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Cardinals STL

201888–74 (0.543)
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President of baseball ops: John Mozeliak · GM: Mike Girsch

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 2018, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$155M
Surplus $M
-43
Win %
0.543
TAB
-3.7
WAB
+3.9
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
32.5
Dead money %
44%
Depth Players
6.0
Dead WAR
-5.8

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

2018 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RYadier Molina121
RFrancisco Peña56
RCarson Kelly16
RSteven Baron2

1B

LMatt Carpenter95
RJosé A. Martínez84
LMatt Adams⇄27
RLuke Voit⇄8
RYadier Molina5
RJedd Gyorko5
RPatrick Wisdom4
RFrancisco Peña2

2B

LKolten Wong119
LGreg Garcia31
RYairo Muñoz26
RJedd Gyorko17
LMatt Carpenter11
REdmundo Sosa1

3B

RJedd Gyorko96
LMatt Carpenter76
RYairo Muñoz24
LGreg Garcia15
RPatrick Wisdom13

SS

RPaul DeJong114
RYairo Muñoz40
LGreg Garcia17
RJedd Gyorko5

LF

RMarcell Ozuna147
RTyler O'Neill16
RHarrison Bader6
RAdolis García4
RYairo Muñoz4

CF

RHarrison Bader74
RTyler O'Neill3
RYairo Muñoz3
RAdolis García1

RF

BDexter Fowler75
RJosé A. Martínez46
RHarrison Bader38
RTyler O'Neill24
RYairo Muñoz17
RAdolis García7

DH

RJosé A. Martínez8
LMatt Carpenter2

Starters

RMiles Mikolas4.5 WAR
RJack Flaherty2.4 WAR
RCarlos Martinez2.4 WAR
RLuke Weaver1.4 WAR
RJohn Gant1.1 WAR
LAustin Gomber0.9 WAR
RMichael Wacha0.7 WAR
RDaniel Ponce de Leon0.7 WAR
RTyson Ross⇄0.6 WAR
RAdam Wainwright0.4 WAR
RAlex Reyes0.0 WAR

Bullpen

★ RBud Norris28 sv
RJordan Hicks24 h
RMike Mayers6 h
RJohn Brebbia5 h
RDominic Leone5 h
LBrett Cecil0 h
RGreg Holland⇄0 h
RSam Tuivailala⇄0 h

Each position shows its top 3 by games (top = starter) — click "+more" for the rest. The letter is bats/throws; ⇄ marks a player traded mid-season. Starters are ranked by WAR, bullpen by holds; ★ marks the closer (most save chances). MLB Stats API.

Key additions (new vs 2017)

PlayerfWAR
Miles Mikolas4.5
Marcell Ozuna1.9
Tyler O'Neill1.1
Austin Gomber0.9
Daniel Ponce de Leon0.7
Tyson Ross0.6

Key subtractions (gone from 2017)

Player2017 fWAR
Trevor Rosenthal1.6
Randal Grichuk1.4
Lance Lynn1.0
Stephen Piscotty0.7
Aledmys Díaz0.4
Juan Nicasio0.2

Contract Value

WAR translated into tier-adjusted market value, then compared with what the player was paid by Cardinals. Guaranteed contracts from the 2015-present contract-data period use the known contract period through 2018; everyone else is shown as a 2018 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Miles Mikolas 2018 +4.5 +79.5 7.5 +72.0 $1.7M 2.19× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $2.2M AAV
Harrison Bader 2018 +3.7 +52.8 0.5 +52.2 $0.1M 1.79× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $10.2M AAV
Jack Flaherty 2018 +2.4 +28.6 0.5 +28.0 $0.2M 1.49× Free Agent · 2025–2026 · $17.5M AAV
Matt Carpenter 2018 +4.1 +39.5 13.8 +25.7 $3.3M 1.20× –
Carlos Martinez 2018 +2.4 +28.9 11.7 +17.2 $4.8M 1.49× –
José A. Martínez 2018 +1.8 +11.6 0.6 +11.0 $0.3M 0.81× –
Luke Weaver 2018 +1.4 +11.1 0.6 +10.6 $0.4M 1.02× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $11.0M AAV
Marcell Ozuna 2018 +1.9 +18.4 9.0 +9.4 $4.8M 1.22× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $12.0M AAV
John Gant 2018 +1.1 +9.1 0.4 +8.7 $0.3M 1.02× –
Kolten Wong 2018 +1.8 +11.8 4.0 +7.8 $2.2M 0.82× –
Tyler O'Neill 2018 +1.1 +7.0 0.3 +6.7 $0.3M 0.83× Free Agent · 2025–2027 · $16.5M AAV
Tommy Pham↔ 2018 +1.0 +6.6 0.4 +6.2 $0.4M 0.83× –
Paul DeJong 2018 +1.3 +6.5 1.2 +5.3 $0.9M 0.61× –
Austin Gomber 2018 +0.9 +4.8 0.3 +4.5 $0.4M 0.67× –
Jordan Hicks 2018 +0.4 +4.8 0.5 +4.3 $1.2M 1.34× Free Agent · 2024–2024 · $11.0M AAV
Daniel Ponce de Leon 2018 +0.7 +3.7 0.2 +3.5 $0.3M 0.67× –
John Brebbia 2018 +0.6 +3.4 0.4 +3.0 $0.6M 0.67× –
Tyson Ross↔ 2018 +0.6 +3.0 0.5 +2.6 $0.8M 0.67× –
Yadier Molina 2018 +2.7 +22.0 20.0 +2.0 $7.3M 1.00× –
Jedd Gyorko 2018 +1.6 +10.9 9.0 +1.9 $5.6M 0.85× –
Mike Mayers 2018 +0.3 +1.6 0.5 +1.1 $1.8M 0.67× –
Patrick Wisdom 2018 +0.3 +1.3 0.1 +1.1 $0.5M 0.58× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.0M AAV
Dakota Hudson 2018 +0.1 +0.5 0.2 +0.3 $2.1M 0.67× –
Tyler Webb↔ 2018 +0.1 +0.4 0.1 +0.3 $1.5M 0.67× –
Giovanny Gallegos↔ 2018 +0.0 +0.2 0.0 +0.2 $0.4M 0.67× –
Luke Voit↔ 2018 +0.1 +0.3 0.0 +0.2 $0.5M 0.56× –
Michael Wacha 2018 +0.7 +5.5 5.3 +0.2 $7.8M 1.02× Extension · 2026–2027 · $17.0M AAV
Dominic Leone 2018 +0.2 +0.9 1.1 -0.2 $6.4M 0.67× –
Sam Tuivailala↔ 2018 +0.0 +0.2 0.5 -0.2 $10.5M 0.67× –
Alex Reyes 2018 +0.0 +0.1 0.5 -0.4 $39.4M 1.02× –
Yairo Muñoz 2018 -0.0 -0.1 0.5 -0.6 – 0.61× –
Ryan Sherriff 2018 -0.1 -0.6 0.1 -0.7 – 0.67× –
Preston Guilmet↔ 2018 -0.2 -0.9 0.0 -0.9 – 0.67× –
Matt Bowman 2018 -0.1 -0.7 0.6 -1.3 – 0.67× –
Greg Garcia 2018 -0.2 -0.8 0.6 -1.4 – 0.56× –
Bud Norris 2018 +0.1 +1.5 3.0 -1.5 $21.7M 1.34× –
Chasen Shreve↔ 2018 -0.2 -1.2 0.3 -1.5 – 0.67× –
Adolis García 2018 -0.2 -1.5 0.1 -1.6 – 0.83× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $10.0M AAV
Tyler Lyons 2018 -0.2 -0.9 1.2 -2.1 – 0.67× –
Carson Kelly 2018 -0.5 -2.1 0.2 -2.3 – 0.52× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $5.8M AAV
Matt Adams↔ 2018 -0.6 -2.5 0.9 -3.4 – 0.56× –
Francisco Peña 2018 -1.1 -4.8 0.7 -5.4 – 0.52× –
Luke Gregerson 2018 -0.1 -0.5 5.0 -5.5 – 0.67× –
Greg Holland↔ 2018 -0.0 -0.0 8.0 -8.0 – 0.67× –
Brett Cecil 2018 -0.7 -3.5 7.8 -11.2 – 0.67× –
Adam Wainwright 2018 +0.4 +3.3 19.5 -16.2 $48.1M 1.02× –
Dexter Fowler 2018 -1.5 -10.3 16.5 -26.8 – 0.83× –
Edmundo Sosa 2018 -0.0 -0.0 0.0 -0.0 – 0.56× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $4.4M AAV
Steven Baron 2018 -0.1 -0.3 – – – 0.52× –
Total—+32.5+349.1154.7+194.8—

Trades

Every graded 2018 deal involving the Cardinals — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 9 total.

2018 · OAK / STL
OAK · Billy Beane +$0.0M
Josh Lucas
STL · John Mozeliak +$0.0M
Casey Meisner
Even trade
2018 · STL / LAD
STL · John Mozeliak +$0.8M
Johan Mieses
LAD · Andrew Friedman −$0.8M
Breyvic Valera
STL came out ahead by $0.8M
2018 · SEA / STL
SEA · Jerry Dipoto +$3.2M
Sam Tuivailala
STL · John Mozeliak −$3.2M
Seth Elledge
SEA came out ahead by $3.2M
2018 · CLE / STL
CLE · Chris Antonetti +$11.2M
Óscar Mercado
STL · John Mozeliak −$11.2M
Conner Capel, Jhon Torres
CLE came out ahead by $11.2M
2018 · STL / NYY
STL · John Mozeliak +$8.8M
Chasen Shreve, Giovanny Gallegos
NYY · Brian Cashman −$8.8M
Luke Voit
STL came out ahead by $8.8M
2018 · STL / TEX
STL · John Mozeliak +$0.8M
Drew Robinson
TEX · Jon Daniels −$0.8M
Patrick Wisdom
STL came out ahead by $0.8M
2018 · STL / ARI
STL · John Mozeliak +$52.8M
Paul Goldschmidt
ARI · Mike Hazen −$52.8M
Luke Weaver, Carson Kelly, Andrew Young
STL came out ahead by $52.8M
2018 · TOR / STL
TOR · Mark Shapiro +$35.2M
Randal Grichuk
STL · John Mozeliak −$35.2M
Dominic Leone, Conner Greene
TOR came out ahead by $35.2M
2018 · TBR / STL
TBR · Erik Neander +$81.6M
Tommy Pham
STL · John Mozeliak −$81.6M
Justin Williams, Génesis Cabrera, Roel Ramírez
TBR came out ahead by $81.6M

Current & Historical Payroll

2018 payroll
$154.6M
2019 guaranteed
$0M

What the front office was committed to as of 2018, 2018–2024. Guaranteed $ are contract commitments signed by 2018; arbitration & free-agent years are projected from service time. Hover a figure for its luxury-tax (CBT) & actual-cash values.

current $ guaranteed $ arbitration (proj) pre-arb (proj) free agent club option player option mutual option vesting option

Guaranteed / signed (10)

PlayerAgeSvc2018201920202021202220232024
Yadier Molina3513.123$20.0MFREE AGENT
Adam Wainwright3612.027$19.5MFREE AGENT
Dexter Fowler328.168$16.5MFREE AGENT
Matt Carpenter326.012$13.8MFREE AGENT
Greg Holland326.028$8.0MFREE AGENT
Brett Cecil317.152$7.8MFREE AGENT
Luke Gregerson349.000$5.0MFREE AGENT
Bud Norris338.068$3.0MFREE AGENT
Tyson Ross316.118$463kFREE AGENT
Adolis García256.095$120kFREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (7)

PlayerAgeSvc2018201920202021202220232024
Carlos Martinez264.073$11.7MARB 3FREE AGENT
Jedd Gyorko294.164$9.0MARB 3FREE AGENT
Marcell Ozuna274.124$9.0MARB 3FREE AGENT
Michael Wacha264.062$5.3MARB 3FREE AGENT
Kolten Wong274.045$4.0MARB 3FREE AGENT
Tyler Lyons303.070$1.2MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Matt Adams295.033$893kFREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (32)

PlayerAgeSvc2018201920202021202220232024
Miles Mikolas291.037$7.5MPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Paul DeJong240.124$1.2MPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dominic Leone262.123$1.1MARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Francisco Peña281.009$650kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Greg Garcia282.083$570kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Matt Bowman272.000$566kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
José A. Martínez292.000$560kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Luke Weaver240.112$551kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alex Reyes231.055$546kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jordan Hicks210.000$545kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jack Flaherty220.031$545kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Mike Mayers260.038$545kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Yairo Muñoz230.000$545kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Harrison Bader240.038$530kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Sam Tuivailala251.082$478kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tommy Pham302.107$408kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
John Gant251.047$375kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
John Brebbia280.128$368kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Austin Gomber240.000$322kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tyler O'Neill230.000$296kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Chasen Shreve272.167$275kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dakota Hudson230.000$193kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Daniel Ponce de Leon26–$179k
Carson Kelly230.102$176kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Patrick Wisdom260.000$132kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tyler Webb270.026$115kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Ryan Sherriff280.000$111kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Luke Voit270.093$28kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Edmundo Sosa220.000$23kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Preston Guilmet300.079$18kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Giovanny Gallegos260.062$14kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Steven Baron27–—

Graphs

How each 2018 acquisition stacked onto Cardinals's playoff-odds curve. The side table is ranked by PPA.

Rosternomics — front-office performance, roster value, and transaction history. Follow @rosternomics on X.
Decision-maker records extend to 1933; resource-controlled WAR and payroll metrics cover 1985–2026. Data sources include FanGraphs, Baseball-Reference, the Chadwick Bureau register, the Lahman Database, prospect rankings from Baseball America, MLB Pipeline, and FanGraphs, and public payroll records. Transaction and trade data was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Executive birth/death data via Wikidata (CC0).
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