JJ Weatherholt- so many don’t understand why he isn’t being brought up

[Quincy Varnish]

Move Arenado to the 60-day. Boom, roster spot.

[ScotchMIrish]

I keep seeing post after post complaining about the Cards not bringing up Weatherholt for a cup of coffee this year. I don’t think many of you have any understanding of the reasons why he isn’t being brought up. He obviously has done everything to prove that he deserves an opportunity, but Mo and or Bloom are doing the smart thing here. (I am no fan of Mo)

Currently he isn’t on the 40 man roster, and because of his status he isn’t eligible for the rule 5 draft and doesn’t need to be protected. If he is brought up to the majors, he will have to be added to the 40 man which will take another spot that the cards could use to protect another player from being picked off their roster through the rule 5 draft.

Also by not starting his service time until opening day they can actually push back his first year of arbitration until 2029. Saving the cards some payroll down the line. If they delay his debut until mid April, which I think they will, he won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2030 and pushes his free agency back an additional year. After 2032 season.

My money is on seeing JJ sometime in mid April of 2026.

I think this would be the smartest move the front office could make.

That plus at his age he would be rushed and it could become another Caglianone and even if he hits the Cardinals aren't likely to make the playoffs without better pitching. He gets a chance in spring training to make the ballclub.

[freed5179]

If the Cardinals do not want to sign him to a deal which includes 2032 and beyond, we've really got (more) problems with ownership.

I notice the Rays had no qualms about calling up Williams tonight, who was drafted out of HS in '21. Not identical situations, but a lot of the arguments some are making here re:JJ could be made in that case as well. (And Williams was barely hitting .200 at AAA)

[ramfandan]

• A minor league player could be promoted to the MLB roster on or after April 11, 2026, to prevent him from earning a full year of service credit for the 2026 season.
• MLB Opening Day in 2026 is scheduled for March 26. The first 16 days of the season must pass before a player is promoted. This ensures that even if he remains on the active roster for the rest of the season, he can only accumulate 171 days of service time.

I hope we see J.J. Wetherholt very soon after April 11, 2026 so that we can see J.J. Wetherhold all year in 2032.

It would be wasteful to trade the entire 2032 season of J.J. Wetherholt for a few weeks of J.J. Wetherholt in this lost season just because a few fans can't wait to open their present. He is now up to a whole 28 games in AAA.

So he would be 30 years old in that 2032 season. If he is truly a star and was held back by Cardinals to provide them with that extra year of service , do you think JJ would have any interest in staying with the team past age 30 when he was screwed out of a year of making the big $$$ .. Nope ! He would probably say you used me to get the extra year out of me , now I will leave for greener pastures. Adios, Cardinals !

[TXCardsFanX]

40 man is a bull shildt excuse.

Immediate DFA's from the 40 man:

Fernandez
King
Robberse
Hampson
Siani
Roycroft
Munoz
Alcala
Veneziano

"Mid April"

NO CHANCE

He's the opening day 2nd baseman.

Why the heck are Siani and Hampson still here?

[cardstatman]

• A minor league player could be promoted to the MLB roster on or after April 11, 2026, to prevent him from earning a full year of service credit for the 2026 season.
• MLB Opening Day in 2026 is scheduled for March 26. The first 16 days of the season must pass before a player is promoted. This ensures that even if he remains on the active roster for the rest of the season, he can only accumulate 171 days of service time.

I hope we see J.J. Wetherholt very soon after April 11, 2026 so that we can see J.J. Wetherhold all year in 2032.

It would be wasteful to trade the entire 2032 season of J.J. Wetherholt for a few weeks of J.J. Wetherholt in this lost season just because a few fans can't wait to open their present. He is now up to a whole 28 games in AAA.

So he would be 30 years old in that 2032 season. If he is truly a star and was held back by Cardinals to provide them with that extra year of service , do you think JJ would have any interest in staying with the team past age 30 when he was screwed out of a year of making the big $$$ .. Nope ! He would probably say you used me to get the extra year out of me , now I will leave for greener pastures. Adios, Cardinals !

That worked out quite well for the Cubs with Kris Bryant.

Also, if he's very good, the Cards won't be able to keep him. Their market is getting smaller and smaller and smaller.

[Cardinals4Life]

I keep seeing post after post complaining about the Cards not bringing up Weatherholt for a cup of coffee this year. I don’t think many of you have any understanding of the reasons why he isn’t being brought up. He obviously has done everything to prove that he deserves an opportunity, but Mo and or Bloom are doing the smart thing here. (I am no fan of Mo)

Currently he isn’t on the 40 man roster, and because of his status he isn’t eligible for the rule 5 draft and doesn’t need to be protected. If he is brought up to the majors, he will have to be added to the 40 man which will take another spot that the cards could use to protect another player from being picked off their roster through the rule 5 draft.

Also by not starting his service time until opening day they can actually push back his first year of arbitration until 2029. Saving the cards some payroll down the line. If they delay his debut until mid April, which I think they will, he won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2030 and pushes his free agency back an additional year. After 2032 season.

My money is on seeing JJ sometime in mid April of 2026.

I think this would be the smartest move the front office could make.

The 40-man isn't actually an issue, there are plenty of people they can ditch and they only need to add like 7 or 8 guys.

The service time also isn't an issue, since by 2029 the org should already have extended JJ, or he will be so disappointing that he isn't even going to be making that much in arbitration.

I'd bet the main issue is that there simply aren't enough ABs for him unless one of Gorman/Saggese/Winn gets injured or demoted. Makes no sense to promote him to the bench. I'd consider demoting Saggese for him but I don't think there's any way Mo/Oli does that.

This is probably right, but the real solution is to lut Herrera behind the plate for the rest of the year. Put Saggese at 3rd, Winn at SS, J.J. at 2nd, and Gorman at DH. Get them all their ABs and see what you have!

[ICCFIM2]

I keep seeing post after post complaining about the Cards not bringing up Weatherholt for a cup of coffee this year. I don’t think many of you have any understanding of the reasons why he isn’t being brought up. He obviously has done everything to prove that he deserves an opportunity, but Mo and or Bloom are doing the smart thing here. (I am no fan of Mo)

Currently he isn’t on the 40 man roster, and because of his status he isn’t eligible for the rule 5 draft and doesn’t need to be protected. If he is brought up to the majors, he will have to be added to the 40 man which will take another spot that the cards could use to protect another player from being picked off their roster through the rule 5 draft.

Also by not starting his service time until opening day they can actually push back his first year of arbitration until 2029. Saving the cards some payroll down the line. If they delay his debut until mid April, which I think they will, he won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2030 and pushes his free agency back an additional year. After 2032 season.

My money is on seeing JJ sometime in mid April of 2026.

I think this would be the smartest move the front office could make.

The 40-man isn't actually an issue, there are plenty of people they can ditch and they only need to add like 7 or 8 guys.

The service time also isn't an issue, since by 2029 the org should already have extended JJ, or he will be so disappointing that he isn't even going to be making that much in arbitration.

I'd bet the main issue is that there simply aren't enough ABs for him unless one of Gorman/Saggese/Winn gets injured or demoted. Makes no sense to promote him to the bench. I'd consider demoting Saggese for him but I don't think there's any way Mo/Oli does that.

+1 on your reasoning, but I’d still bring him up, especially with Donovan on IL. Use Sagesse more at 3b and stop the Gorman experiment. Gorman should be a DH.

Burly is hurt now which may open up some ABs, but if he weren't there still wouldn't be enough ABs for both Gorman at DH and JJ at IF. Herrera and Burly both DH, while they all share with Noot and Walker in the OF. And we may disagree but imo Gorman has earned the ABs.

So still the only way JJ gets enough PT is if one more of the IFs get hurt or demoted.

Saying there are not enough ABs for JJ is in many ways worse than the 40 man roster issue being brought up. He is our top prospect, you make ABs for your top prospect, period. What else do we need to know about Gorman? He is a low average hitter with plus power who is a minus fielder at 3B. He is never going to be good enough on a championship team because his fielding is not good enough. He is a bench player / platoon DH. Saggese, is a no power no walk gy who hits for an OK average and whose fielding is not great. He is a bench player. He is worse than Donovan at every single aspect of the game and people call Donovan a utility player...What will more ABs for either Gorman or Saggese tell us we don't already know? Giving JJ ABs and some field playing time will allow him to understand what he needs to work on to be ready on opening day in 2026. That is far more important than ABs for either Gorman or Saggese.

[3dender]

I keep seeing post after post complaining about the Cards not bringing up Weatherholt for a cup of coffee this year. I don’t think many of you have any understanding of the reasons why he isn’t being brought up. He obviously has done everything to prove that he deserves an opportunity, but Mo and or Bloom are doing the smart thing here. (I am no fan of Mo)

Currently he isn’t on the 40 man roster, and because of his status he isn’t eligible for the rule 5 draft and doesn’t need to be protected. If he is brought up to the majors, he will have to be added to the 40 man which will take another spot that the cards could use to protect another player from being picked off their roster through the rule 5 draft.

Also by not starting his service time until opening day they can actually push back his first year of arbitration until 2029. Saving the cards some payroll down the line. If they delay his debut until mid April, which I think they will, he won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2030 and pushes his free agency back an additional year. After 2032 season.

My money is on seeing JJ sometime in mid April of 2026.

I think this would be the smartest move the front office could make.

The 40-man isn't actually an issue, there are plenty of people they can ditch and they only need to add like 7 or 8 guys.

The service time also isn't an issue, since by 2029 the org should already have extended JJ, or he will be so disappointing that he isn't even going to be making that much in arbitration.

I'd bet the main issue is that there simply aren't enough ABs for him unless one of Gorman/Saggese/Winn gets injured or demoted. Makes no sense to promote him to the bench. I'd consider demoting Saggese for him but I don't think there's any way Mo/Oli does that.

+1 on your reasoning, but I’d still bring him up, especially with Donovan on IL. Use Sagesse more at 3b and stop the Gorman experiment. Gorman should be a DH.

Burly is hurt now which may open up some ABs, but if he weren't there still wouldn't be enough ABs for both Gorman at DH and JJ at IF. Herrera and Burly both DH, while they all share with Noot and Walker in the OF. And we may disagree but imo Gorman has earned the ABs.

So still the only way JJ gets enough PT is if one more of the IFs get hurt or demoted.

Saying there are not enough ABs for JJ is in many ways worse than the 40 man roster issue being brought up. He is our top prospect, you make ABs for your top prospect, period. What else do we need to know about Gorman? He is a low average hitter with plus power who is a minus fielder at 3B. He is never going to be good enough on a championship team because his fielding is not good enough. He is a bench player / platoon DH. Saggese, is a no power no walk gy who hits for an OK average and whose fielding is not great. He is a bench player. He is worse than Donovan at every single aspect of the game and people call Donovan a utility player...What will more ABs for either Gorman or Saggese tell us we don't already know? Giving JJ ABs and some field playing time will allow him to understand what he needs to work on to be ready on opening day in 2026. That is far more important than ABs for either Gorman or Saggese.

I agree with you on Saggese, disagree on Gorman. He has rebounded from last year and improved both his K and BB rate. The more ABs he gets the higher chance he figures out how to put it all together and fully incorporate his power. And if he does that he's a Schwarber-like player.

[3dender]

I keep seeing post after post complaining about the Cards not bringing up Weatherholt for a cup of coffee this year. I don’t think many of you have any understanding of the reasons why he isn’t being brought up. He obviously has done everything to prove that he deserves an opportunity, but Mo and or Bloom are doing the smart thing here. (I am no fan of Mo)

Currently he isn’t on the 40 man roster, and because of his status he isn’t eligible for the rule 5 draft and doesn’t need to be protected. If he is brought up to the majors, he will have to be added to the 40 man which will take another spot that the cards could use to protect another player from being picked off their roster through the rule 5 draft.

Also by not starting his service time until opening day they can actually push back his first year of arbitration until 2029. Saving the cards some payroll down the line. If they delay his debut until mid April, which I think they will, he won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2030 and pushes his free agency back an additional year. After 2032 season.

My money is on seeing JJ sometime in mid April of 2026.

I think this would be the smartest move the front office could make.

The 40-man isn't actually an issue, there are plenty of people they can ditch and they only need to add like 7 or 8 guys.

The service time also isn't an issue, since by 2029 the org should already have extended JJ, or he will be so disappointing that he isn't even going to be making that much in arbitration.

I'd bet the main issue is that there simply aren't enough ABs for him unless one of Gorman/Saggese/Winn gets injured or demoted. Makes no sense to promote him to the bench. I'd consider demoting Saggese for him but I don't think there's any way Mo/Oli does that.

This is probably right, but the real solution is to lut Herrera behind the plate for the rest of the year. Put Saggese at 3rd, Winn at SS, J.J. at 2nd, and Gorman at DH. Get them all their ABs and see what you have!

It would be great if Herrera could stick at catcher. Pretty clear the coaches don't think he can or at least won't be playing him there again this year. That's why I didn't mention it.

We'll know for sure next year if the team has totally given up on him at catcher or not. I suspect they have but I hope not, and I hope Herrera sees it as a challenge to work his rear off over the winter to improve there.

[sikeston bulldog2]

• A minor league player could be promoted to the MLB roster on or after April 11, 2026, to prevent him from earning a full year of service credit for the 2026 season.
• MLB Opening Day in 2026 is scheduled for March 26. The first 16 days of the season must pass before a player is promoted. This ensures that even if he remains on the active roster for the rest of the season, he can only accumulate 171 days of service time.

I hope we see J.J. Wetherholt very soon after April 11, 2026 so that we can see J.J. Wetherhold all year in 2032.

It would be wasteful to trade the entire 2032 season of J.J. Wetherholt for a few weeks of J.J. Wetherholt in this lost season just because a few fans can't wait to open their present. He is now up to a whole 28 games in AAA.

Not bad. Not bad at all. Good write.

[sikeston bulldog2]

I keep seeing post after post complaining about the Cards not bringing up Weatherholt for a cup of coffee this year. I don’t think many of you have any understanding of the reasons why he isn’t being brought up. He obviously has done everything to prove that he deserves an opportunity, but Mo and or Bloom are doing the smart thing here. (I am no fan of Mo)

Currently he isn’t on the 40 man roster, and because of his status he isn’t eligible for the rule 5 draft and doesn’t need to be protected. If he is brought up to the majors, he will have to be added to the 40 man which will take another spot that the cards could use to protect another player from being picked off their roster through the rule 5 draft.

Also by not starting his service time until opening day they can actually push back his first year of arbitration until 2029. Saving the cards some payroll down the line. If they delay his debut until mid April, which I think they will, he won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2030 and pushes his free agency back an additional year. After 2032 season.

My money is on seeing JJ sometime in mid April of 2026.

I think this would be the smartest move the front office could make.

The 40-man isn't actually an issue, there are plenty of people they can ditch and they only need to add like 7 or 8 guys.

The service time also isn't an issue, since by 2029 the org should already have extended JJ, or he will be so disappointing that he isn't even going to be making that much in arbitration.

I'd bet the main issue is that there simply aren't enough ABs for him unless one of Gorman/Saggese/Winn gets injured or demoted. Makes no sense to promote him to the bench. I'd consider demoting Saggese for him but I don't think there's any way Mo/Oli does that.

+1 on your reasoning, but I’d still bring him up, especially with Donovan on IL. Use Sagesse more at 3b and stop the Gorman experiment. Gorman should be a DH.

Burly is hurt now which may open up some ABs, but if he weren't there still wouldn't be enough ABs for both Gorman at DH and JJ at IF. Herrera and Burly both DH, while they all share with Noot and Walker in the OF. And we may disagree but imo Gorman has earned the ABs.

So still the only way JJ gets enough PT is if one more of the IFs get hurt or demoted.

Saying there are not enough ABs for JJ is in many ways worse than the 40 man roster issue being brought up. He is our top prospect, you make ABs for your top prospect, period. What else do we need to know about Gorman? He is a low average hitter with plus power who is a minus fielder at 3B. He is never going to be good enough on a championship team because his fielding is not good enough. He is a bench player / platoon DH. Saggese, is a no power no walk gy who hits for an OK average and whose fielding is not great. He is a bench player. He is worse than Donovan at every single aspect of the game and people call Donovan a utility player...What will more ABs for either Gorman or Saggese tell us we don't already know? Giving JJ ABs and some field playing time will allow him to understand what he needs to work on to be ready on opening day in 2026. That is far more important than ABs for either Gorman or Saggese.

Good write. I don’t think he will get regular playing time thus messing with his rythm and sync. Hitters need to hit, not sit. I feel he will sit often. I don’t think that type experience is helpful.

[Cardinals4Life]

I keep seeing post after post complaining about the Cards not bringing up Weatherholt for a cup of coffee this year. I don’t think many of you have any understanding of the reasons why he isn’t being brought up. He obviously has done everything to prove that he deserves an opportunity, but Mo and or Bloom are doing the smart thing here. (I am no fan of Mo)

Currently he isn’t on the 40 man roster, and because of his status he isn’t eligible for the rule 5 draft and doesn’t need to be protected. If he is brought up to the majors, he will have to be added to the 40 man which will take another spot that the cards could use to protect another player from being picked off their roster through the rule 5 draft.

Also by not starting his service time until opening day they can actually push back his first year of arbitration until 2029. Saving the cards some payroll down the line. If they delay his debut until mid April, which I think they will, he won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2030 and pushes his free agency back an additional year. After 2032 season.

My money is on seeing JJ sometime in mid April of 2026.

I think this would be the smartest move the front office could make.

The 40-man isn't actually an issue, there are plenty of people they can ditch and they only need to add like 7 or 8 guys.

The service time also isn't an issue, since by 2029 the org should already have extended JJ, or he will be so disappointing that he isn't even going to be making that much in arbitration.

I'd bet the main issue is that there simply aren't enough ABs for him unless one of Gorman/Saggese/Winn gets injured or demoted. Makes no sense to promote him to the bench. I'd consider demoting Saggese for him but I don't think there's any way Mo/Oli does that.

This is probably right, but the real solution is to lut Herrera behind the plate for the rest of the year. Put Saggese at 3rd, Winn at SS, J.J. at 2nd, and Gorman at DH. Get them all their ABs and see what you have!

It would be great if Herrera could stick at catcher. Pretty clear the coaches don't think he can or at least won't be playing him there again this year. That's why I didn't mention it.

We'll know for sure next year if the team has totally given up on him at catcher or not. I suspect they have but I hope not, and I hope Herrera sees it as a challenge to work his rear off over the winter to improve there.

Agree. It would benefit the team if he could stick behind the plate.

[45s]

if they bring him up in sept...risk vs.reward

he gets some limited experience in the bigs.......that is a positive

or

he can struggle against MLB competition and doubts himself all winter

I understand some of the bfibs are desperate for a star player they can gush and fawn over.....but I think the risk is greater than the reward

a full spring training with the big club will much better prepare him

[rockondlouie]

First of all I think almost everyone understands the issue of the 40 man rule. Somewhat relevant to their decision? Maybe but looking at the 40 man roster it hardly seems to be an overriding issue. Surely they're not going to keep him in the minors until they have to (ye ads) add him or subject him to the rule 5 draft. We can surely agree on that.

If they lose a year of control then that's a very important issue. It's my understanding though if he comes up after 9/1 that's not an issue. Is that not correct?

It would seem if they don't lose a year of control the exposure he would get from playing in 20 plus games would be very important in his development. If he struggles somewhat then that might be even for the better. He'll know better what to work on in the offseason. It's not rushing him to give him that opportunity and learning experience. I assume he could still go to the Arizona fall League.

This isn't an issue anymore bakker since teams all over MLB now are signing their young stars to LT deals way before they reach their free agent walk season.

IF JJW is the player most seems to think he'll be, then he'll get locked down w/that LT deal.

Not bringing him up now is yet another idiotic Mo decision.

I think it's more of a Mo being a jackass situation. He knows the fans want to see Wetherholt and he's being a jerk about it. And I dont believe him sitting the day Bally's carried the Memphis game was a coincidence either. Just Mozeliak being spiteful.

[rockondlouie]

40 man is a bull shildt excuse.

Immediate DFA's from the 40 man:

Fernandez
King
Robberse
Hampson
Siani
Roycroft
Munoz
Alcala
Veneziano

"Mid April"

NO CHANCE

He's the opening day 2nd baseman.

Exactly

How can some people not see this and why do they continue to spit out Mo's excuse?