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New York Times
11 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
A key piece in Cardinals bullpen, Phil Maton is prepared to be traded at deadline — again
ST. LOUIS — Phil Maton has done this drill before. He is no stranger to trade deadline deals. The 32-year-old has been traded three times in July throughout his nine-year career. With the St. Louis Cardinals expecting to shop their rental relievers, the odds of a fourth trade are high. If he had a choice, Maton would remain with the Cardinals. But he also knows his role as a high-leverage reliever often comes with the most turnover. It's an unfortunate reality of the business. Advertisement 'It's hard enough to be a big leaguer. It's even harder to stay in the big leagues,' Maton said. 'Especially as a reliever. It's hard to get contracts and constantly keep coming back and having teams want to pay you money over bringing up young talent.' It's no secret relievers are volatile; it's what makes them so valuable come the deadline. Maton's value is at a high. He entered play Monday with a 2.35 ERA over 40 appearances. He's dazzled in late relief for St. Louis, registering a whiff rate and strikeout rate both over 30 percent. He's done so with one of the slowest average velocities in the game, but one of the best spin rates. 'You think about where this team is without Phil,' manager Oli Marmol said over the weekend, 'it gets ugly real quick.' The Cardinals clubhouse has lauded Maton all year, with veterans admiring his demeanor on the mound and rookies crediting him for passing along his staunch preparation techniques. There is internal hope within the clubhouse that he'll remain with the club. But as Thursday's deadline trickles near, Maton is facing reality — and is again prepared to be on the move. 'You just have to try to look at it as a positive,' he said from the home dugout at Busch Stadium on Monday. 'It's not always what you want to do, but it's always something to learn. There's always an opportunity to improve and there's always different personnel where you go. So you just try to make the most of all those opportunities.' Phil Maton's 3Ks in the 11th…and Sword. ⚔️ — Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 21, 2025 Not all trade scenarios are created equal. Maton was in Triple A when he was first traded from the San Diego Padres to the Cleveland Guardians, a move he described as 'probably saving my career.' He began establishing himself over the next three seasons and was admittedly caught off guard when Cleveland dealt him and catcher Yainer Diaz to the Houston Astros in 2021 on the day of the trade deadline. Advertisement 'The Houston trade was very surprising to me,' Maton recalled. 'We were saying goodbye to other guys on the Cleveland team. I was heading out of my hotel room to go to the field and had to turn right back around and pack my stuff.' It was in Houston where Maton emerged as a durable arm, though. He missed the Astros' entire 2022 playoff run (and World Series championship) due to a broken finger he sustained punching a wall after the final game of the regular season. He elected free agency after the 2023 season, where he logged a 3.00 ERA over 68 appearances with a 10.1 strikeout-per-nine-innings rate. Maton signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, but struggled in the first half. With the Rays selling, he figured he'd be on the move. He was right. Maton was traded to the New York Mets in early July and became a pivotal member of the bullpen during the team's second-half run to the postseason. 'The trade last year wasn't all too surprising,' he said. 'The front office and people in Tampa are awesome people, they're very transparent. 'They don't like spending money. I wasn't throwing well. There was an opportunity to offload my salary, and they took the opportunity. We saw it coming, we knew it was going to happen.' Now Maton is back in familiar territory. He should be a coveted reliever this week. The trade deadline always favors the sellers, and while the Cardinals have not definitively declared themselves as such, their 55-53 record and place in the standings (nine games back in the National League Central, three games back in the wild-card) suggest they will be. President of baseball operations John Mozeliak is prepared to wait out contending teams as he fields interest in Maton, closer Ryan Helsley and set-up men Steven Matz and JoJo Romero. All but Romero will be free agents at the end of the year; he has one remaining year of team control. Maton is arguably the most ideal acquisition of the four pitchers, at least from a cost perspective. He signed a one-year, $2 million deal with St. Louis in March and is owed roughly $700,000 for the remainder of the season. But contending teams also will be intrigued by his veteran pedigree and extensive postseason experience. His performance this year won't hurt either. Advertisement There is some irony in being so highly desired after Maton spent the majority of the offseason unsigned, and that does play into why he would like to stay with the Cardinals. 'After dealing with all the teams in the offseason and their disinterest, I would prefer to stay here,' Maton said. 'This is where we signed our contract for, and where we committed our summer to. But we weren't really negotiating from any place of leverage this offseason, from a no-trade clause standpoint or anything, so whatever they do, it is what it is. But I've enjoyed my time here.' Maton, however, has been in this game long enough and understands how the business operates. His wife, Katelynn, has started packing their apartment in St. Louis — just in case. The Cardinals, who hold the leverage here, are in no rush to part with any of their players. Maton knows the next few days could be grueling as traction starts to pick up, but similar to how he pitches, he'll do his best to block out the noise. 'Regardless of what happens, we'll be ready to stay here or go,' he said. 'I'm just trying to keep my mind off it as much as possible.' (Top photo of Phil Maton pitching: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cardinals' Oli Marmol breaks silence on Erick Fedde decision
The St. Louis Cardinals, after dropping a must-win game to the last-place Colorado Rockies, decided to designate starting pitcher Erick Fedde for assignment. John Denton of shared Cardinals manager Oli Marmol's reaction to the team's decision to designate Fedde for assignment. Marmol praised Fedde and was also candid about why the team cut ties with the 32-year-old veteran. "He understood it," Marmol said of Fedde. "He was a pro about it. He understood that we gave him several chances to try and correct and get on the other side of it. Unfortunately, it wasn't translating into games. He was working hard at it, but he also understood where we are as an organization, and that it opens up a spot for one of the young guys that's going to contribute moving forward." Marmol's overall message about Fedde's release is an accepting one. While it's difficult to cut ties with anyone, Fedde was understanding, and Marmol was able to articulate why the move had to come to pass. Fedde's DFA'ing comes on the heels of one of his worst starts of the season. He lasted just three innings against the Rockies, allowing six earned runs and notching his seventh straight loss. This season, Fedde had a 5.22 ERA and a 3-10 record before being designated for assignment. Earlier in the year, against the Washington Nationals, Fedde had a complete game shutout. MORE: MLB insider reveals three relievers Cardinals are most likely to trade But, even at that point, despite being just eight starts into the year, Fedde's ERA was sitting at 3.86. After 5.1 scoreless in the next game, Fedde took a major step back in his next 11 starts. He had a 7.11 ERA from May 20th until the July 22nd start against the Rockies, which was the final straw. But, most of the damage came in his final five starts in a Cardinals uniform. In his final five-start, Fedde had a 13.25 ERA, allowing eight home runs, 33 hits, 26 runs, walking 11, and striking out only eight. His struggles were too much, and as Marmol mentioned, Fedde had plenty of chances to turn the corner. But, he couldn't, which led to him being designated for assignment in the final year of a two-year, $15 million deal. Fedde now will hit the open market, and while he wasn't the best, he could find a new home. MORE MLB NEWS: Padres make Dylan Cease, Michael King trade deadline decisions Padres 'don't match up' with Red Sox in trade for All-Star MVP Tigers 'make a lot of sense' in trade for $275 million All-Star third baseman Tigers expected to aggressively pursue impact closer at trade deadline Astros named a 'strong trade fit' for Braves three-time All-Star silver slugger MLB insider reveals Guardians' trade demands for Steven Kwan
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cardinals provide update following Lars Nootbaar exit from Nationals game
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar exited Thursday's game against the Washington Nationals in the seventh inning due to rib discomfort, causing concern among fans. However, the Cardinals quickly addressed the situation, with manager Oli Marmol describing the move as precautionary. MORE: Major League Baseball announces incredible Tigers' Casey Mize news Advertisement According to Marmol, Nootbaar felt soreness in his rib cage during the game and was removed to avoid aggravating the issue. The team is optimistic he'll be ready to return to the lineup as early as Friday. Nootbaar is currently in his fifth big-league season with the Cardinals, having worked his way up from an eighth-round draft pick in 2018 to becoming a strong contributor in the outfield. His breakout campaign came in 2023, when he hit .261 with 14 homers and 46 RBIs, showing off both power and on-base ability. A Slower Start in 2025, But Power Numbers Climb Through 86 games in 2025, Nootbaar is hitting .230 with a .721 OPS. While his overall numbers are down compared to past seasons, he's already hit 12 home runs and driven in 37 runs. At this pace, he's likely to set new career highs in both categories by the end of the season. Advertisement The 27-year-old still has two years of team control left through arbitration and isn't eligible for free agency until 2028. That gives the Cardinals plenty of flexibility with his future, especially if he rebounds at the plate in the second half. Nootbaar's Health Is Key for Cardinals Playoff Push With St. Louis sitting at 50-44, just one game back of a National League Wild Card spot and 5.5 games behind the division-leading Cubs, every game matters from here on out. The Cardinals have been hit with injuries, such as Ivan Herrera, Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman throughout the year, and losing another starter, even briefly, would hurt. Nootbaar's return to full strength will be critical for the Cardinals as they aim to stay in the playoff picture. His ability to get on base, work counts, and deliver clutch hits gives the lineup balance, especially as the team find in a tight division race. Advertisement For now, it looks like Nootbaar avoided anything serious, but the Cardinals will keep a close eye on him moving forward. Fans can expect to see him back on the field soon, barring any setbacks. St. Louis hosts the Atlanta Braves this weekend before the All-Star break. MORE MLB NEWS:
New York Times
11-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Cardinals takeaways: Miles Mikolas bounces back in pivotal series win over Nationals
ST. LOUIS — Miles Mikolas' second pitch of the game was a fastball down the middle, which Washington Nationals leadoff hitter CJ Abrams pummeled for a double. Quickly, Mikolas snapped into focus. 'I can't be doing this again,' he muttered to himself. Fresh off one of his worst starts of the year, where he allowed a franchise-record six home runs against the Chicago Cubs, Mikolas posted a dominant performance in Thursday's rubber match, propelling the St. Louis Cardinals to an 8-1 win to take the series. Advertisement 'Miles did a really nice job,' manager Oli Marmol said. 'We needed him to have a bounce-back type of outing, and that's exactly what he did.' The Cardinals did indeed need an outing like Thursday's, all-around. Mikolas departed with a 2-0 lead in the top of the sixth before the offense exploded for five more runs in the home half of the frame. Seven players drove in runs, including Alec Burleson with two RBIs and Willson Contreras with a homer in the seventh. The Cardinals picked up their 50th win of the season, sitting 5 1/2 games out of the division and one game out of the National League wild card. 'Going into the All-Star break feeling good is important,' Mikolas said, acknowledging how important Thursday's start was for his confidence. 'We're in the race a little bit. We have a tough second half. But it feels good to have a good one before the break for sure.' The Cardinals will round out the first half with a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves. How they play entering the second half will likely dictate the decisions for John Mozeliak, the president of baseball operations, at the trade deadline. There is plenty for the club to figure out before then. Let's take a look at three key storylines heading into the All-Star break. Crushed by Contreras! 💣 — St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 11, 2025 Mikolas did not make excuses after his disastrous start in Chicago, where he allowed eight earned runs on 10 hits over six innings, though he had an idea of what went wrong. Seven of those eight runs occurred in the first three innings. Mikolas referenced making an adjustment, but declined to elaborate. Mikolas said he did not want to come across as making excuses, but believed he identified the issue. The adjustment? Mikolas was tipping his pitches, Marmol revealed. Advertisement '(Mikolas) is a pro,' Marmol said. 'You can shoot him straight, you can tell him exactly what you need to say, and he handles it really well. The majority of the (conversations this week) was with (pitching coach) Dusty Blake, just cleaning up some tipping and making sure that were going into this outing feeling good about that.' Mikolas fired 50 of his 71 pitches for strikes, allowing two hits, no walks and six strikeouts. He retired 13 straight after his leadoff double to Abrams, and departed in the sixth to a standing ovation from the home crowd. 'Something had to change,' Mikolas said. 'I've got to be better. I've got to be better with scouting work, and be better in the game with adjustments. You have to make adjustments in real time. It's the major leagues. 'My job as a starter is to keep us in the game as long as I can, whatever that looks like. Being able to do that today, keep those runs off the board — it was a tight game early — let the offense get cranking, it felt good.' A scoreless outing with six strikeouts for Miles Mikolas! — St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 11, 2025 Mikolas certainly wasn't the only starting pitcher facing the heat lately. After days of deliberation, the Cardinals decided Erick Fedde will take his next scheduled start Saturday against the Braves, despite allowing 17 earned runs over his last three starts (nine innings). Michael McGreevy will remain in Triple A, even though he is now eligible to be recalled from the minors. 'We're gonna give (Fedde) another shot at it,' Marmol said. 'There are other variables that play into this other than just performance.' Fedde has struggled immensely over the last few weeks and was not able to finish the second inning in his latest start. But the decision to keep him in the rotation comes from above Marmol. The Cardinals are still straddling the fence as buyers or sellers at the deadline. Fedde is in the final year of his contract, and though his current performance has not been good, no position is coveted more at the deadline than starting pitching. He's a player the Cardinals could deal regardless of direction. By not pitching Fedde, the team tanks his potential value. Advertisement The obvious counterargument is that Fedde's current performance has already hurt his value. He owns a 6.54 ERA over his last seven starts. However, the Cardinals figure they have a better shot at increasing his trade value rather than shelving him altogether, and they are prepared to give him at least one more go. 'My hope is that we can get on the other side of what his last couple of outings have looked like,' Marmol said. Offensive help is on the way, as Iván Herrera (Grade-2 hamstring strain) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Thursday. He went 1-for-3 with a single as the designated hitter, and is scheduled to play in at least three more rehab games. Because of the break in scheduling — Triple-A and Double-A affiliates hold their All-Star breaks at the same time MLB does — there is some consideration as to whether Herrera will need more live at-bats before re-joining the team. The team will see how his body feels after his first two rehab games before deciding how to proceed. When Herrera returns, his time behind the plate will be limited. Herrera has already had two lower-half injuries this season, and the Cardinals want to preserve his health as they head into what could be a playoff push. 'We definitely have to keep that in mind as far as if we want to keep him healthy for the remaining couple of months,' Marmol said. 'If you want to finish off the year with him healthy, you have to be mindful of his lower half.' St. Louis will happily take Herrera back as soon as possible. As the club looks for a more consistent offense, Herrera's bat — he was hitting .320 with a .925 OPS before his injury — will be a welcome addition. The ideal target date would be for Herrera to kick off the second half on Friday, July 18, at the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cardinals Announce Lars Nootbaar News After Leaving Nationals Game Early
Cardinals Announce Lars Nootbaar News After Leaving Nationals Game Early originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Outfielder Lars Nootbaar is in his fifth major-league season as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. Advertisement Nootbaar was selected in the eighth round of the 2018 MLB Draft and rose up through the minors to make his big-league debut in 2021. Since then, Nootbaar has established himself as an everyday role player, with his best season coming in 2023. In that age-25 campaign, he batted .261 with a .784 OPS, smashing 14 home runs and producing 46 RBIs. The Japanese outfielder has two years left of arbitration before he becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2028. St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Lars Nootbaar (21)© Jeff Curry-Imagn Images On Thursday, Nootbaar left the Cardinals' game against the Washington Nationals early in the seventh inning due to a rib cage injury. The Cardinals announced via manager Oli Marmol postgame that the move was precautionary, citing soreness in Nootbaar's rib cage, and confirmed that he is expected to return to the lineup tomorrow. Advertisement St. Louis currently sits at 50-44, one game out of the third National League wild-card spot, making every matchup critical. The Cardinals also sit 5.5 games back of the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs as they chase their first division title since 2022. Nootbaar's availability to contribute will be especially important down the stretch. In 2025, over 85 games, he is batting .229 with a .718 OPS, while hitting twelve home runs and driving in 37 runs. Although his OPS is at the lowest mark of his career, he is on pace to surpass his career-high totals of 14 homers and 46 RBIs. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
