Most teams had reduced payroll considerably after the 2020 season was played in empty stadiums, and the Cardinals and other teams are just beginning to get on solid footing financially. Now, as Opening Day 2023 in Cincinnati arrives, they are desperate to squeeze the most out of the fading primes of Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt, whose $61 million in combined salaries is nearly one-third of the team’s total payroll. The Cardinals make postseason runs in both 2021 and ’22, but wind up short of their World Series dreams. Colorado is hopeful that Hudson’s unrivaled ground-ball rate will play well at Coors Field, and thinks it can build behind the three pieces it got for its disgruntled marquee player. Colorado backs off its demand for Cardinals ace Jack Flaherty, allowing St. SeGF34R26yĪrenado, desperate for a World Series shot, had been part of engineering the whole thing, texting Molina to let him know he’d like to be there for the end of Molina’s career and making his displeasure known to Rockies ownership. Open face swing from #Cardinals Ivan Herrera. The Cardinals plug strong-armed young catcher Ivan Herrera into the reserve catcher role for the rest of 2021, then Herrera takes over primary duties - under Molina’s tutelage - in 2022. Louis since Lou Brock came south from Chicago 57 years earlier.Ĭulminating talks that had begun 18 months earlier, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak trades Knizner and starting pitcher Dakota Hudson, along with reliever Junior Fernandez, to the Colorado Rockies on Jfor five-time All-Star and seven-time Gold Glove Award winner Nolan Arenado. The Cardinals happily pick up Kolten Wong’s $12.5 million option for 2021, but he signs with the New York Mets the following winter.Īlong the way, the Cardinals make the move many people had been expecting all along. The contracts of Matt Carpenter and Dexter Fowler both time out following the 2021 season, with Carpenter finishing his career in 2022 as part of a designated-hitter platoon back in his home state with the Texas Rangers and Fowler finishing as a fourth outfielder for David Ross’ Cubs. There’s an important reason the Cards extended Molina for one more year: They want him to mentor his replacement.

Molina, in his age-38 season, splits time with Andrew Knizner in 2021 and plays well enough to warrant the Cardinals picking up his $8 million option for 2022 (albeit with plenty of fan and media skepticism). Just before the 2021 season, they sign Molina to a one-year extension with an option for 2022. Meanwhile, the Cardinals are able to engineer the end of Yadier Molina’s Hall of Fame-worthy career gracefully, which is hard to do.

Louis to accept his red jacket as a member of the Cardinals Hall of Fame. Five years later, Wainwright will be back in St. In our scenario, pitcher Adam Wainwright posts a solid 1.0 fWAR season during a pandemic-shortened 2020 season, then decides to retire to his wife, five children, charitable foundation and Georgia farm. The most runs scored against them during an Opening Day game was 14 and it was played on Apversus the.

Louis Cardinalsscored the most runs (14) on Apversus the. Louis Cardinals Opening Day games were played in April? Have they ever played an Opening Day game in March? Have they even been shutout at home on Opening Day? We hope you enjoy using the charts below to review other similar Opening Day splits: Monthly Opening Day Splitsĭuring their Opening Day history, the St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day history is based upon the first game played at home during the regular season and includes (if applicable) the entire franchise history.

St louis cardinals opening day 2023