Cardinals Sign JJ Wetherholt Through 2034
CARDINALS JJ WETHERHOLT SIGNED THRU 2034
TEAM’S 2024 1ST ROUND PICK PUTTING TOGETHER STELLAR ROOKIE SEASON
ST. LOUIS, MO., July 10, 2026 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that the team has agreed to an eight-year contract extension with rookie infielder JJ Wetherholt that will keep the 2024 1st round draft choice in the organization through the 2034 season.
Wetherholt, 23, has excelled in his debut season, beginning with a thrilling Opening Day and carrying that through with All-Star worthy play as a rookie.
“Since joining the Cardinals two years ago, JJ has impressed in every aspect,” said Cardinals President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom. “He is a dynamic player who produces in every facet of the game, and a true professional who is consistent, prepared, and hard-working. Equally as important, he’s a great teammate who wants to win, and he represents the organization with class both at the field and away from it. We are proud of the person JJ is and the player he continues to become, and are pleased to enter into this commitment with him. JJ is a very important part of what we are building, and we look forward to winning together for many years.”
The lefty hitting Wetherholt, playing as an everyday second baseman and leadoff batter, has produced at a high level with a .267 batting average, 13 home runs, 36 RBI and 9 stolen bases in 87 games played while leading the majors with his steady defensive play where he leads all Major League second sackers in defensive bWAR (1.5), Runs Prevented (12) and Outs Above Average (16).
Wetherholt, who ranks 4th among all National League position players with his 3.9 bWAR, owns the 2nd best runs created total (63) for N.L. second basemen and he has produced 22 hits to lead off a game, the most by a Cardinals rookie since 1985 N.L. Rookie of the Year Vince Coleman collected a franchise rookie-record 44.
JJ has already hit a Cardinals rookie record four lead-off home runs this season and his 27 multi-hit games through the team’s first 92 games are 2nd only to the 32 that Albert Pujols collected in the team’s first 92 games of his 2001 rookie campaign.
Wetherholt’s 13 home runs are the most ever by a Cardinals rookie second baseman and he’s one round-tripper shy of setting the franchise rookie mark for home runs as a lead-off batter.
The Mars, PA native, and West Virginia University alum, was the 7th overall MLB Draft selection in 2024 and was named the Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year and the Texas League (AA) Most Valuable Player in 2025.
— STL —
This is huge for a couple of reasons.
First off, it’ll buy out his arbitration years and a couple years of free agency. The deal is worth $112.5M over the course of the contract, with incentives that could take it as high as $132M. Even at max value, that’s $16.5M average annual value; this could very well be a steal for the team.
The second reason is the impending lockout. Contracts like this might be grandfathered in after the new CBA is voted in, and we don’t know what will be happening with salary cap/floor, max value contracts, etc. Having someone like Wetherholt locked up will end up helping the team.
Now, lets talk to Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson, and Ivan Herrera; those guys, along with Masyn Winn, are going to be the core of the future and have taken huge steps forward this year. Better to lock them up now than to wait for further improvements or the lockout.
