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

[therzog29]

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.

[craviduce]

*Wetherholt

there's 5 new threads a day. No more excuses on the spelling.

Am I right?

[therzog29]

My genius is in math and science. I am an engineer, can’t spell for . I will give you that much. lol

[renostl]

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.

Is it possible that they understand the situation but would do it differently?
Players in his draft class have been brought up and all had that same circumstance.

I'm indifferent to him coming up. There's a plus and a minus.

[Basil Shabazz]

My genius is in math and science.

Tell me you have a twinge of narcissism without saying it...

[scoutyjones2]

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.

Plenty of garbage on the 40 man, and not all that much worth protecting for Rule 5


He should have been up to start the year

[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.

[An Old Friend]

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.

I'll take that bet. How much of your money are you willing to put down? I'll send you my Venmo

[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.

[bakker]

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.

[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.

[Talkin' Baseball]

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.

There are no more fresh JJ threads to be had for now.

Needs to be up for the cup of coffee experience- check
Not up because of the 40 man/Rule V issues- check
40 man/Rule V not an issue- check
Service time- check
Not enough at bats- check

Other than the outrage and name-calling, is there anything else to be said for now? It seems the front office has decided not to bring him up this fall and doesn't matter how many Cards Talkers think differently. JJ has done very well playing his last minor league season. He will be here for most, if not all of next season. The front office will telegraph their plan if we see them moving out middle infielders.

[ClassicO]

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.

[desertrat23]

If the 40-man was so crowded with talent that JJ absolutely, positively could not beat out any of those guys, the team would be a whole lot better than 64-65.

[ecleme22]

Few things:
1. JJ Never played AAA before this year
2. Cards divested this season. Why waste a year of control on 2025?


See what Theo did with Kris Bryant in 2014.


Let’s be smart, ppl.

[Cardinals1964]

I don’t care about 5 years from now.