Note: This post has been superseded by a new version of the Roster Matrix dated 4/10 which is available via this link.
What follows is a project I have considered for a long time, but I guess I needed the cold and snow of winter to motivate me to finally undertake it.
Following is a complete listing of all players currently known to be under contract in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. Initially, there are 306 players from the 40-man roster down through the Venezuelan Summer League.
Because we are all impatient types, I am going to list the rosters first, with all the explanation, caveats, etc. following. Before you post comments or send notes with mistakes or corrections, please take the time to read the explanations that follow the matrix, as many of your questions may already be answered. Also, don’t forget to read the comments afterward and add your own!
For future reference, as this article falls off the front page, remember to bookmark this URL. If you forget how to find it, just put your cursor on “Players/Staff” at the top of the page and then “Depth Charts”, and you’ll be back here. Plus, the search box at the upper right is always active.
One final request. Like everything here at The Cardinal Nation, the matrix is provided at no charge. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t take a lot of work to create and maintain. Please be respectful and link back here if you want to reference the matrix rather than copying it elsewhere.
Updated 2/4/09: Reliever Hyang-Nam Choi signed to a minor league deal and added to Memphis roster. New total 307.
Updated 2/9/09: 2B Adam Kennedy released. New total 306
Updated 2/28/09. P Mitch Harris signed. Likely on restricted list due to active Navy service so not listed here.
Updated 3/2/09: C Ismael Cardona (Batavia) released. The contract of pitcher Jose Vicente Campos (VSL) was voided. New total 304.
Updated 3/5/09: LHR Dennys Reyes signed. 305 players under contract.
Updated 3/15/09: Minor league LHP Kristian Linares added. New total 306.
Updated 3/18/09: RP Mike Sillman and OF Luke Gorsett retired. Total 304.
Updated 3/23/09: RP Luke Gregerson traded. IF Nick Vera, LHS Joe Rogers, 2B Isa Garcia, RHP Miguel Flores and C Christian Rosa released. New total 298.
Updated 3/26/09: Released RPs Hyang-Nam Choi, Russ Haltiwanger,Zach Pitts, Matt Spade, Wayne Damon, Jose Mateo, Jon Mikrut, Jameson Maj and 3B Brian Cartie. Total 289.
Updated 3/27/09: Royce Ring removed from 40-man and accepted assignment to Memphis.
Updated 3/31/09: Released Cs Justin Knoedler and Rickey Noland and Ps Ryan Bird, J.D. Stambaugh, Davis Bilardello, Dylan Gonzalez and Josh Hester.
The St. Louis Cardinals Roster Matrix (as of 3/31/09)
| St. Louis (23) | 40-man (34) | ||||||
| SP | RP | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| Carpenter | Franklin | LaRue | Pujols | Schumaker |
K Greene | Glaus | Ankiel |
| Lohse | Kinney (20) | Molina | Ryan | Duncan | |||
| Pineiro | McClellan | Ludwick | |||||
| Wainwright | Motte (4) | Mather | |||||
| Wellemeyer | |||||||
| Thompson | |||||||
| Reyes (L) | |||||||
| Miller (L) | |||||||
| Memphis (27) | |||||||
| SP | RP | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| Boggs (10) | Haltiwanger | Anderson (3) | Hoffpauir | Barden | Freese (5) | Barton | |
| Hawksworth | Mikrut | Knoedler | Thurston | T Greene (16) | Cazana (Marti) | ||
| Mortensen (11) | Scherer | Pagnozzi | Jay (12) | ||||
| Parisi (i) | Manning (L) | Yarbrough | Rasmus (1) | ||||
| Todd (7) | Maekawa (L) | Robinson (27) | |||||
| Walters (17) | Ostlund (L) | Stavinoha (35) | |||||
| Ja Garcia (9iL) | Choi | ||||||
| Rogers (L) | Ring (L) | ||||||
| C Perez | |||||||
| Springfield (22) | |||||||
| SP | RP | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| Dickson | Dew | Brown | I Garcia | Jo Martinez (37) | Craig (18) | Jones (6) | |
| Hearne | M Gonzalez | Buckman | Descalso | Solano | Wallace (2) | Rapoport | |
| Mura | Gregerson (30) | Hamilton | Rowlett | ||||
| Ottavino (15) | Salas (31) | Shorey | |||||
| Fiske (L) | McCormick | ||||||
| Furnish (L) | |||||||
| Palm Beach (27) | |||||||
| SP | RP | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| Bird | Daman | Derba | Hill (34) | Folli | Kozma (8) | Cartie | DeJesus |
| Diapoules | Degerman | Vasquez | Arburr | Marmol | T Cruz (36) | Luna (39) | |
| Garceau (29) | E Hernandez | Henley | |||||
| Herron (25) | Maiques | Kingrey | |||||
| King | J Mateo | ||||||
| Kopp (28) | Mulligan | ||||||
| Additon (26L) | Parise | ||||||
| Norrick (L) | Samuel (21) | ||||||
| Bilardello (L) | |||||||
| Freeman (L) | |||||||
| Linares (L) | |||||||
| Quad Cities (23) | |||||||
| SP | RP | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| R Castillo (19) | Bradford | J Castillo | Rivera | Bolivar | Chambers | ||
| Broderick | Daley, Jr. | Espinoza | Smith (40) | Vasquez (13) | Edwards (23) | ||
| Fick | Frevert | Murphy | Ingram | ||||
| Hooker (32) | D Gonzalez | Pham | |||||
| Lynn (14) | Rondon | ||||||
| Maj | Sanchez | ||||||
| McGregor | Spade (L) | ||||||
| Kulik (L) | Stambaugh (L) | ||||||
| Batavia (29) | |||||||
| SP | RP | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| Delgado | Buursma | Rosa | Scruggs | A Castellanos | Lilley | Curtis | Gomez |
| Eager | Lugo | Cutler | Jo Garcia | Sedbrook | Morales | Ja Martinez | |
| Gorgen (22) | Mayes | L DeLaCruz | Landin | Vera | Parejo | ||
| Hester | Reifer (24) | Peterson | |||||
| Nieto | Riportella | ||||||
| Pitts | Swauger | ||||||
| Richardson | |||||||
| M Tapia | |||||||
| Veres | |||||||
| Brown (L) | |||||||
| Cardenas (L) | |||||||
| Johnson City (29) | |||||||
| SP | RP | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| Arredondo | Carpenter | Castro | Rigoli | L Mateo | Alvarez | Bogany | |
| Blazek | Flores | Cawley | Toribio | Y Castillo | P Cruz | ||
| Fornataro | C Gonzalez | Noland | Hage | ||||
| R Gonzalez | Maertz | Lara | |||||
| Leach | Pichardo | Mitchell | |||||
| North | Bravo (L) | R Rodriguez | |||||
| Rosales | |||||||
| Santos | |||||||
| Thomas | |||||||
| Zawacki | |||||||
| Peralta (L) | |||||||
| GCL (28) | |||||||
| SP | RP | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| Diaz | Calero | Moscatel | H Medina | Hiraldo | Mosquera | Teran | Babrick |
| Javier | Concepcion | A Perez | Obregon | Buck | |||
| Notti | Munoz | R Ruiz | R Rosario | ||||
| Rada | Ortiz | Shepherd | |||||
| A Cruz | Penaloza | Swinson | |||||
| A Ferrara (L) | Prange | ||||||
| Russell | |||||||
| J Castellanos (L) | |||||||
| Siegrist (L) | |||||||
| DSL (37) | |||||||
| SP | RP | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| De Jesus | Estalis | V Ferreira | Pimentel | J Lopez | G Hernandez | H Martina | Beras |
| Franco | Pinard | L Perez | Avila | Cabrera | R DeLaCruz (38) | A Castellano | |
| Jimenez | A Castillo | Polanco | W Perez | Villar | Martines | ||
| Urena | E Rivera | Reyes | |||||
| Pasen | M Martinez | Sandoval | |||||
| A Tapia | Mercedes (L) | Encarnacion | |||||
| Herrera (L) | Uribe (L) | J Pena | |||||
| L Rosario (L) | D Rodriguez (L) | Taveras | |||||
| P Pena (L) | |||||||
| VSL (37) | |||||||
| SP | RP | C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF |
| Bier | R Alvarado | Alcala | R Perez | M Marquez | Mannbel | H Garcia | Cortez |
| Avendano | Y Gonzalez | Montero | Vargas | O Medina | Yegues | Fonseca | |
| Nieves | Guzman | Rivas | Vivas | Valera | Inojoza | ||
| Corpas | F Marquez | Viloria | Rivero | ||||
| Noguera | Solarte | Velazco | Argenal | ||||
| Rios | Orozco | ||||||
| Weffer (L) | Cedeno | ||||||
| Colorado (L) | Oraa | ||||||
| Brito | |||||||
| Ramos |
The matrix: What it is
While some of the players’ levels may look odd (four catchers in Memphis and none in Springfield, for example), they are placed where the Cardinals have assigned them. Of course, once working rosters begin to be “worked” in Jupiter in March, there will be changes, many of them.
Players with injuries that appear to be season-ending are noted with (i). The number in parentheses after each club’s name is the quantity of players assigned there.
The one area where I did make adjustments is in my view of the likely end-of-spring distribution of the players on the 40-man roster between St. Louis and Memphis. Otherwise, there wouldn’t yet be much of a roster in Triple-A. Like everything else, this will be fluid come spring. The 40-man players’ names are listed in BOLD.
(In that vein, I initially listed 26 players for St. Louis. I know that is one too many. I predict that one of the three lefty relievers isn’t going to make it and same with one of the righties. One the plus side, another infield reserve will be required. 26 minus two plus one will get us to 25, eventually.)
After some players’ names, you will see a number in parentheses. They denote my personal ranking of the player in the annual Top 40 Cardinals Prospects voting at Scout.com. (At The Birdhouse, my individual scores as shown here were weighted one-fourth in determining the final Scout.com ranking.)
What it isn’t
When assigning positions, I put players in just one column. My attempt was to acknowledge where they spent the majority of last season. For example, I know that Steven Hill and Tony Cruz are being tried behind the plate. That’s no different from last year, yet both ended up playing far more games at other positions.
For the pitchers, I started out with separate columns for the left-handed starters and relievers, but the table just became too big. So instead, I adopted the practice of placing the lefties at the end of the starters and relievers lists, designated by the letter (L).
Don’t read anything into the order of the names within any column, other than the LHPs at the end. I started alphabetically, but at the lower levels, I backed off. At this point, they have no correlation to playing time, duration on the roster or anything else. Step one was simply to get everyone in the right box.
This isn’t the final source on the spelling of players’ names. I have tried to remain consistent with what we use at Scout.com and what is designated at MiLB.com. Especially with the academy players, the information from the Cardinals themselves can even include mistakes.
Don’t forget the wealth of (free) information about each player that we maintain in the Scout.com player data base. It is too unwieldy to include and keep current every link to over 300 player profiles directly from the matrix, but do keep using the Scout profiles as the source for detailed information on individual players.
I will always designate the most current date when the matrix was last updated, but I am not planning to maintain a log of every transaction that occurs across the system all year. The good news is that I don’t have to. UConnCard already does that over on the Scout.com message board. My goal will be to stay in sync with that list of moves visually. So remember the link to the transaction log, especially if/when questions come up.
What it may be later on
Once the 2009 regular season begins, I hope to be noting players:
- on the disabled list
- sharing jobs in the tandem pitching rotations in A-ball
- performing the role of closer
Perhaps I may even undertake re-ordering the players in some sort of recognition of playing time, but that remains to be seen.
What you can do
Let me know what you think about this project. Putting in the time to create and maintain it is only of value to me if it is of value to you.
Speak up if you see errors or have questions. The more eyes over the map, the more accurate it will be.
I’d like to thank CariocaCardinal and UConnCard for being the initial set of proof-readers/correctors. In addition, jrocke217’s reports on the DSL and VSL were invaluable.
In fact, Carioca’s first comments led me to the article about the releases of Carlos Pupo, Ross Oeder and Nick Peoples. So, other good can come from this kind of project, too.
Working list of open questions:
none
Resolved:
Nick Vera, 3B, Batavia, reportedly released 7/21/08. Resolution: MiLB.com error. Vera remains in the organization.
I like. I had thought about doing something like this but really glad you beat me to it.
Very nice. It’s good to see everything listed on one page.
That quite a stable. If Glaus were to be injured, they would probably try to look at Freeze right away I’d bet. I’m sure they are looking to advance Wallace as rapidly as possible. Is this the wrong impression? Do you think they would release Glaus if the team played its way out of contention by August, just to get a good look at these 3 baggers?
Yes, I would guess that if Glaus was to be out for any reasonable period during the season, they might add Freese to the 40-man roster and call him up.
Yes, they are advancing Wallace aggressively. It will be interesting to see what they do if Wallace has a great spring. Memphis needs a first baseman, so Freese could get pushed over there if Wallace proves to be ready for Triple-A right out of the gate.
That would also put Allen Craig in a rough spot, but there aren’t enough places for them all to play unless Wallace starts in Springfield. People talk about the Memphis OF as a possibility for Craig as if there isn’t at least as big of a numbers problem there. Still, sending Craig back to Double-A for a third year would be an injustice.
No, there is no way Glaus would be released in-season (unless he gets in off-field trouble). If the Cards had a terrible season and were out of it by the end of July, I could see him as trade bait, though. (Someone would have to buy out his no-trade clause, however.) Again low odds that would play out for all those reasons.
Normally, the Cards are reluctant to add guys to the 40-man just for September call-ups, but Wallace could be the exception this year if everything goes as hoped. They need to be confident they have a ready replacement before they can let Glaus walk away for 2010. If they can pull that off, it represents another $11 million saved.
Brian, I would be willing to wager that there are no variables the gets Glaus a contract here in 2010.
If he went 45 dongs with 120 rbi’s he would elect FA over any offer they might extend. It seems, that being true, why not release him late season and let the kids platoon 3rd base. You know the Cubs are going to make another pitching move. With the Phillies and the Mets stacking, we aren’t going to make the playoffs. The one variation is if Carp makes 30 starts. I don’t see how we lose with that rotation. Brewers are history, Pirates are history, Cinnci is still lost, Houston doesn’t have the pitching right now. The division could be so weak that the Cubs intimidate up to 100 wins. Lets face it everyone knows that you can pitch around Pujols and get away with it. He is bound to be tired of ST Loey after this year.
I appreciate the concept of letting kids play at the end of a lost season. Even so, give me just one example of a club releasing a player of Glaus’ salary and productivity DURING a season. Just doesn’t happen. Especially not with a fiscally-responsible club like St. Louis, since they have to pay him either way.
Regarding Albert, no one in the media seems to know him well enough to be able to hazard an educated guess as to what he is thinking. I am sure he wants it that way. While it is harder for those of us who report news, I respect his right to keep his business to himself. Frankly, since he is still under contract for THREE more years, there are more pressing matters to be concerned about.
[...] to point you to specifically. The first, which may become invaluable during the season, is a roster matrix for the ENTIRE farm system. I’m a huge fan of other people doing work that makes my life easier and this certainly [...]
Why would they release him at the end of the season. Most likely he’ll be a type A FA and I believe they will offer him arbitration to get the 2 draft picks.
btw, Thanks Brian, this is GREAT!
Good point Card 13. They also may loath exposing them selfs to an Arbitration under those circumstances. Don’t forget Looper. Glaus if above average in production would get 12 or 13 large. If its a bad season, I’m just assuming there would be a PR blitz and an attempt to connect youth to Tony as he leaves. Are you still setting on 4mill for Welle?
Thanks, c13!
WC, I think Welle will settle for closer to my conservative $4M than Oliver Perez’ $6.5M. If Welle and his agent were to base their case on trying to equate Welle and Perez, I think they would go down in flames. But, hey, that’s just my opinion…
(For the new arrivals here at TCN, we are referring to a post from last week where I estimated 2009 salaries for the five arbitration-eligible Cardinals. Here is the link: “What might Ludwick, Ankiel, Wellemeyer, Thompson and Duncan make via arbitration?”.)
[...] few years back. Jason then moved on to the Birdhouse as a writer and shut down the site. Here’s the Link to the site and a team matrix that Walton has posted. Per Brian, the info was provided by the Cards [...]
I don’t think the numbers will show that. You’re suggesting the Cards are coming in a 3.75 to Welle’s 4.25. Not a way in hell. If they thought for a moment the the Cards would come in that low, they would ease there bid up to 5.50 and win easily.
WC, you misinterpreted my details, but not my conclusion. I did not intend to speculate at what amounts the two sides would come in. I jumped to the conclusion that the end result should be somewhere in the $3.75 to $4.25 range (conservatively) and specifically $4.0.
I understand that you disagree. Is your guesstimate $6.5? Be specific so we can see who ends up being closest to the pin.
No way 6.5. The Mets came in low, at 4.75. Boras had the median at 5.70-75. He figured right because the number was just above the median so he beat them out of an additional .75. Thats Scottie. Welle doesn’t have a future here. His agent will try to pick the Cards off, or at least make the median point to his benifit. He has got to come in above 5. I figure 5 is the median here not four. If the cards come in at 3.75 and he comes in at 6. He might win that. Its the median that is in play. Next Monday . I wrote something on the other site.
As far as Glaus goes next year, if he has a decent year at all there’s no way he accepts arbitration because he will receive a multi year deal somewhere. Just look at how few (2) actually accepted arbitration this year and it made sense to accept for several.
c13, I would take your point even one step further. Due to fear of Glaus accepting (ala Looper), I don’t think the Cards would dare offer him arbitration next winter. Given they will not get any draft picks for him might support the “why not trade him at the deadline?” line of thinking…
There is no business case for releasing Glaus. He is due $12 million this year, and if he’s released, the Cardinals would be without his services and still paying the pro-rated portion of his salary. The notion is absurd on its face. He MIGHT be traded at the deadline, but even that is doubtful. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Freese make the 25-man if he proves versatile in Spring Training, or perhaps he will spell Glaus in the event of a minor injury. But Mo has already signaled that it’s possible Mather will have Speizio’s role, with outfield, 3B and 1B in his portfolio.
If Glaus has his typical year, he will be offered arbitration and (most likely) decline, giving the Cards a first-round pick. I could see a possibility, however, of Freese being traded and an organizational hesitancy to put Wallace in full-time at the hot corner. In this instance, I could envision Glaus being given a one-year extension–worked out before the season ends, most likely.
Overall, though, the draft pick and the $11 million and change savings make a pretty compelling case to part company with the big guy.
RedC, your scenario about organizational hesitancy to bring in Wallace for 2010 is an interesting one. That is the one case in which I could see the Cards offering arbitration to Glaus, as it would be ideal backstop if they want to keep him for one year.
However, I really doubt at this stage of his career that Glaus would settle for a one-year deal for 2010, assuming he has another solid year in 2009. He will turn 34 during the 2010 season and probably realizes he might have just one more shot at a big payday before he hits his inevitable end-of-career decline.
Back to the term “organizational hesitancy” for a second. I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but is that a veiled reference to La Russa staying beyond 2009?
Brian says…
“c13, I would take your point even one step further. Due to fear of Glaus accepting (ala Looper), I don’t think the Cards would dare offer him arbitration next winter.”
Glaus having a good year and the Cards deciding to go with a younger player, not offering arbitration would be borderline idiocy.
c13, I hear you, but they didn’t offer Looper this year in a similar scenario. The rationalization was that Looper might take the comfort of a one-year deal to return to StL instead of a better, multi-year deal elsewhere. I didn’t agree with that line of thinking then, nor do I now.
Yet, I still remember a conversation I had with Mo a winter or two ago where he made it clear the Cards policy is to only offer arbitration when they really want the player back, not just to get a draft pick or two. Their behavior this winter was consistent. Likely so next time around, too.
Brian–
<…is that a veiled reference to La Russa staying beyond 2009?
Actually, no. I’ve seen quite a bit of skepticism regarding Wallace’s defense. Obviously, his bat starts in the lineup now. I understand he will get some time in left this spring to see better where he fits.
As to LaRussa, here is my great fear. Going back to the trade deadline last year, the front office has disappointed Tony. We know this, because he has gone public with his campaigns for various parts he wants on the club. I believe DeWitt is spooked by the economy– whether justified or not–and because of this, is getting cold feet about making significant moves this year. I am afraid that this pattern of failure to deliver on Tony’s wish list will result in him departing, with Dave Duncan, after this season. My grave worry is that Albert will not be extended before this happens, and will actually decide not to re-up. It is critically important that Jose Oqendo or someone else acceptable to Albert get that job if he is to be retire a Cardinal. In other words, I think DeWitt is making an incredibly stupid mistake by trying to save $15 million this year and in the process set the wheels in motion towards the dissolution of the best team in the NL Central for the past decade.
Yep, the La Russa leaving possibility and all that surrounds it are surely out there. My guess is that we will know know nothing until October but that the angst will build up throughout the season.
If I understand your point correctly, extending Pujols now would not cost $15 million extra. It would cost probably $30 million at least ($10M in each of the next three years that he is already under his current contract). Personally, I think it is at least a year too early to discuss the extension, but like TLRs contract, it is going to become a distraction all season long, I predict.
I want to come back to the Wallace point. Where did you see the proposal for him to play some left field in spring? I don’t recall having heard that. What registered with me is that the other third basemen (Freese and Craig) will be moved if necessary to ensure Wallace can play third, a position at which he has just a couple of years experience. I believe the organization is totally committed to Wallace at 3B, but if I missed something, please set me straight. A change in Wallace’s status could be significant.
(Edit: In an MLB.com story from November, Wallace says he is “fine” with left, but no mention that he has been asked to play there. Still it sounds like it is in the back of his mind. Or perhaps it is how the reporter asked the question. Hard to tell.)
(Edit #2: From a Derrick Goold piece in December: “‘Wallace and Craig will play some in the outfield because, as one official said, “you might find playing time in left field for Wallace and his bat.’” Later in the piece: “Mozeliak said the interest in having Wallace play outfield is “to create a value.”’)
So, I stand corrected on Wallace. I will still believe it when I see it.
What I meant was that DeWitt’s failure to spend the supposed $15 million we still have will lead to the rest. Though there are lots of present value type scenarios at play as well. I think in the end, you want to sign Albert as late as possible without pissing him off. Joe Strauss keeps hinting that if something isn’t done this calendar year Albert may walk.
Re Wallace: I don’t remember where I saw that, but I think he will shag a few balls in left. It’s not like we can’t find anyone to play third in Memphis or Springfield, either. I don’t have any inside information about moving Wallace next year, but there’s enough concern there that (IIRC) Jeff Luhnow mentioned he may only have a few years at third. In a defense-driven LaRussa environment that’s a bit of a concern. If TLR leaves and…Idunno…Don Mattingly or somebody comes in, who knows?
Wallace is very related to the above discussion as well, as $$ saved from Glaus’s replacement will be $$ to go towards Pujol$$$$$.
If Strauss is hinting that, has he actually has gotten Albert to talk (big news in itself) or is he just stirring the pot? I suspect the latter, but who knows? Either way, I don’t believe that anything has to be cast in stone two or three years early and that things couldn’t change in a heartbeat at any time up to the very last minute. Seems overly dramatic to me for some to be positioning it with artificial deadlines this early. It will give endless material to talk and write about, though…
Strauss is DEFINITELY stirring the pot. I doubt he knows Albert very well to begin with. He probably is doing what he always does, which is to infer things from strands of information. Usually, he’s spot on. Sometimes, especially when his sources are themselves a bit far from the center, he makes a leap. On his radio chat with Bernie last week he said the Cards should start discussions quote “tomorrow.”
I didn’t mean to come off as disparaging Strauss in any way. He is very well-connected in-season and off. However, Albert is very guarded but maybe his agent is whispering. And talk radio without controversy is… well…
Anyway, I still don’t think it is obvious the discussions should begin soon unless the club is really prepared to deal with the financial ramifications. Right now, I wonder how they can be since they are in “keeping the powder dry” mode.