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 just lately had the stitches eliminated, and the minor process isn’t anticipated to impression his offseason routine.
The 22-year-old Winn was a brilliant 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 take heed to affords on numerous veterans this offseason, and Mozeliak has already acknowledged that the membership’s payroll will go down subsequent yr.
Not one of the Cardinals’ 2024 shortcomings could be pinned on Winn. The budding star performed his first full large 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 properly below-average 17.1% of his plate appearances and paired that sound offensive recreation with glorious glovework at shortstop. Winn slumped badly within the season’s ultimate month (.196/.234/.382) however was hitting .283/.330/.424 by means of Sept. 1. It’s not clear if the cyst hampered his swing down the stretch, but it surely received’t be a problem going ahead in some way.
Elsewhere on the harm entrance, Mozeliak offered 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, based on Mozeliak.
The well being of each Grey and Romero is of additional intrigue, given the Cardinals’ shift in course. Each veterans could possibly 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, might 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 choice 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 simple 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 price, a 6.6% stroll price, a 48.8% ground-ball price and 30 holds. Romero was unhittable in opposition to 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 certainly draw curiosity because the Cardinals look to spice up their farm system.
Adjustments 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 shall be extra cohesive.
“It by no means obtained to the purpose the place we obtained to the purpose it was working 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 wish 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 course 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 subject a youthful membership, Denton tweets. “In the end, the course that we’re going to be going, it’s going to be creating some alternatives for our youthful gamers,” Mozeliak stated.
