Cardinals trade needed to make room for rising star?
Some might say that's reason that the team is barely above .500 and currently sitting in fourth in the National League Central standings.
Others, however, will tell you that the future is bright in St. Louis with young pitchers on the team such as Michael McGreevy looking to burst onto the scene, and the team's high draft pick selection in recent years has helped them prepare for an exciting time to come at Busch Stadium.
As a matter of fact, one of those draft picks may force the team to trade away some major league talent so that the Cards can make room for him on the main roster.
That draft pick is their seventh overall pick from the 2024 MLB Draft, infielder J.J. Wetherholt, who has been nothing short of magnificent in his short time with the Triple-A Memphis Red Birds, going 8-for-16 with five extra base hits.
In 62 games played with Double-A Springfield, the young star boasted a .300 batting average to go along with seven home runs and 34 runs batted in before being called up to Triple-A on July 7 of this year.
After all, the Cardinals could use the offensive boost in their lineup, especially with all the talk of Nolan Arenado going somewhere else, so if Wetherholt continues to produce in Triple-A like he's been doing, he should receive that call up to the majors in no time.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Washington Post
18 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Michael Soroka exits early — but stays healthy — as Nats fall to Astros
HOUSTON — In the grand scheme of things, what mattered more than the outcome of the Washington Nationals' game Tuesday night — a 7-4 loss to the Houston Astros at Daikin Park — was that Michael Soroka left it healthy. That's exactly what transpired. In the fourth inning, Soroka allowed a game-tying solo homer to Yainer Diaz. At that point, much to Soroka's surprise, interim manager Miguel Cairo came to take the ball from him. The 27-year-old right-hander had thrown just 74 pitches over 3⅓ innings — both season lows. But the reason for his short leash was obvious. Soroka and closer Kyle Finnegan, who are both on expiring contracts, are the players on the Nationals' roster who are most likely to be dealt ahead of Thursday's trade deadline. Others could be moved, too, such as veteran hitters Josh Bell and Nathaniel Lowe or outfielders Alex Call and Jacob Young. Any reliever on a one-year deal could be moved for the right price, too. And then there's ace left-hander MacKenzie Gore. But Soroka and Finnegan would net notable returns, given their track records and contenders' needs for reliable arms this time of year. In the first inning, Soroka hit his MLB-leading 14th batter — Christian Walker — with two outs. Cam Smith hit a double down the right field line to give Houston an early lead. Luis García Jr. hit a changeup at his shins in the third inning for a two-run homer that put Washington (44-63) ahead. Then Diaz tied the score. After Soroka exited, the Astros (61-47) teed off on Andry Lara to snap a five-game skid. Cooper Hummel hit an RBI single in the fifth inning to give Houston a 3-2 lead. One inning later, Jose Altuve had one of his own before Walker added a two-run single to blow the game open. The Nationals signed Soroka to a one-year, $9 million deal this offseason for a shot at redemption. Last year with the Chicago White Sox, he found success as a reliever by altering his pitch mix and delivery. The Nationals gave him a chance to start again and apply what he learned. Soroka's time in Washington started off rocky: He suffered right bicep cramps during his first start in Toronto. He missed more than a month before he returned to the rotation. His results as a starter have been mixed. He has a 4.87 ERA in 16 starts but also has allowed 1.13 walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP) — his best figure since his 2019 all-star season with Atlanta. His breaking ball has been effective all season, but his fastball velocity has dropped in recent outings. On the surface, Soroka doesn't have the numbers that teams would covet. But his expected stats (including a .217 expected opponent batting average and a 3.25 expected ERA) suggest that he would benefit from having a better defense behind him. If he's moved, Soroka is likely to be a back-of-the-rotation arm who could be a long reliever in the playoffs. If he's moved, Washington would benefit from turning a bounce-back candidate into a young, controllable player who could contribute down the line. The Nationals' young bats performed well in the later innings. James Wood, mired in a post-all-star-break slump, had an RBI single in the seventh but struck out three times. Daylen Lile added an RBI double in the eighth. And CJ Abrams went 3 for 4 with three stolen bases. Note: Dylan Crews played four innings in right field Tuesday for Class AAA Rochester, his first rehab appearance since he suffered an oblique strain May 20. Crews grounded out in his first at-bat and was hit by a pitch in his second trip to the plate but remained in the game and came around to score.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ronald Acuña Jr. leaves Braves-Royals with Achilles tightness, will be placed on injured list
Atlanta Braves All-Star Ronald Acuña Jr. left Tuesday's game against the Kansas City Royals with Achilles tightness and will be placed on the injured list. The Braves announced his diagnosis shortly after his exit in the middle of the sixth inning. After the game, manager Brian Snitker told reporters that Acuña would be placed on the 10-day injured list. He was seen in a walking boot after the game. Acuña left the game with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kansas City's Vinnie Pasquantino hit a fly ball to deep right-centerfield that Acuña couldn't catch reach. It bounced off the warning track and over the fence for a ground-rule RBI double that extended Kansas City's lead to 9-3. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] He jogged from his spot in the outfield then left to the Braves clubhouse with a trainer. Shortly after his exit, the Braves announced that Acuña was dealing with tightness in his right Achilles tendon. The Royals held on for a 9-6 win. It's not clear exactly when or how Acuña sustained his injury or if the tightness was the result of cumulative wear. Per multiple reports from the game, Acuña showed signs of discomfort prior to the play that preceded his exit. The injury scare is the latest in a stellar career that's been plagued by leg injuries. Acuña has twice sustained ACL tears in his left knee — once in 2021 and again in 2024. In between, he won the 2023 MVP while leading the National League in hits, runs scored, stolen bases and on-base percentage. Injuries have limited Acuña to 82 games or fewer in three of his full seven MLB seasons. He missed the first 49 games of this season while recovering from his ACL tear sustained in 2024. Despite his injuries, Acuña has been named an All-Star in five of his seven MLB seasons as one of the most versatile and gifted offensive players in baseball. He was named Rookie of the Year in one of the two years he wasn't named an All-Star. Acuña and the Braves are certainly hoping that his latest setback won't require an extended stay on the injured list. With the 45-61 Braves 12.5 games out of the wild-card race as of the conclusion of Tuesday's game, they'll certainly play it cautious and not rush him back.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ronald Acuña Jr. leaves Braves-Royals game with Achilles tightness, will be placed on injured list
Atlanta Braves All-Star Ronald Acuña Jr. left Tuesday's game against the Kansas City Royals with Achilles tightness and will be placed on the injured list. The Braves announced his diagnosis shortly after his exit in the middle of the sixth inning. After the game, manager Brian Snitker told reporters that Acuña would be placed on the 10-day injured list. He was seen in a walking boot after the game. Acuña left the game with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kansas City's Vinnie Pasquantino hit a fly ball to deep right-centerfield that Acuña couldn't reach. It bounced off the warning track and over the fence for a ground-rule RBI double that extended Kansas City's lead to 9-3. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Acuña jogged from his spot in the outfield then left to the Braves clubhouse with a trainer with one out remaining in the inning. Shortly after his exit, the Braves announced that Acuña was dealing with tightness in his right Achilles tendon. The Royals held on for a 9-6 win. It's not clear exactly when or how Acuña sustained his injury or if the tightness was the result of cumulative wear. Per multiple reports from the game, Acuña showed signs of discomfort prior to the play that preceded his exit. The injury is the latest in a stellar career that's been plagued by leg injuries. Acuña has twice sustained ACL tears in his left knee — once in 2021 and again in 2024. In between, he won the 2023 MVP while leading the National League in hits, runs scored, stolen bases and on-base percentage. Injuries have limited Acuña to 82 games or fewer in three of his full seven MLB seasons. He missed the first 49 games of this season while recovering from his ACL tear sustained in 2024. Despite his injuries, Acuña has been named an All-Star in five of his seven MLB seasons as one of the most versatile and gifted offensive players in baseball. He was named Rookie of the Year in one of the two years he wasn't named an All-Star. Acuña and the Braves are certainly hoping that his latest setback won't require an extended stay on the injured list. With the 45-61 Braves 12.5 games out of the wild-card race as of the conclusion of Tuesday's game, their should be little motivation to rush him back.