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Cardinals STL

202371–91 (0.438)
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President of baseball ops: John Mozeliak · GM: Mike Girsch

Overview

Ranks vs the 30 teams in 2023, or a custom range (defaults to every team-season since 1985, when our data starts).

to

Front Office

PoorAverageGreat
Value
Payroll $M
$174M
Surplus $M
-45
Win %
0.438
TAB
-3.0
WAB
-12.5
Roster composition
Roster fWAR
32.8
Dead money %
22%
Depth Players
8.0
Dead WAR
-6.1

Offense

PoorAverageGreat

Pitching & Defense

PoorAverageGreat

Roster

2023 depth chart — stacked by playing time

C

RWillson Contreras97
RAndrew Knizner68
RIván Herrera13
RTres Barrera6

1B

RPaul Goldschmidt133
LAlec Burleson17
LBrendan Donovan14
RLuken Baker12
RJuan Yepez7
BJuniel Querecuto2
RAndrew Knizner1
RTaylor Motter1

2B

LNolan Gorman75
BTommy Edman51
LBrendan Donovan34
RTaylor Motter14
RJosé Fermín10
LIrving Lopez2
BJuniel Querecuto2
LRichie Palacios1

3B

RNolan Arenado128
LNolan Gorman18
RTaylor Motter12
RJosé Fermín8
LBrendan Donovan6
BJuniel Querecuto5
LIrving Lopez3

SS

RPaul DeJong⇄81
BTommy Edman48
RMasyn Winn37
RTaylor Motter3
LBrendan Donovan1

LF

RTyler O'Neill58
LAlec Burleson44
LLars Nootbaar24
LBrendan Donovan21
RJordan Walker19
LRichie Palacios17
RJuan Yepez9
RÓscar Mercado7
BDylan Carlson5

CF

LLars Nootbaar73
BDylan Carlson50
BTommy Edman42
RTyler O'Neill13
LRichie Palacios8
LMichael Siani⇄4
RÓscar Mercado4

RF

RJordan Walker93
LLars Nootbaar34
BDylan Carlson20
LAlec Burleson13
LBrendan Donovan9
RÓscar Mercado8
BTommy Edman8
RJuan Yepez3
LRichie Palacios2
RTaylor Motter1

DH

RWillson Contreras30
LNolan Gorman27
LAlec Burleson24
RPaul Goldschmidt21
LBrendan Donovan17
RLuken Baker16
RNolan Arenado15
RJuan Yepez9
RJordan Walker7
LRichie Palacios2
LMichael Siani⇄2
BDylan Carlson2
LLars Nootbaar2
RÓscar Mercado2
RAdam Wainwright1
RTyler O'Neill1
RTaylor Motter1

Starters

RMiles Mikolas3.0 WAR
LJordan Montgomery⇄2.6 WAR
LSteven Matz2.0 WAR
RJack Flaherty⇄1.6 WAR
LZack Thompson1.1 WAR
LMatthew Liberatore0.8 WAR
RDakota Hudson0.3 WAR
LDrew Rom-0.1 WAR
RAdam Wainwright-0.4 WAR
RJake Woodford-0.6 WAR

Bullpen

★ RRyan Helsley14 sv
RGiovanny Gallegos20 h
RAndre Pallante14 h
RDrew VerHagen14 h
LJoJo Romero3 h
RChris Stratton⇄0 h
RJordan Hicks⇄0 h
LGenesis Cabrera⇄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 2022)

PlayerfWAR
Willson Contreras2.8
Jordan Walker1.0
Richie Palacios0.4
John King0.1
Jacob Barnes0.1
Guillo Zuñiga0.1

Key subtractions (gone from 2022)

Player2022 fWAR
Albert Pujols1.9
Jose Quintana1.8
Harrison Bader1.4
Corey Dickerson0.6
Yadier Molina0.1
Johan Oviedo0.1

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 2023; everyone else is shown as a 2023 season snapshot.

PlayerPeriodfWARTier Market $MPaid $MSurplus $M$ / WARTierContract
Lars Nootbaar 2023 +3.1 +40.2 0.7 +39.5 $0.2M 1.60× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $5.2M AAV
Jordan Montgomery↔ 2023 +2.6 +40.3 6.6 +33.8 $2.5M 1.96× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.2M AAV
Miles Mikolas 2023 +3.0 +47.3 18.8 +28.5 $6.2M 1.96× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $2.2M AAV
Jack Flaherty↔ 2023 +1.6 +19.1 3.7 +15.4 $2.3M 1.49× Free Agent · 2025–2026 · $17.5M AAV
Nolan Gorman 2023 +2.3 +15.2 0.7 +14.4 $0.3M 0.82× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $2.7M AAV
Ryan Helsley 2023 +1.5 +15.9 2.1 +13.7 $1.4M 1.34× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $14.0M AAV
Steven Matz 2023 +2.0 +23.3 10.5 +12.8 $5.4M 1.49× Free Agent · 2026–2027 · $7.5M AAV
JoJo Romero 2023 +1.2 +12.8 0.4 +12.4 $0.4M 1.34× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $4.3M AAV
Willson Contreras 2023 +2.8 +22.2 10.0 +12.2 $3.6M 1.00× Free Agent · 2023–2027 · $17.5M AAV
Tommy Edman 2023 +2.4 +15.7 4.2 +11.5 $1.7M 0.82× Extension · 2025–2030 · $14.8M AAV
Brendan Donovan 2023 +1.5 +9.9 0.7 +9.2 $0.5M 0.82× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $5.8M AAV
Jordan Walker 2023 +1.0 +6.9 0.6 +6.3 $0.6M 0.83× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Matthew Liberatore 2023 +0.8 +6.3 0.4 +5.9 $0.6M 1.02× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $2.3M AAV
Zack Thompson 2023 +1.1 +5.6 0.7 +4.9 $0.7M 0.67× –
Chris Stratton↔ 2023 +1.0 +5.5 1.8 +3.6 $1.8M 0.67× –
Jordan Hicks↔ 2023 +0.9 +4.6 1.1 +3.4 $1.3M 0.67× Free Agent · 2024–2024 · $11.0M AAV
Paul Goldschmidt 2023 +3.4 +29.3 26.0 +3.3 $7.6M 1.07× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $4.0M AAV
Iván Herrera 2023 +0.3 +1.2 0.1 +1.1 $0.4M 0.52× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Paul DeJong↔ 2023 +1.5 +7.3 6.6 +0.7 $4.5M 0.61× –
John King↔ 2023 +0.1 +0.8 0.1 +0.6 $0.9M 0.67× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.5M AAV
Jacob Barnes 2023 +0.1 +0.5 0.2 +0.4 $1.6M 0.67× –
Guillo Zuñiga 2023 +0.1 +0.3 0.2 +0.2 $2.6M 0.67× –
José Fermín 2023 +0.0 +0.1 0.3 -0.1 $8.0M 0.56× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Dylan Carlson 2023 +0.1 +0.5 0.7 -0.2 $9.4M 0.83× –
Dakota Hudson 2023 +0.3 +2.3 2.6 -0.3 $9.3M 1.02× –
Packy Naughton 2023 +0.1 +0.4 0.7 -0.3 $8.9M 0.67× –
James Naile 2023 -0.0 -0.3 0.2 -0.4 – 0.67× –
Juniel Querecuto 2023 -0.1 -0.4 0.1 -0.5 – 0.58× –
Tyler O'Neill 2023 +0.7 +4.4 5.0 -0.5 $7.4M 0.83× Free Agent · 2025–2027 · $16.5M AAV
Tres Barrera 2023 -0.1 -0.5 0.1 -0.6 – 0.52× –
Drew Rom 2023 -0.1 -0.6 0.2 -0.8 – 1.02× –
Andrew Knizner 2023 +0.0 +0.1 1.1 -1.0 $43.2M 0.52× –
Génesis Cabrera↔ 2023 -0.1 -0.8 0.5 -1.3 – 0.67× –
Irving Lopez 2023 -0.3 -1.3 0.0 -1.3 – 0.58× –
Kyle Leahy 2023 -0.2 -1.3 0.1 -1.3 – 0.67× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Giovanny Gallegos 2023 +0.3 +3.1 4.8 -1.7 $16.6M 1.34× –
Andre Pallante 2023 -0.1 -1.1 0.7 -1.8 – 1.34× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $4.0M AAV
Ryan Tepera↔ 2023 -0.2 -0.9 1.2 -2.1 – 0.67× –
Andrew Suárez 2023 -0.4 -2.0 0.3 -2.3 – 0.67× –
Luken Baker 2023 -0.4 -2.0 0.3 -2.3 – 0.69× –
Taylor Motter 2023 -0.3 -1.5 0.8 -2.3 – 0.56× –
Casey Lawrence 2023 -0.4 -2.3 0.2 -2.4 – 0.67× –
Juan Yepez 2023 -0.5 -2.9 0.2 -3.2 – 0.69× –
Drew VerHagen 2023 -0.2 -1.1 3.0 -4.1 – 0.67× –
Masyn Winn 2023 -0.8 -4.0 0.2 -4.2 – 0.61× Pre-arbitration · 2026–2026 · $0.8M AAV
Alec Burleson 2023 -0.7 -4.4 0.7 -5.1 – 0.83× Arbitration · 2026–2026 · $3.3M AAV
Jake Woodford 2023 -0.6 -4.9 0.7 -5.7 – 1.02× Free Agent · 2026–2026 · $1.0M AAV
Nolan Arenado 2023 +2.8 +24.6 35.0 -10.4 $12.7M 1.12× Arb extension · 2019–2020 · $32.5M AAV
Adam Wainwright 2023 -0.4 -3.6 17.5 -21.1 – 1.02× –
Óscar Mercado 2023 +0.0 +0.2 0.2 +0.0 $5.4M 0.83× –
Michael Siani↔ 2023 -0.1 -0.8 – – – 0.83× –
Richie Palacios 2023 +0.4 +2.7 – – – 0.83× –
Total—+33.0+331.9173.6+156.5—

Trades

Every graded 2023 deal involving the Cardinals — best expected value first. Surplus is realized value in $M; 10 total.

2023 · TOR / STL Jul 30, 2023
TOR · Mark Shapiro +$0.8M
Jordan Hicks
STL · John Mozeliak −$0.8M
Adam Kloffenstein, Sem Robberse
Too soon to call unsettled
2023 · STL / TOR Jul 21, 2023
STL · John Mozeliak +$2.4M
Sammy Hernandez
TOR · Mark Shapiro −$2.4M
Génesis Cabrera
Too soon to call unsettled
2023 · STL / KCR Feb 8, 2023
STL · John Mozeliak +$0.0M
Anthony Misiewicz
KCR · J.J. Picollo +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call unsettled
2023 · ARI / STL Mar 31, 2023
ARI · Mike Hazen +$0.0M
Anthony Misiewicz
STL · John Mozeliak +$0.0M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call unsettled
2023 · BAL / STL Aug 1, 2023
BAL · Mike Elias +$2.4M
Jack Flaherty
STL · John Mozeliak −$2.4M
Zack Showalter, Drew Rom, César Prieto
Too soon to call unsettled
2023 · STL / SEA Nov 5, 2023
STL · John Mozeliak +$1.6M
Riley O'Brien
SEA · Jerry Dipoto −$1.6M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call unsettled
2023 · STL / TOR Aug 1, 2023
STL · John Mozeliak +$10.4M
Matt Svanson
TOR · Mark Shapiro −$10.4M
Paul DeJong
Too soon to call unsettled
2023 · STL / CLE Jun 16, 2023
STL · John Mozeliak +$1.6M
Richie Palacios
CLE · Chris Antonetti −$1.6M
cash / PTBNL
Too soon to call unsettled
2023 · BOS / STL Dec 8, 2023
BOS · Chaim Bloom +$26.4M
Tyler O'Neill
STL · John Mozeliak −$26.4M
Victor Santos, Nick Robertson
Too soon to call unsettled
2023 · TEX / STL Jul 30, 2023
TEX · Chris Young +$11.2M
Jordan Montgomery, Chris Stratton
STL · John Mozeliak −$11.2M
Tekoah Roby, Thomas Saggese, John King
Too soon to call unsettled

Current & Historical Payroll

2023 payroll
$173.7M
2024 guaranteed
$42.0M

What the front office was committed to as of 2023, 2023–2029. Guaranteed $ are contract commitments signed by 2023; 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 (8)

PlayerAgeSvc2023202420252026202720282029
Nolan Arenado329.155$35.0MOPT-OUT$24.0M$21.0M$5.0M$6.0MFREE AGENT
Paul Goldschmidt3511.059$26.0MFREE AGENT
Miles Mikolas346.037$18.8MFREE AGENT
Adam Wainwright4117.027$17.5MFREE AGENT
Steven Matz327.099$10.5MFREE AGENT
Willson Contreras316.108$10.0M$18.0M$18.0M$18.0M$17.0M$20.0MCLUBFREE AGENT
Paul DeJong296.000$6.6MFREE AGENT
Ryan Tepera358.000$1.2MFREE AGENT

Arbitration-eligible (14)

PlayerAgeSvc2023202420252026202720282029
Jordan Montgomery305.153$6.6MFREE AGENT
Tyler O'Neill284.059$5.0MARB 3FREE AGENT
Giovanny Gallegos314.085$4.8MARB 3FREE AGENT
Tommy Edman283.114$4.2MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jack Flaherty275.006$3.7MFREE AGENT
Drew VerHagen324.066$3.0MARB 3FREE AGENT
Dakota Hudson284.062$2.6MARB 3FREE AGENT
Ryan Helsley283.105$2.1MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Chris Stratton325.100$1.8MFREE AGENT
Jordan Hicks265.000$1.1MFREE AGENT
Andrew Knizner283.021$1.1MARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Génesis Cabrera263.011$498kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Óscar Mercado283.114$182kARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jacob Barnes335.071$155kFREE AGENT

Pre-arbitration (30)

PlayerAgeSvc2023202420252026202720282029
Taylor Motter331.113$775kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Dylan Carlson242.104$742kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jake Woodford262.052$740kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Lars Nootbaar251.076$732kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Packy Naughton271.003$729kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Andre Pallante241.000$729kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Brendan Donovan260.164$729kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Nolan Gorman230.139$727kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Zack Thompson250.100$725kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Alec Burleson240.029$721kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Jordan Walker210.000$577kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Matthew Liberatore230.028$445kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
JoJo Romero262.101$434kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Luken Baker260.000$302kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
José Fermín240.000$263kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Andrew Suárez301.123$252kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Juan Yepez250.127$236kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Casey Lawrence351.016$182kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Masyn Winn210.000$170kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Guillo Zuñiga240.000$166kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Drew Rom230.000$159kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
James Naile300.054$155kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
John King282.026$135kARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Iván Herrera230.029$120kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Tres Barrera281.000$112kPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Juniel Querecuto300.011$70kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Kyle Leahy260.000$62kPre-ArbPre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Irving Lopez28–$35k
Michael Siani231.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT
Richie Palacios261.000—Pre-ArbARB 1ARB 2ARB 3FREE AGENT

Graphs

How each 2023 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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