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therzog29 wrote: ↑22 Aug 2025 13:29 pm 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.

therzog29 wrote: ↑22 Aug 2025 13:49 pm My genius is in math and science.

therzog29 wrote: ↑22 Aug 2025 13:29 pm 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.

therzog29 wrote: ↑22 Aug 2025 13:29 pm 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.

therzog29 wrote: ↑22 Aug 2025 13:29 pm 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.

bakker wrote: ↑22 Aug 2025 14:25 pm 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.

bakker wrote: ↑22 Aug 2025 14:25 pm 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.

3dender wrote: ↑22 Aug 2025 14:20 pm

therzog29 wrote: ↑22 Aug 2025 13:29 pm 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.