Goold’s piece consists of quotes from Mozeliak on the additions of Cerfolio, Brown and outfield coach Jon Jay, detailing what drew the Cardinals to every and likewise additional laying out the plans for added hires. Playing cards followers will need to give it a learn for a full preview of what’s to return within the weeks and months forward.
With regard to the roster itself, it’s more and more clear what route the Cardinals will take this winter with each media availability from their decision-makers. Mozeliak has already knowledgeable a number of of the workforce’s veterans of a plan to discipline a youthful membership, Denton tweets. “Finally, the route that we’re going to be going, it’s going to be creating some alternatives for our youthful gamers,” Mozeliak stated.
