The 2024 St. Louis Cardinals season was the 143rd season for the St. Louis Cardinals, a Major League Baseball franchise in St. Louis, Missouri. It was the 133rd season for the Cardinals in the National League and their 19th at Busch Stadium III.
The Cardinals improved on their 71–91 record from the previous season, but on September 20, they were eliminated from postseason contention.
Season standings National League Central
National League Wild Card
Record vs. opponents Record vs. National League
Record vs. American League
Previous season The Cardinals finished the 2023 season 71–91, which was good for a .438 winning percentage. The season was the first losing one for St. Louis since the 2007 season, and finishing twenty games below .500 resulted in the Cardinals finishing last in their division for the first time since the 1990 season. The Cardinals also missed the postseason for the first time since the 2018 season, snapping a four-year postseason appearance streak.
Offseason As announced before the start of the season, 42-year old Adam Wainwright retired after an 18-year career with the Cardinals, which included three All-Star selections, two Gold Gloves, a Silver Slugger, and four top-three Cy Young Award finishes. Despite struggling with both injury and performance his final season, Wainwright was able to join the 200 win club which he achieved through a 1–0 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers on September 18, 2023.
The team added former Cardinals' infielder Daniel Descalso (2010–14) as its new bench coach on November 20, 2023, replacing Joe McEwing who got a job in the front office, assisting president of baseball operations John Mozeliak.
To start the offseason, it was made clear by John Mozeliak that the Cardinals were looking to add two or three starting pitchers to the 2024 squad, either by trade or free agency. This objective was a result of the very poor performance of the team's pitching in 2023, who combined for the 7th-worst ERA in the league at 4.79, numerous injuries during the season, and the departing of several starters at the trade deadline and end of season, including Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty, and Adam Wainwright.
On November 21, 2023, the team officially announced that former Cardinals' starter Lance Lynn, 36 (2011–15, 2017) will return in a one-year deal for $11 million, with performance incentives and a 2025 club option. The same day, the team signed Kyle Gibson, 36, a former Missouri Tigers college pitcher (2006) to a one-year deal for $12 million, also with a 2025 club option.
On November 27, 2023, it was announced by Jon Heyman on X and later confirmed by the club that starting pitcher Sonny Gray, 34, had been signed to a three-year deal for $75 million, which also includes a fourth-year 2027 club option that includes a $5 million buyout, and a no-trade clause. Gray had a spectacular 2023 campaign, which resulted in an 8–8 record over 32 starts with a 2.79 ERA, his third All-Star selection, and a 2nd-place finish in AL Cy Young voting. Later that day, Gray was officially introduced to media and signed.
On November 30, former Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina turned down an offer from the Cardinals to be a full-time coach for the catchers because of family matters. It was thought it would have been beneficial for the young backup catcher, Iván Herrera, and Willson Contreras for help in game planning, and get familiar with the pitching staff. Molina could agree to be a full-time coach in 2025.
On December 5, the Cardinals in the second annual draft lottery for the 2024 Major League Baseball draft, will get the #7 draft pick that initially projected them with the #5 pick.
The Rule 5 draft on December 6, at the Winter Meetings, the Cardinals selected RHP Ryan Fernandez, 25, 6-ft, 0-in., 170-lbs., from Boston.
On the same day, retired Cardinals' Gold Glove catcher Yadier Molina agreed to be a Special Assistant to the president of baseball operations John Mozeliak. Mozeliak said in his explanation of his duties, "It's not going to be catching-specific, but that will be his forte. But if he can help pitchers or even spend time with coaches and share his wisdom, that's the point of this."
On December 8, the Cardinals traded frequently-injured OF'er Tyler O'Neill (72G in 2023, 96G in 2022) to the Boston for two pitchers: RH reliever Nick Robertson, 25 (6-ft. 6-in., 265-lbs.), and minor league RH prospect Victor Santos, 23 (6-ft. 1-in., 222-lbs). Robertson was added to the 40-man roster, while Santos will be assigned to a minor league roster later.
On December 11, the team finalized its coaching staff in adding a new coaching position, the Assistant Pitching Coach. They hired former Cardinals' LH reliever Dean Kiekhefer (2016). He was pitching coach for Single-A Palm Beach in 2021, and assistant pitching coordinator for player development in 2022 and 2023. The Cardinals have also promoted Daniel "DC" MacLea to the staff as the major league Coordinator, Technology and Systems. MacLea has been with the Cardinals since 2018, first as a performance specialist from 2018 to 2021 and then as technology integration coordinator for player development in 2022–23.
On January 5, 2024, the team acquired RH reliever Andrew Kittredge, 33 (34 on Mar 17) for corner OF'er Richie Palacios in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. Kittredge was 2–0, 3.09 ERA, 14 games, 6 GF, 1 Save, 2 BB, and 10 SO in 11.2 IP (1.200 WHIP). He was an All-Star in 2021, before missing parts of 2022 and 2023, returning in August 2023 from Tommy John surgery. He held opponents to a 0.683 O-OPS (0.300 O-OBP% + 0.383 O-SLG%), and a 0.255 O-BA in his 14 games.
On January 8, the Cardinals hired Chaim Bloom, 40, as an advisor to John Mozeliak. Bloom was the Boston Red Sox's chief baseball officer from 2019–2023. He will work under Mozeliak, advising on a variety of baseball operations areas. Mozeliak said in explaining the move, "I have known Chaim for a long time and feel that this is a great opportunity for the St. Louis Cardinals. It will be good to get an outside perspective of our organization from someone who is as well-respected as Chaim. Having a fresh set of eyes on all aspects of our baseball operations should be helpful." Before he became Boston's chief baseball officer, Bloom spent 15 years (2005–19) in the Tampa Bay Rays' baseball operations department, including the final three as the club's senior vice president of baseball operations.
On January 19, former Cardinals' player (2011–2021) LH-hitting Matt Carpenter, 38, signed a one-year deal for $740,000 to be a DH. In 2023, he hit .176 over 76 games with San Diego, then Carpenter was traded to the Atlanta Braves on December 15 before being released three days later. He was an NL All-Star in 2013, 2014 and 2016. To make room for him on the 40-man roster, the Cardinals transferred RH-reliever James Naile to the KIA Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization for cash considerations. Carpenter will likely be in a battle with Alec Burleson and Luken Baker for the final spot on the 26-man roster.
On January 22, the Cardinals avoided arbitration with CF Tommy Edman, with a two-year deal worth a reported $16.5 million. "Tommy's strong fundamental play, athleticism and versatility remain a valuable asset that we view as an important part of our team identity," said president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak. Edman can now shift his focus to fully recovering from the arthroscopic surgery he had on his ailing right wrist following the 2023 season. He hit .248 with 13 home runs and a team-high 27 stolen bases in 2023, while making starts at shortstop (46), second base (40), center field (37) and right field (six). His stellar defensive versatility in 2023 made him a Gold Glove finalist for the third straight season. His 89 stolen bases over the past three seasons are tied for the second most in the Majors with Trea Turner and Starling Marte, behind only Ronald Acuña Jr. (119).
On February 3, the Cardinals signed free agent RH-reliever Keynan Middleton, 30, to a one-year reported $6 million contract, with a club option for 2025, for a possible $11 million total. The buyout for 2025 is $1 million. He struck out 17 batters in innings and compiled a 1.88 ERA with the Yankees late last season. The Yankees acquired him from the Chicago White Sox just before the trade deadline last July. In his total of 51 games, he was 2–2 and a 3.38 ERA, with 64 strikeouts in 50.2 IP. His signing adds to the team's need for more swing-and-miss presence out of the bullpen.
Spring training The Cardinals signed veteran shortstop, free agent LH Brandon Crawford, 37, on February 27, on a one-year deal. As insurance behind rookie Masyn Winn, who hit .172 in 2023. Crawford spent his entire 13-year career with the San Francisco Giants, a three-time All-Star, and four-time Gold Glove winner. He is a career .250 hitter. Crawford batted .194 with a .273 on-base percentage in 2023, in an injury-marred season in which he played just 94 games. Crawford said about backing-up Winn, "I'm here to help him out any way I can and obviously help the team any way I can, also. That's what was appealing." The deal was worth a reported $2 million. To make room for Crawford on the 40-man roster, infielder Buddy Kennedy was designated for assignment.
On March 14, center fielder Tommy Edman will start the season on the IL due to lingering inflammation and swelling in his right wrist, recovering from wrist surgery in November 2023. He will soon be put on the 10-day IL. He is a former Gold Glove second baseman, was projected to be St. Louis' starting center fielder after playing 42 error-free games there late in the 2023 season. He had surgery on his right wrist in early October when the season ended, but he has yet to make much significant progress because of lingering inflammation and swelling. Edman, who recently got second and third opinions on the soundness of the wrist structurally, has yet to hit live pitching, and batting from the right side causes the most pain in his wrist. He signed a two-year extension in January. Dylan Carlson can stake his claim as St. Louis' Opening Day starter in center field. Rookie speedster Victor Scott II, who has gone from the No. 29 prospect in the Cardinals' system to No. 4, per MLB Pipeline could also compete for the position. Scott won a Gold Glove and stole 94 bases in the Minor Leagues in 2023. The Cardinals are already without Lars Nootbaar, the projected starting left fielder. He recently fractured two ribs on his left side while trying to make a twisting, turning catch in left field. His status for Opening Day remains unclear.
On March 15, the Cardinals extended manager's Oliver Marmol, 37, contract from the end of this year through 2026. Marmol's original three-year deal signed in late-2021 after replacing fired manager Mike Shildt was set to expire at season's end. President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak said on why the sudden extension now, "We believe in them. To go into the season with a ... lame-duck manager just seemed to be the wrong strategy given the fact that with the roster we've assembled, we believe we're going to be competitive."
On March 16, manager Oliver Marmol announced that RH-reliever Keynan Middleton, 30, will be shut down for 10 days and start the season on the 15-day IL from his right forearm strain. Middleton last pitched on March 7, with lingering pain in his right arm for several days. Middleton was one of the Cardinals' two primary additions to the bullpen this offseason. His injury opens opportunities for newcomers Riley O'Brien, Ryan Fernandez, or Nick Robertson to potentially make the Opening Day roster. Fernandez is a Rule 5 pick and must stay on the roster all season or be offered back to the Red Sox should he clear waivers.