Cardinals Reunite With Outfield Veteran After Joshua Baez Update

Aug 20, 2026 06:30 PM - 1 hour ago 1

The St. Louis Cardinals' outfield image has changed considerably arsenic the statement has watched young talent statesman to unit its measurement into the awesome convention speech during an ongoing rebuild.

Joshua Baez's emergence was peculiarly notable successful a record-setting rookie debut, instantly giving the Cardinals different intriguing action arsenic they measure their semipermanent lineup.

And Baez's emergence has been particularly awesome considering wherever his imaginable banal stood only a mates of years ago.

“Baez, 23, spent 4 weeks connected the Development List backmost successful August 2024 and past grinded pinch the Cardinals’ subordinate improvement unit that offseason,” Josh Jacobs noted for MLB.com. “He emerged looking for illustration a wholly different imaginable successful 2025. Entering past season, Baez wasn’t moreover among the Cardinals’ Top 30 Prospects, according to MLB Pipeline. Yet by the extremity of the season, he was a Top 100 imaginable successful the sport, debuting astatine No. 59.”

That advancement has created a much crowded outfield image for St. Louis. But that didn’t support the Cardinals from quickly reuniting pinch a seasoned organizational outfielder who was released earlier this summer.

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The Cardinals person re-signed outfielder Bligh Madris to a insignificant convention contract, according to the charismatic transaction log. Notably, the move comes conscionable complete a period aft the statement released him, giving the 30-year-old different opportunity to stay successful the statement and supply extent down the club's younger options.

Surprisingly enough, the Cardinals felt he should get different look contempt a mediocre stint astatine the sheet that pushed him overseas — a sojourn that didn’t nutrient encouraging results either.

“Madris is backmost pinch the Cardinals aft hitting .175 (11-for-63) pinch 4 homers successful 17 games for the SSG Landers successful Korea,” George Bissell noted for NBC Sports. “The 30-year-old outfielder hasn’t appeared successful the fields since the 2024 campaign. He’s simply organizational extent astatine this shape of his career.”

Madris’ awesome convention acquisition includes stints pinch the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers, though his wide accumulation has been limited. He has a profession .204/.273/.286 slash statement pinch 2 location runs and 12 RBI crossed 206 profession at-bats.

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St Louis Cardinals’ Joshua Baez Changes Cardinals' Outfield Picture

Based connected the capacity data, Madris' return is little astir competing straight pinch Baez than it is astir giving St. Louis different knowledgeable action while the statement determines which young players beryllium successful its early plans.

Baez's emergence has made that information progressively interesting. A imaginable who erstwhile fell extracurricular the organization's Top 30 has quickly climbed the ladder, and his improvement has fixed the Cardinals a morganatic young outfield action to build around.

For Madris, meanwhile, the reunion represents different opportunity to support his master profession moving. His awesome convention way grounds is modest, but his acquisition and expertise to play aggregate positions springiness St. Louis immoderate security arsenic it navigates the remainder of the season.