Per ESPN Interview Mozeliak, We probably won't get to see JJ Wetherholt this season

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Stupid quote. So it's not his protection year? Who cares? Is JJ ever going to have to worry about being called up before his protection year?? Maybe if he snaps both his hammys in a week.

At least make the argument that the playing time issues it might cause is the biggest issue. I could buy that. I might not like it, but at least it makes sense.

[PadsFS07]

If the service time on the back end becomes an issue it will mean that either 1) the team has utterly failed to lock him in to a long-term extension, or 2) JJ is much worse than anyone expects him to be. There is no 3rd option. Either way it shouldn't be a factor.

Okay. Say he gets hurt in September or in spring training, say a hamstring. Right now, you would get a 7th year of service time at age 29, rather than paying him to rehab on the big league roster at age 23.

Still, the only way the extra year matters is if one of those two things I stated happens. It's not a major factor.

Definitely true. On the surface, I am not against him being ready by any means. But given the lack of AAA PAs, the rule V implications, the possibility of losing service time, and the lack of any direction for the ML club this year, ie not competing and giving our current role players the 'runway', etc. I'd prefer he just stay in Memphis.

[Wattage]

For the good of his growth and the team overall why wouldn't you want him to get a taste of the majors over the last 30 games or so. (Seems to help Winn). Only prepare him more for next year. Even if the Cards aren't in the WC hunt they'll be playing games that mean a lot to them and just adds that more to his acquired experience. Surely this is a troll job by Mo.

How does it help his growth to speed past AAA? Let him develop. We've rushed every top prospect over the past 10-15 years and all of them struggled with it.

Yep and yet here we go again

Nathan church should probably be the guy caoled up in september. He does have to be added to 40 man anxwaxd this offseason andwhilr 2b is crowded for jj, our outfield production is lacking so he has a real claim to stake for 2026

[rightthinker4]

I just saw this quote he had during an interview on ESPN 101:

"It's not the protection year, so I think it's not necessarily in the best interest for the organization to do that. Even though it might be fun and exciting, you're not forced to put them on the roster this offseason, and so that's definitely something that should be a part of the equation."


https://www.101espn.com/episode/cardina ... -mozeliak/

You see the problem here? MO is still calling the shots, not Bloom.

[Melville]

Regrettably, Super Slo Mo is right.
He has made a trainwreck of the roster and "Chaim-trying-to-fix-this-mess" Bloom will need maximum roster flexibility to add and subtract from the 40 man during the off-season.
Everyone understandably wants to see Wetherholt in STL, but I have no objection if that does not take place until opening day.

Yeah, that is the most realistic option.
However, for us fans it doesn't do much for the excitement level.
In my opinion, there are very few pieces on this squad that point to a successful future.
Most of these guys we are watching are lousy.
Did you see Herrera in LF yesterday?
It's a joke.
Winn had a catchable ball hit him right in the glove and cla-plunk, it falls out.
Felt sorry for McGreevy that inning.
Just plain [shirt]ty baseball is being played.

No excuse for how STL is playing the game right now.
Folks should be far more concerned about how quickly The Marmot departs than how soon Wetherholt arrives.

Sorry for the rant, but the product they've placed on the field for $150M is crazy.
I'm shocked how poor they looked yesterday.

You being right is not a rant.
It is simply being right.
And you are spot on.
It is a disgraceful display of incompetence on the part of The Marmot and his staff in having an unprepared, unfocused, undisciplined team take the field and underperform against the lowly Rockies.

[Melville]

Probably a good move. See what he does in spring training.

He also will have the AFL, should STL choose to send him.

[Melville]

Bringing a guy up for a few games could give him an idea of the differences in the big show. Gives him an idea of what he needs to work on when he goes back down or over the winter. If he does well it could help them sell a few more season tickets. Maybe they think that could backfire.

Would YOU want him being coached by The Marmot and current staff?

[Melville]

Need an analysis of who needs to be protected on the 40 man for the Rule V draft. What room do they have and who do they want to keep for another year? Thats why you don't add Mathews or Wetherholt.

The Cardinals aren't competing this year or next year with or without Wetherholt. Just look at the starting pitching for a helpful dose of reality.

Here's a great article:
https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2025/7/3/2 ... -decisions

We likely will have around 8 spots open, 7 if Mathews or Wetherholt get added in September:

Locks to be Protected
1. Crooks
2. Bernal
3. Joshua Baez
4. Church
5. Hjerpe

Likely Protected
6. Rincon
7. Mautz
8. Blaze Jordan

Possibilities
9. Rajcic
10. Hansen
11. Rivas
12. Love

Then, here are more players that might get taken, in addition to any of the above, however I doubt STL will protect them:

1. Prieto
2. Ralston
3. Bedell
4. Rom
5. Robberse
6. Naughton
7. Saladin
8. Davila

Additionally, STL will need room to make 40 man roster adjustments on the FA market, possible Rule 5 targets, and to facilitate off-season trades.
Zero need to tie up spots prematurely and limit needed flexibility in the coming months.

[RunSup]

Need an analysis of who needs to be protected on the 40 man for the Rule V draft. What room do they have and who do they want to keep for another year? Thats why you don't add Mathews or Wetherholt.

The Cardinals aren't competing this year or next year with or without Wetherholt. Just look at the starting pitching for a helpful dose of reality.

Here's a great article:
https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2025/7/3/2 ... -decisions

We likely will have around 8 spots open, 7 if Mathews or Wetherholt get added in September:

Locks to be Protected
1. Crooks
2. Bernal
3. Joshua Baez
4. Church
5. Hjerpe

Likely Protected
6. Rincon
7. Mautz
8. Blaze Jordan

Possibilities
9. Rajcic
10. Hansen
11. Rivas
12. Love

Then, here are more players that might get taken, in addition to any of the above, however I doubt STL will protect them:

1. Prieto
2. Ralston
3. Bedell
4. Rom
5. Robberse
6. Naughton
7. Saladin
8. Davila

Thanks for this. It's clarifying.

Blaze Jordan ought to be a lock unless traded. So that's 6 locks and 2 open spots. If they leave one open to draft a guy they like, then your down to 1.

Some rough choices here. Especially if you want to park a couple that just had surgery.

Not likely to see JJW or Mathews until Spring.

[woofy25]

Some of you just love the shiny new toy. Whether it’s requesting Gorman get called up immediately during the 2022 season, or Walker must make the roster out of spring training in 2023, or demanding victor scott be the starting CFer out of spring training this season following a brutal 2024 minor league season, you’re not recognizing patterns. There is no rush. Just let the kid be.
He’ll most certainly be in the 2026 OD lineup.

[Ozziesfan41]

Some of you just love the shiny new toy. Whether it’s requesting Gorman get called up immediately during the 2022 season, or Walker must make the roster out of spring training in 2023, or demanding victor scott be the starting CFer out of spring training this season following a brutal 2024 minor league season, you’re not recognizing patterns. There is no rush. Just let the kid be.
He’ll most certainly be in the 2026 OD lineup.

Or saying Scott should skip AA to the majors based on 44 spring plate appearances. Although it was fine Scott making the team this season he’s doing better than what siani could have done and with more stolen bases

[woofy25]

Some of you just love the shiny new toy. Whether it’s requesting Gorman get called up immediately during the 2022 season, or Walker must make the roster out of spring training in 2023, or demanding victor scott be the starting CFer out of spring training this season following a brutal 2024 minor league season, you’re not recognizing patterns. There is no rush. Just let the kid be.
He’ll most certainly be in the 2026 OD lineup.

Or saying Scott should skip AA to the majors based on 44 spring plate appearances. Although it was fine Scott making the team this season he’s doing what siani could have done but with more stolen bases

It wasn’t the right move for the player. Typically, you need to be good in the minors before you can be productive in the majors. Some people on here salivated over spring training way too much, and chose to ignore a major regression over a larger and more reliable sample size. And those same people will do it next year if Doyle or Crooks or Baez or Bernal has a good ST.

I really hope the new regime is able to recognize that a guy who goes from .290 to .212 in the minors needs to start the next season….in the minors.

While Nootbaar hasn’t done himself any favors this season, he should have been the starting CFer. Gorman would have a lot more ABs by now. He and Walker were the poster boys for the runway garbage.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

Some of you just love the shiny new toy. Whether it’s requesting Gorman get called up immediately during the 2022 season, or Walker must make the roster out of spring training in 2023, or demanding victor scott be the starting CFer out of spring training this season following a brutal 2024 minor league season, you’re not recognizing patterns. There is no rush. Just let the kid be.
He’ll most certainly be in the 2026 OD lineup.

I wasn't in favor of any of those things, but surely you can see the difference between what JJ Wetherholt is doing, and who he is as a player, compared to those other guys and those situations.

[Ozziesfan41]

Some of you just love the shiny new toy. Whether it’s requesting Gorman get called up immediately during the 2022 season, or Walker must make the roster out of spring training in 2023, or demanding victor scott be the starting CFer out of spring training this season following a brutal 2024 minor league season, you’re not recognizing patterns. There is no rush. Just let the kid be.
He’ll most certainly be in the 2026 OD lineup.

Or saying Scott should skip AA to the majors based on 44 spring plate appearances. Although it was fine Scott making the team this season he’s doing what siani could have done but with more stolen bases

It wasn’t the right move for the player. Typically, you need to be good in the minors before you can be productive in the majors. Some people on here salivated over spring training way too much, and chose to ignore a major regression over a larger and more reliable sample size. And those same people will do it next year if Doyle or Crooks or Baez or Bernal has a good ST.

I really hope the new regime is able to recognize that a guy who goes from .290 to .212 in the minors needs to start the next season….in the minors.

While Nootbaar hasn’t done himself any favors this season, he should have been the starting CFer. Gorman would have a lot more ABs by now. He and Walker were the poster boys for the runway garbage.

You make valid points and I agree with all of them but Scott. I like Scott. I wanted to see progression from him and he has progressed not as drastically as some who wanted him to hit .300 and steal 100 this season but he went from .179 to .219 raised his OBP from .221 to .309 because he’s walking more and raised his OPS from .502 to .618 and is also hitting .273 with a .376 OBP and .792 OPS with runners in scoring position and .241 .339 .737 with men on. On top of that he’s elite on defense and on the bases. I have no problem with him playing center and batting ninth next season. A lot of teams would love to have Scott batting ninth for them

[ScotchMIrish]

Probably a good move. See what he does in spring training.

He also will have the AFL, should STL choose to send him.

True. I'd say the AFL does a position player more good than a starting pitcher because by that time of year a starting pitcher usually needs to rest and get ready for February when pitchers report.

[PadsFS07]

Additionally, STL will need room to make 40 man roster adjustments on the FA market, possible Rule 5 targets, and to facilitate off-season trades.
Zero need to tie up spots prematurely and limit needed flexibility in the coming months.

Very true. Technically, there will be 11 openings, but VEB is assuming 3 free agent signings, which is probably about right.

Any trades they make will likely end up neutral for 40 man considerations as well.