Redbird Rants

Baseball is a cruel sport, and few pitchers would be more qualified to tell that story than Packy Naughton, a left-handed reliever in the St. Louis Cardinals organization who has called it a career after succumbing to a serious arm injury for the third time in as many seasons. Packy Naughton has announced he’s retiring from baseball. Suffered his third significant UCL injury in April.

There's real value in these draft picks. Sep 25, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Tommy Edman (19), third baseman Brendan Donovan (33), and other teammates, not pictured, meet at the pitchers mound during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports | USA TODAY Sports For many teams throughout Major League Baseball, the dividing line between good organizations and great ones can be found with how they draft players.

It's widely known by now that the mess of riches that the St. Louis Cardinals hold at the catcher spot, one of baseball's most valued positions, gives them ample clout at the 2026 MLB trade deadline. Iván Herrera isn't the most talented of the Cardinals' catching crop, but his potent bat from the right side of the plate could have other teams interested should the Cardinals dangle him at the deadline.

The St. Louis Cardinals have had plenty of rivals throughout the years. Most notably, the Chicago Cubs. However, a new challenger has appeared. His name is Paul Sewald. Sewald, 36, is the closer in the desert this year for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He’s played for the Mets, Mariners, Guardians, and Tigers in his lengthy career, which started in 2017. In the Cardinals' last matchup against the Snakes, they ended up canceling a game due to inclement weather.

The St. Louis Cardinals have taken major strides in the pitching department. Arms like Quinn Mathews, Cooper Hjerpe, Liam Doyle, and Jurrangelo Cijntje have been all the rage this season. But now, there’s another chapter in the Cardinals’ cookbook of high-upside talent: Brandon Clarke. Clarke, 23, was acquired alongside Richard Fitts from the Boston Red Sox in the Sonny Gray deal. He’s currently listed as the seventh-overall prospect in St. Louis’ system.

The St. Louis Cardinals enter the second half just outside of a playoff spot, but this could be as close as they get in this rebuild season. With the All-Star break festivities concluding with Jordan Walker making history and a lackluster Midsummer Classic, we can put our focus back on Cardinal baseball and what the future may look like in St. Louis. The trade deadline is on the horizon, and the Cardinals roster is likely going to look plenty different than it did during the first half.

Buy? Sell? Do a bit of both? St. Louis is somewhere in between. However, one Cardinals slugger has been deemed untouchable by former Redbirds Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson. On the Cardinals Territory Podcast (Foul Territory Network), Lynn and Gibson broke down how important Lars Nootbaar is to this year’s roster. "He's a guy that has to stay." Lance Lynn and @KGib44 make the case for a Lars Nootbaar extension.

More than 4,700 people have tragically passed away due to earthquakes in the country of Venezuela, and the Cardinals’ ties to the nation are strong. Cardinals who are natives of Venezuela include Yohel Pozo and Pedro Pagés. Former Cardinal Willson Contreras is also a native and has been outspoken about how heavy the circumstances have weighed on him. Contreras recently competed in the MLB Home Run Derby and put on a show.

The St. Louis Cardinals promoted outfielder Chase Davis to Triple-A Memphis, MiLB Central reported earlier in the week. The St. Louis Cardinals are promoting Chase Davis to the Memphis Redbirds (AAA). Was the No. 21 pick of the 2023 MLB Draft. pic.twitter.com/FfakYruweD — Milb Central (@milb_central) July 15, 2026 Davis, 24, was a first-round selection by the Cardinals in 2023. He was taken 21st overall out of the University of Arizona.

The St. Louis Cardinals' draft in 2026 has been lauded across media as one of the best among all teams. MLB Pipeline's Jim Callis deemed their draft as tops in baseball, and ESPN's Kiley McDaniel also placed St. Louis at the pinnacle of his list. McDaniel is especially high on the Cardinals' first pick, Trevor Condon, deeming him the steal of the draft. But not everyone is that enamored with the Cardinals' choices.