Redbird Droppings: Winter Meetings Day 3…As Boring As The Rest

Another quick Redbird Droppings

As Cardinal fans, this might have been the most boring Winter Meetings we’ve ever seen. No signings, no trades, no Rule V picks. Just rumors of Arenado being shopped. At least we pick 5th in the draft…

Rule V Results
The Rule V draft was about as entertaining for the Cardinals as the winter meetings have been as a whole; they took no one in the Major League portion and lost Connor Thomas (LHP) to Milwaukee. Thomas showed some promise a few seasons ago at Memphis and the Arizona Fall League and was added to the 40-man after the 2022 season; he was outrighted off the roster after 2023 without seeing an MLB game.

He’s a smaller pitcher that won’t blow people away; he does have good sink on his 2-seam and generates a lot of groundballs. He’ll slot into the Brewers’ bullpen for 2025, if he sticks on the roster.

In the minor league portion, the Cardinals took Oddanier Mosqueda (LHP, Yankees), Angel Gonzalez (RHP, Cubs), Jawilme Ramirez (RHP, Mets), and Miguel Ugueto (OF, Red Sox); of the 4, only Mosqueda has played above High A for an extended period.

Mosqueda is an undersized lefty that hits low 90s with a fastball and has a good curve; he’s organizational depth and probably won’t ever see the majors. Gonzalez is more interesting, as he can throw high 90s; he doesn’t have much as far as secondary pitches and struggles with command. Ramirez throw low 90s with a decent slider and change, but all of his pitches are pretty average; he saw a little time in Triple A and the Arizona Fall League this season. Ugueto has a lot of raw power, but the bat has a lot to be desired; strictly a left-fielder or 1B-type if the power develops and he can start recognizing pitches.

The Cardinals lost Henry Gomez (RHP, Hi-A), Trent Baker (RHP, Double-A), Aaron McKeithan (C, Double-A), Brandon Komar (RHP, Double-A), Lizandro Espinoza (SS, Lo-A), and Agusto Calderon (RHP, Hi-A).

A lot of turnover and not much to be excited about either way (depending on how you feel about Thomas).

Cardinals Get Additional Option
MLB awarded the Cardinals a 4th option year on Zack Thompson; typically players get 3 option years where they can be sent down to the minors without being exposed to waivers. Basically Thompson hasn’t been on the active roster enough since becoming a profession to be out of options.

So the Cardinals can send Thompson back to Memphis for one more year, if he doesn’t have a spot on the roster, without exposing him to the other 29 teams.

Quick Hits:

• The Cardinals made one under-the-radar signing on Day 2: 19 year-old Jan Ewing Cabrera. He’s a projectable right-hander who pitched in Cuba; he’s the final international signee for the 2024 class. He received a $250k bonus.
• Viva El Birdos profiles minor league signee Ryan Vilade.
• Redbird Rants looks at Nolan Arenado‘s value.
• Wednesday’s With Walton

I’m hoping to be back next week with some more Cardinals news and rumors.