Zack Thompson

Welcome to STLtoday.com's forum for fans of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Moderators: STLtoday Forum Moderators, Cards Talk Moderators

brock118
Forum User
Posts: 528
Joined: 23 May 2024 21:56 pm

Zack Thompson

Post by brock118 »

Cardinals also re-signed Zack Thompson to minor league deal. Gets a spring training invite. Assigned to Memphis.
TheFantasyStud
Forum User
Posts: 363
Joined: 27 May 2024 12:23 pm

Re: Zack Thompson

Post by TheFantasyStud »

Great move! Rooting for him.
Carp4Cy
Forum User
Posts: 4047
Joined: 23 May 2024 14:38 pm

Re: Zack Thompson

Post by Carp4Cy »

brock118 wrote: 26 Jan 2026 21:20 pm Cardinals also re-signed Zack Thompson to minor league deal. Gets a spring training invite. Assigned to Memphis.
Meanwhile Liam Doyle doesn't have a ST invite. Law says he could promote to ML this year if things go well. How is he not getting a look in ST when guys like Packy Naughton, Thompson, Koperniak do? Weren't we supposed to lose those guys to the rule 5/dfa since the roster was so clogged?
cardstatman
Forum User
Posts: 3174
Joined: 23 May 2024 22:10 pm

Re: Zack Thompson

Post by cardstatman »

When we trade Romero, there won't be a whole lot of competition for LH reliever.
mattmitchl44
Forum User
Posts: 3584
Joined: 23 May 2024 15:33 pm

Re: Zack Thompson

Post by mattmitchl44 »

Carp4Cy wrote: 26 Jan 2026 23:16 pm
brock118 wrote: 26 Jan 2026 21:20 pm Cardinals also re-signed Zack Thompson to minor league deal. Gets a spring training invite. Assigned to Memphis.
Meanwhile Liam Doyle doesn't have a ST invite. Law says he could promote to ML this year if things go well. How is he not getting a look in ST when guys like Packy Naughton, Thompson, Koperniak do? Weren't we supposed to lose those guys to the rule 5/dfa since the roster was so clogged?
I assume because the Cardinals have already decided that Doyle has a zero percent chance of being on the Opening Day roster (he needs to be in the minors starting every fifth day), and the rest of those guys have at least somewhat more than a zero percent chance of filling some role on the OD roster.
Stlcardsblues
Forum User
Posts: 1268
Joined: 23 May 2024 19:52 pm

Re: Zack Thompson

Post by Stlcardsblues »

brock118 wrote: 26 Jan 2026 21:20 pm Cardinals also re-signed Zack Thompson to minor league deal. Gets a spring training invite. Assigned to Memphis.
My understanding was that since he was on the IL the entire year he was allowed to be removed off the 40-man without being DFAed. The original stories said he had to be DFAed, but then they figured out that the Cardinals didn’t need to.
brock118
Forum User
Posts: 528
Joined: 23 May 2024 21:56 pm

Re: Zack Thompson

Post by brock118 »

Stlcardsblues wrote: 27 Jan 2026 05:10 am
brock118 wrote: 26 Jan 2026 21:20 pm Cardinals also re-signed Zack Thompson to minor league deal. Gets a spring training invite. Assigned to Memphis.
My understanding was that since he was on the IL the entire year he was allowed to be removed off the 40-man without being DFAed. The original stories said he had to be DFAed, but then they figured out that the Cardinals didn’t need to.
Yeah I know there was a lot of information saying he was still with us and saying he was a free agent. But if you look at his transactions it shows he was a free agent. There never seemed to be any clarification at the time.
3dender
Forum User
Posts: 1800
Joined: 23 May 2024 12:57 pm

Re: Zack Thompson

Post by 3dender »

Carp4Cy wrote: 26 Jan 2026 23:16 pm
brock118 wrote: 26 Jan 2026 21:20 pm Cardinals also re-signed Zack Thompson to minor league deal. Gets a spring training invite. Assigned to Memphis.
Meanwhile Liam Doyle doesn't have a ST invite. Law says he could promote to ML this year if things go well. How is he not getting a look in ST when guys like Packy Naughton, Thompson, Koperniak do? Weren't we supposed to lose those guys to the rule 5/dfa since the roster was so clogged?
Bc they're trying to manage the hype around him, which is pretty refreshing considering what happened to Jordan Walker, Dylan Carlson, Liberatore, etc.
BrockFloodMaris
Forum User
Posts: 3144
Joined: 06 Aug 2019 16:06 pm

Re: Zack Thompson

Post by BrockFloodMaris »

3dender wrote: 27 Jan 2026 08:00 am
Carp4Cy wrote: 26 Jan 2026 23:16 pm
brock118 wrote: 26 Jan 2026 21:20 pm Cardinals also re-signed Zack Thompson to minor league deal. Gets a spring training invite. Assigned to Memphis.
Meanwhile Liam Doyle doesn't have a ST invite. Law says he could promote to ML this year if things go well. How is he not getting a look in ST when guys like Packy Naughton, Thompson, Koperniak do? Weren't we supposed to lose those guys to the rule 5/dfa since the roster was so clogged?
Bc they're trying to manage the hype around him, which is pretty refreshing considering what happened to Jordan Walker, Dylan Carlson, Liberatore, etc.
Agreed. Manage the hype and also tamp down his ego just a bit.
Cardinals4Life
Forum User
Posts: 5470
Joined: 05 Nov 2022 18:19 pm

Re: Zack Thompson

Post by Cardinals4Life »

3dender wrote: 27 Jan 2026 08:00 am
Carp4Cy wrote: 26 Jan 2026 23:16 pm
brock118 wrote: 26 Jan 2026 21:20 pm Cardinals also re-signed Zack Thompson to minor league deal. Gets a spring training invite. Assigned to Memphis.
Meanwhile Liam Doyle doesn't have a ST invite. Law says he could promote to ML this year if things go well. How is he not getting a look in ST when guys like Packy Naughton, Thompson, Koperniak do? Weren't we supposed to lose those guys to the rule 5/dfa since the roster was so clogged?
Bc they're trying to manage the hype around him, which is pretty refreshing considering what happened to Jordan Walker, Dylan Carlson, Liberatore, etc.
Nothing wrong with bringing him to ST, though. Just for the experience. JJW got invited last year. I think it can be good for them.
3dender
Forum User
Posts: 1800
Joined: 23 May 2024 12:57 pm

Re: Zack Thompson

Post by 3dender »

Cardinals4Life wrote: 27 Jan 2026 09:15 am
3dender wrote: 27 Jan 2026 08:00 am
Carp4Cy wrote: 26 Jan 2026 23:16 pm
brock118 wrote: 26 Jan 2026 21:20 pm Cardinals also re-signed Zack Thompson to minor league deal. Gets a spring training invite. Assigned to Memphis.
Meanwhile Liam Doyle doesn't have a ST invite. Law says he could promote to ML this year if things go well. How is he not getting a look in ST when guys like Packy Naughton, Thompson, Koperniak do? Weren't we supposed to lose those guys to the rule 5/dfa since the roster was so clogged?
Bc they're trying to manage the hype around him, which is pretty refreshing considering what happened to Jordan Walker, Dylan Carlson, Liberatore, etc.
Nothing wrong with bringing him to ST, though. Just for the experience. JJW got invited last year. I think it can be good for them.
imo the risk outweighs the benefit... i've never heard of a prospect flaming out bc they didn't get invited to ST soon enough.
redbirdfan51
Forum User
Posts: 929
Joined: 23 May 2024 13:45 pm

Re: Zack Thompson

Post by redbirdfan51 »

Cards don't want to put pressure on Doyle. He hasn't pitched one inning professionally. Give him some time to settle in.
Cardinals4Life
Forum User
Posts: 5470
Joined: 05 Nov 2022 18:19 pm

Re: Zack Thompson

Post by Cardinals4Life »

3dender wrote: 27 Jan 2026 09:20 am
Cardinals4Life wrote: 27 Jan 2026 09:15 am
3dender wrote: 27 Jan 2026 08:00 am
Carp4Cy wrote: 26 Jan 2026 23:16 pm
brock118 wrote: 26 Jan 2026 21:20 pm Cardinals also re-signed Zack Thompson to minor league deal. Gets a spring training invite. Assigned to Memphis.
Meanwhile Liam Doyle doesn't have a ST invite. Law says he could promote to ML this year if things go well. How is he not getting a look in ST when guys like Packy Naughton, Thompson, Koperniak do? Weren't we supposed to lose those guys to the rule 5/dfa since the roster was so clogged?
Bc they're trying to manage the hype around him, which is pretty refreshing considering what happened to Jordan Walker, Dylan Carlson, Liberatore, etc.
Nothing wrong with bringing him to ST, though. Just for the experience. JJW got invited last year. I think it can be good for them.
imo the risk outweighs the benefit... i've never heard of a prospect flaming out bc they didn't get invited to ST soon enough.
What's the risk, though?
scoutyjones2
Forum User
Posts: 9981
Joined: 23 May 2024 14:43 pm

Re: Zack Thompson

Post by scoutyjones2 »

3dender wrote: 27 Jan 2026 08:00 am
Carp4Cy wrote: 26 Jan 2026 23:16 pm
brock118 wrote: 26 Jan 2026 21:20 pm Cardinals also re-signed Zack Thompson to minor league deal. Gets a spring training invite. Assigned to Memphis.
Meanwhile Liam Doyle doesn't have a ST invite. Law says he could promote to ML this year if things go well. How is he not getting a look in ST when guys like Packy Naughton, Thompson, Koperniak do? Weren't we supposed to lose those guys to the rule 5/dfa since the roster was so clogged?
Bc they're trying to manage the hype around him, which is pretty refreshing considering what happened to Jordan Walker, Dylan Carlson, Liberatore, etc.
The hype is all on CT. Scouts pegged him as a reliever
StlMike1969
Forum User
Posts: 344
Joined: 24 May 2024 11:01 am

Re: Zack Thompson

Post by StlMike1969 »

Cardinals4Life wrote: 27 Jan 2026 10:34 am
3dender wrote: 27 Jan 2026 09:20 am
Cardinals4Life wrote: 27 Jan 2026 09:15 am
3dender wrote: 27 Jan 2026 08:00 am
Carp4Cy wrote: 26 Jan 2026 23:16 pm
brock118 wrote: 26 Jan 2026 21:20 pm Cardinals also re-signed Zack Thompson to minor league deal. Gets a spring training invite. Assigned to Memphis.
Meanwhile Liam Doyle doesn't have a ST invite. Law says he could promote to ML this year if things go well. How is he not getting a look in ST when guys like Packy Naughton, Thompson, Koperniak do? Weren't we supposed to lose those guys to the rule 5/dfa since the roster was so clogged?
Bc they're trying to manage the hype around him, which is pretty refreshing considering what happened to Jordan Walker, Dylan Carlson, Liberatore, etc.
Nothing wrong with bringing him to ST, though. Just for the experience. JJW got invited last year. I think it can be good for them.
imo the risk outweighs the benefit... i've never heard of a prospect flaming out bc they didn't get invited to ST soon enough.
What's the risk, though?
I agree with others here on Doyle. ST is a chance to for fringe guys to get a good look at by staff in person. Management has a good idea going into spring who will be on their roster. What they like to know is if there is a player that is going to force their hand if others fall down. At the least they know who gets called up when the time comes, and who gets DFA'ed when that time comes too. Someone like Doyle is a no brainer that he will be on the staff at some point by virtue of his pick and history. What they need him to do now is settle in as an every day pitcher, get routines down and comfort with how he is going to proceed as a pitcher. ST invite for him will just muddy the water and give him the impression he is sooner rather than later. He will not focus on the little things he needs to do now for success later. Wetherholt got an invite under Moz's leadership. Moz proved he did not have a good idea on development. He kept searching for the "Now" answer rather than the concern of a players development in stages. Wetherholt also had a very good grasp on hitting coming in and he proved that throughout the year. His game is a lot more refined and polished. Doyle has to answer the question about where is he going to be at the end of the day. Starter, Relief or closer. Scouting reports state that he apparently needs to refine his mechanics to some degree to handle long term starter duties. So to answer the questions there are questions that need answered first before he is invited. He will get the chance to move up the ladder this year and if all goes well will be at next years ST once the lockout ends.
Cardinals4Life
Forum User
Posts: 5470
Joined: 05 Nov 2022 18:19 pm

Re: Zack Thompson

Post by Cardinals4Life »

StlMike1969 wrote: 27 Jan 2026 10:55 am
Cardinals4Life wrote: 27 Jan 2026 10:34 am
3dender wrote: 27 Jan 2026 09:20 am
Cardinals4Life wrote: 27 Jan 2026 09:15 am
3dender wrote: 27 Jan 2026 08:00 am
Carp4Cy wrote: 26 Jan 2026 23:16 pm
brock118 wrote: 26 Jan 2026 21:20 pm Cardinals also re-signed Zack Thompson to minor league deal. Gets a spring training invite. Assigned to Memphis.
Meanwhile Liam Doyle doesn't have a ST invite. Law says he could promote to ML this year if things go well. How is he not getting a look in ST when guys like Packy Naughton, Thompson, Koperniak do? Weren't we supposed to lose those guys to the rule 5/dfa since the roster was so clogged?
Bc they're trying to manage the hype around him, which is pretty refreshing considering what happened to Jordan Walker, Dylan Carlson, Liberatore, etc.
Nothing wrong with bringing him to ST, though. Just for the experience. JJW got invited last year. I think it can be good for them.
imo the risk outweighs the benefit... i've never heard of a prospect flaming out bc they didn't get invited to ST soon enough.
What's the risk, though?
I agree with others here on Doyle. ST is a chance to for fringe guys to get a good look at by staff in person. Management has a good idea going into spring who will be on their roster. What they like to know is if there is a player that is going to force their hand if others fall down. At the least they know who gets called up when the time comes, and who gets DFA'ed when that time comes too. Someone like Doyle is a no brainer that he will be on the staff at some point by virtue of his pick and history. What they need him to do now is settle in as an every day pitcher, get routines down and comfort with how he is going to proceed as a pitcher. ST invite for him will just muddy the water and give him the impression he is sooner rather than later. He will not focus on the little things he needs to do now for success later. Wetherholt got an invite under Moz's leadership. Moz proved he did not have a good idea on development. He kept searching for the "Now" answer rather than the concern of a players development in stages. Wetherholt also had a very good grasp on hitting coming in and he proved that throughout the year. His game is a lot more refined and polished. Doyle has to answer the question about where is he going to be at the end of the day. Starter, Relief or closer. Scouting reports state that he apparently needs to refine his mechanics to some degree to handle long term starter duties. So to answer the questions there are questions that need answered first before he is invited. He will get the chance to move up the ladder this year and if all goes well will be at next years ST once the lockout ends.
I agree with most of this. However, I don't think an invite to ST would give him that impression. JJ last year knew he wasn't making the team, but simply used it to be a sponge and take in all things MLB.