Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - One Cardinal Is Predicted To Win An Award In 2025

Starting point is 00:00:00 One player from the Cardinals has been predicted as a major award winner for 2025. Find out who it is on today's episode of Locked on Cardinals. You are Locked on Cardinals, your daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey there, Cardinals, I'm Jady Haffertan, and I'm your host for Lockdown Cardinals. Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network covering your team every day. You can follow me on TwitterX at JD Sports Radio. You can also follow the podcast at L.O underscore Cardinals.

Starting point is 00:00:36 I do want to thank those of you who make Locked on Cardinals your first list. And every day we are free and available wherever you get your podcast. We're also on YouTube. Please stop by, like, subscribe, comment, and hit that notification button so you know when new episodes are posted because this is a show serving Cardle Nation, giving the best fans in baseball and one of the most patient fans in baseball, all of the info about the birds on the bat. Today's episode being brought to you by Fanduel. The NFL playoffs are almost here. But it's not too late to get in on the regular season action with Fandall because right now new customers can finish the season strong with $250 in bonus bets.

Starting point is 00:01:12 If your first $5 bet wins, visit fandle.com to get started. All right. So the internet is never, ever short of predictions for the upcoming seasons and any sports, really. And to be honest, I was a little bit surprised by this particular prediction that was made. it involves the St. Louis Cardinals. You know, you'd be hard pressed to find anyone talking all that positive about what the Cardinals have done these days, specifically the national media, because, you know, the guys and gals in St. Louis normally are going to say some nice things, you know,

Starting point is 00:01:54 because most of the guys and gals that are in the media in the St. Louis area are fans of the Cardinals. They most of us grew up in St. Louis. And that's where we wanted to work and we're Midwest type of people. And, you know, we prefer at least most of us to look at the brighter side of things instead of constantly bashing the Cardinals. At least I know that's how I am personally. It doesn't mean we can't ridicule and point out when the Cardinals have made mistakes. There's been plenty of them on the rosters over the years through free agency and in trades. And it's kind of how the Cardinals got to the point of the,

Starting point is 00:02:29 their organization being where it is, where we've got to do this, this competitive reset. You know, that's what we're going through right now. But there has been a bright spot in the last two years amongst all of this turmoil that the team's been going through. And that was the acquisition of infielder Thomas A. Jacey. Thomas A Jacey was part of the deal that sent Jordan Montgomery and Chris Stratton to the Rangers in return. The cartels were able to get John King and pitching prospect.

Starting point is 00:02:59 to Coa Robey and Sejacy. And it's really been one of those win-win type of trades. You know, if it's tilted anywhere, it's obviously towards the Rangers because, you know, the Cardinals were able to unload Montgomery. Jordan Montgomery was going into his walk year and they were able to pick up a very useful believer. They also got two prospects, some decent ones from the Rangers. And the Rangers obviously go on to win a world championship.

Starting point is 00:03:28 So obviously it's going to be tilted towards them as far as how the trade ended up working out. But, you know, now we look for what do we have to show for it now? Well, Monty left the Rangers, goes to the Diamondbacks, where he was quite underwhelming last year. Chris Stratton goes to the Kansas City Royals at an ERA of 5.55 last season. So not great. Meanwhile, the Cardinals, 76 games with the team, John King. He's been good, four and three, 2.52 ERA, not too shabby. Roby, he has dealt with injuries since coming over, but he's still rated as the sixth best

Starting point is 00:04:04 prospect in their system. Still only 23 years old. So there's still time to grow there. And you're hoping that he can stay healthy and that he's somebody that perhaps we see up on the roster in 2025, surely by 2026. But the crown jewel of this deal so far on the Cardinal side of things appears to be Cajie, who won the AA MVP after coming to the Cardinals organization. Then in his full year at Memphis. He hits 253, 20 home runs, and 67 RBIs, which prompted the call-up at the end of the season where he ended up appearing in 18 games and you didn't see anything all that fancy out of Thomas and Jay's. He's not a fancy player, but he's one of those guys that I feel like Cardal fans are going to like. I know at the winter warm up last year when you got to see him on

Starting point is 00:04:52 the screen, I didn't get to talk to him personally, but, you know, seeing him in interviews and seeing him interacting with fans. You can tell he's having time of his life. It just, it's a good fit. It's a good fit for him in the Cardinals organization. Arizona Fall League this past year after, you know, not doing so much in those 18 games when he came up to the Cardinals. He had a big Arizona Fall League season. Hit 391, two home runs, 10 RBI, 16 walks, an OBP of 524 and an OPS of 1.118 over 18 games. Once again, not too shabby. The boy can hit. The boy can play ball. And Cajee got some positive acknowledgement in a recent story by Anthony Castrovins from MLB.com, who, when predicting the major award winners for 2025, has Cajie listed

Starting point is 00:05:38 as the NL rookie of the year. Now, granted, he did go one for eight in his predictions about such things last year. The one he got right, though, was an old rookie of the year. He had Paul Schingstown. So could he make it two years in a row with Cedacey? We will see. But here is what Anthony said about him. Sticking with a theme in this piece and not going with obvious answers, I'll stray away from Nationals outfielder Dylan Cruz, who is MOB's number one overall prospect, even though I do think he's going to bust loose this year. It seems the stage is separate to Jaycey to have the big 2025.

Starting point is 00:06:13 He already got his big league debut out of the way in September. Then went on to rake in the Arizona Fall League. The Cardinals are obviously trying to move Nolan Aronado in the trade market. And that would open the door to one every day. opportunity for the 22-year-old Sejacy, whose baths of all skills should translate and who could man second base if Brendan Donovan shifts over to third. Now, you love to hear it, obviously, positive stuff talking about a prospect who the Cardinals obviously like national media, obviously likes him. MLB.com, you know, the pipeline, they like Sejacy. They think he's going to be a solid player. but there are a couple of obstacles in the way for C.JC. to achieve such a goal and for all of this to happen.

Starting point is 00:06:59 So we're going to dig into those next for you on Lockdown Cardinals. The NFL playoffs are almost here, but it's not too late to get in on the regular season action with Fandol America's number one sports book because right now new customers can finish the season strong with $250 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. has had so many ways for you to pick up a W this season. I hope you've been able to get in on the action. Not only can you bet on which players will score a touchdown and how many points each team will score. You can also build a parlay, make things a little more interesting to really improve your return if you win because, you know, if the bet itself is a little more difficult, the money you would win is a lot more. So that's how that whole things work. So if you haven't been there yet, I want you to go ahead and visit fandole.com to join today.

Starting point is 00:07:51 That's vandal.com for your chance at $250 in bonus bets. Please make every moment more with Vandal, an official sportsbook partner of the NFL. Thank you again for making Locktown Cardinals your first listen every day. You can leave your comments on YouTube as well as on Twitter X. Anytime you want, your feedback is always welcome and encouraged to hear something positive about the Cardinals at this point of the offseason where they have done nothing. was nice to hear, was nice to hear. I won't lie, especially from a national media member. I was like, ooh, that's pretty cool. But there are some things standing in the way of Thomas Cajisi, fulfilling that prophecy of NL rookie of the year. The main problem the cardinals are facing at this moment

Starting point is 00:08:45 with Cajy is when and where is he going to get the playing time necessary to get such an award, right? Now, obviously, things can change. Things can change. Moves can be made still. Still got some time here in the offseason. Injuries could and normally do occur. But right now, they still have Nolan Aronado on this roster. We just talked about this in our last episode,

Starting point is 00:09:11 how the percentage that Aronado returns to the team in 2025 is growing ever so slightly each and every week. I still believe a deal is going to get done. I think it will happen. I think it's in the best interest for both the, Cardinals and for Nolan Aronado to make a clean break and for no one to go chase a ring with one of these big market teams that he wants to play for and for the Cardinals to move on salary-wise and to open up slots for guys like Thomas Sujacy. But it's looking less and less like it will be an ideal trade for the Cardinals. If you had to pick which side's going to bend a little bit, which I brought up in the last episode, I think it's the Cardinals who are probably going to have to do that, probably going to have to eat more. money than they want to. Because the Cardinals, I mean, they had that sweet deal with the Astros set up and it looked like they were good to go and fell apart.

Starting point is 00:10:04 So probably they're the ones who are going to have to eat more money than they want to. But, you know, eventually the situation's got to get settled and it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense for Arnauda to be back on this roster next year. But it still could happen. It still could happen. It's not out of the realm of possibilities. Now there's another Nolan situation that I want to talk about, and that's with Nolan Gorman. Now remember, Nolan Garman is also still a name that in my eyes will get every single opportunity to prove that he can still and will be a force in the middle of this lineup. I've repeatedly said that punting on Nolan Gorman right now would be foolish. It would be foolish. Even for those of you who want to trade him where you're like, I don't trust him.

Starting point is 00:10:49 I don't think he's going to be good enough. He's always going to swing and miss. and it's going to drive me nuts. I understand that, but his value at this very moment is nowhere near what it should and could be. So no way am I making a deal that involved him unless it's some sort of like blockbuster deal where you just can't say no. And that's something I don't see happening at all. Now reports are that he's been working with new hitting coach Brant Brown all off season.

Starting point is 00:11:17 And personally, I hope he arrives in Jupor this spring in great shape. with physically and mentally. I brought it up before where I think, I don't think it's the physical side of things that Nolan Corman has a problem with. He just strikes me as a guy that gets in his home head too much, where mentally he gets down on himself, self-esteem drops real fast, and that's something I think if he's able to not be so hard on himself about stuff

Starting point is 00:11:44 and just go out and play the game and have some fun. I think that we could start seeing him, tattoo balls off the rooftops at Rotterdean Stadium coming up in the spring. Less than two months, because don't look now, folks. I know we're like, oh, we just started the new year and everything. But the first spring training game is on February 22nd. Report dates, they're not available yet, but week of the 10th is probably a good target time to consider. But, you know, I want to see Nolan Gorman do well.

Starting point is 00:12:16 I think he's got the talent to be very successful in this day and age baseball. to be the hitter that you want as like a, you know, a number five type of guy in your lineup, you know, that power is no joke. But, you know, he's going to get a chance to do it. And, you know, he's going to get chances to play, whether it's at second or it's at third, or VHing, obviously. They're going to give him a shot. So J.C. is behind him.

Starting point is 00:12:47 And then there's the super utility guy in Brandon Donovan, who can start at second, third or in left field, if you need them to, if an Aronado deal goes down, the consensus thought in every reporting I've seen, you know, everybody's got their opinions on where they think people should play, but the consensus, and from people that I, you know, know, know the Cardinals pretty darn well, specifically Katie Wu from the athletic, Gorman is the guy that would end up sliding over to start at third base if Aronado got traded. And unless Donovan goes to left field again, which could could happen instead of second base, then where is Thomas U. Jacey going to get these abats? Where are they going to come from? Now, this is a good problem to have. Don't get me wrong.

Starting point is 00:13:31 I mean, you've got enough talented young players to go around like this where you want to see what they can do, which again is part of the goal of this offseason for the card. It's one of the reasons why they wanted to move on from a lot of these names. You know, again, I'll tell you, having Wilson Contrera stick around. Having Aronado, maybe not going anywhere. Like that's kind of a problem because they want Thomas U.JC. to get a bats. They want No one Gorman to get them. They want Jordan Walker to get them. They want Lars Dupar to stay healthy and get these a bats.

Starting point is 00:14:06 They want all these guys to play instead of established veterans who are good and have big contracts. You know, they would like to see some of these young guys see what they can actually do. at the major league level. But like I said, things can change. Things can change. Like, what if not always traded? And what happens if Gorman disappoints? What if he falls flat again?

Starting point is 00:14:32 It becomes just a platoon guy against Rides. Is that a horrible thing? No, but is that where you want him to be? No. But that would open up the door for more advanced for Su Jacey. He would get to go up against the lefties while Gorman sat against the lefties, which not the end of the world. So J.C. would also get the first crack. It starts at shortstop, I would think.

Starting point is 00:14:56 If Mason win, you know, obviously a day off here or there, he's going to need those. And heaven forbid, if he had to deal with any sort of injury, I think C.J.C. is the guy that slides right in at shortstop for you. But at the moment, if things stay the way they are at this very moment, it's going to be tough for C.J.C. to be much more than a depth piece and a bench bat at the beginning of the season, unless he's de aging, which is that's a possibility to. But, you know, you've still got Alec Berluson, who just was one of your best hitters on the team last year, led your team in home runs last season, looking for consistent at bat still. I mean, why you're not going to bench him unless he's facing a lefty, which was a tough gig for him last year. But C.JC. could get some DH spots against lefties if really struggles against them again this year. You know, if not it was on this team, if Nato needs a day off. I'm sure though they can, you know, circle things around and get it to where, you know, he's at least on the field a couple of times a week.

Starting point is 00:15:57 But again, I don't necessarily think this is a terrible thing. I'm not telling you that this is a big problem. We've got to figure this out. I'm not saying that. You know, it's not an issue if he starts the season this way. The ultimate goal is just to win games. And if you've got guys like Garnado, Gorman and Donovan, and they're all still here and they're all playing well and they're all hitting well, That's a good thing, right? That's a good thing. You want that. So JC is still just 22 years old.

Starting point is 00:16:25 We're not talking about a prospect. He's like 25, 26, and the clock's ticking on this kid. He's not turning 23 until April. So it's not that big of a deal. He doesn't have to start right away to put his career on the right path for success. But it appears to me they're very anxious to get him in the lineup. They want to see what he can do. and can't really blame them. But what are your thoughts on this? You know, how would you like to see this all go down? What would be your ideal combo? All right?

Starting point is 00:16:56 If Nato gets traded, would you prefer Gorman at third, Donnie at second, and a combination of what, Newt, Burley, Siani, Victor Scott, and Walker in the outfield with Cajee on the bench? Or would you prefer Donnie over third base, Gorman at second?

Starting point is 00:17:16 What about Gorman at third, Sejacy at second, Donovan and left field with New Barton Center Field and Walker and right field, which in my mind, I think that's the ideal way to do this if you can pull it off. And then you would have like Burleson doing your DH duties, you know, Yvonne Herrero would be you're starting behind the play. Contreras is over at first. Obviously, Burley can play some first base too. I mean, there's a lot of combinations you can come up with here. So what do you think? I want to know what your thoughts are on this so we can talk about them. a fan feedback segment, which we will get to next week. But next, we're going to take a look around the league at the remaining big free agents that are still available on the market on Locked on Cardinals. Now, I love going to live events.

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Starting point is 00:20:13 youtube or wherever you listen to your podcast so the cardinals as we know we're not expected to make any major signings this off season uh even if they trade no and Aranaado away and move a bunch of money. That's not what this offseason is about for the St. Louis Cardinals. But the rest of the league continues to wait and wonder where are guys like Pete Alonzo and Alex Bredman and Anthony Santander going to go? Where are they, where would they might, where could they land? What's the best place for those guys?

Starting point is 00:20:44 Well, latest news. And this is important for the Cardinals because, you know, the Nolan Aranaanaana a market. It kind of coincides with what's going on with Alex Bregman. And the latest news has the Detroit Tigers and the Toronto Blue Jays as the favorites to not only sign Alex Bregman, but Anthony Santanderas as well. Now, we've talked about the Tigers and Bregman before. We don't have to rehash that, but the Blue Jays are a team that, you know, they struck out trying to sign mega free agents like Shohei Otani, Juan Soto. I mean, they were among the finalists as far as we know, but they were the bridesmaid and not the bride for both of those guys.

Starting point is 00:21:24 So what it does tell you, though, is they're at least willing to spend the big money that it takes to snag some of these particular players? They don't have a clear-cut guy at third base on the roster at the moment. So Bregman would make a lot of sense, you know, when Toronto is usually a pretty good place for offense players. That's what they like. So that makes a lot of sense if Bregman would go to Toronto. John Paul Marosi says that both teams are also win on Anthony Santander, who popped 44 dingers last year for the Orioles.

Starting point is 00:21:58 Santander is a guy that I would think he fit what the Cardinals could use really, really well, but this isn't the offseason where they're chasing free agents. So I wouldn't think about that at all. But, you know, he's a guy that switch hitter. He's got power from both sides of the plate. He can play corner outfield spots. Obviously, he can DH. Got some flexibility to him.

Starting point is 00:22:19 Will he reach 44 home runs again? I don't know. That was a career high. But, you know, 35. Is that so bad to get 35 home runs out of them? I don't think so. So I'm a little shock. More teams aren't in on Anthony Santander. What do they know that we don't, huh? What about Pete Alonzo? Pete Alonzo to the Angels? The Angels? What? John Heyman reports that he believes Angels owner Art Morino wants to add another big bad, citing. Alonzo was as well as free agent outfielder, Anthony Sons. And there's a seat. There's another one as a place that he could go, that the Angels would be considering Alonzo. They say it would be a little surprising on a few fronts. Mainly the Angels haven't signed a free agent to a deal north of $100 million since signing Anthony Rendon to that seven-year,

Starting point is 00:23:08 $245 million albatross of a deal back in December of 2019, which has been one of the worst contracts in baseball for a few years now. Alonzo is widely expected to receive a deal upwards of $100 million. For me, Pete Alonzo was worth it because he is just so dangerous in the middle of an order. The idea of him in the middle of an order for any team is I would be excited about it. In a Cardinals perfect world where we could spend whatever the hell we want on whoever we want, I would love. I would rather have Anthony Sondare in left field.

Starting point is 00:23:48 And I would rather have Pete Alonzo sitting down there at first base. And Katrina should just be a VH and catch sometimes if he has to. But that's not going to happen. Somebody that I know a lot of fans have talked about and would love to see in a cardal uniform, Max Scherzer. A little Max Scherzer buzz is circulating. Heyman suggests that Scherzer is fielding interest from four teams, although he says it's unclear who those clubs are.

Starting point is 00:24:14 I'm happy, I don't know how he got it down to four teams, but whatever. And another, again, in a perfect world, a happier world for the Cardinals, you would be able to move on from a guy like Michaelis and Matt's and then bring home Scherzer on a one-year deal with an option year like they did with Lance Lynn and what they did with Kyle Gibson this past year so that we could finally see him in a Cardinal uniform, which is something that fans had begged for for many, many years. Apparently they had a chance to get him and he was going to come here.

Starting point is 00:24:44 And the Cardinal said, no, thanks. and that didn't work out. So there's another one with egg on the face of John Moseilock. But at the moment, there are no spots for anybody, any other starting pitchers to join this roster. So I wouldn't hold my breath on that, which is a bummer. Instead, I'd imagine he'd go to a team that, you know, has better World Series aspirations or, you know,

Starting point is 00:25:08 at least playoffs at the very least. And, Sally, the Cardinals, although competitive rebuild is what we're trying to do here. and they are not among those types of teams as we stand here today that you would consider a favorite to make the playoffs. I just hope he stays out of the NL Central. I don't want to see Max with the Brewers or the Cubs or the Reds. Not really worried about pirates. But what about some other teams? You know, the Giants have been brought up before as teams that, you know, they're trying to, you know, fill out a nice rotation out west and compete with the Dodgers and the Padres.

Starting point is 00:25:40 I think that makes sense. The team I'm thinking about, though, the Atlanta Braves. for Max Scherzer. I feel like that makes a lot of sense. You know, they still got Spencer Strider coming back from an injury. You know, Max Fried just left via free agency. Chris Sale had a nice NL.Sai young resurrection season with them. And, you know, Max Scherzer had a tough year last year. He had a career low innings pitched. And I'm only like 40 something innings last year. So it's not like he's coming off some great season. but can you see the Braves like going and get they would have sale and then go get Scherzer and like Verlander. Can you see the Braves just doing that? It seems like a very Braves move and I don't

Starting point is 00:26:23 know. I wouldn't hate it so much. I don't know how much juice they have left. You know, the Mets tried to do that a couple years ago. Shurzer and Burlander didn't pan out so well. So I don't know if that's the best idea. But I don't know, one of those guys, but Schurzer feels like an Atlanta brave fit seems to make sense there. But we can always hold out hope that. But someday, someday, before he's 50, he might become St. Louis Cardinal. All right. Thanks for making a lot of time, Cardinals your first listen every day. If you haven't already, give us a follow on TwitterX at L.O underscore Cardinals and a JD Sports Radio.

Starting point is 00:26:55 Please like, subscribe on YouTube and help our channel and love for the Cardinals grow. You guys are the best fans in baseball for a reason. Do not be shy in the comments section. Let's chat. Let's get it together. Let's talk about everything going on with the Cardinals and around the league. me Casa Su Casa. Let's have some fun.

Starting point is 00:27:13 Enjoy the rest of your week and thank you for tuning in to lockdown curtains.

Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - One Cardinal Is Predicted To Win An Award In 2025

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