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

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/redbird-droppings-winter-meetings-day-3-as-boring-as-the-rest/
- Published: 2024-12-12T13:58:01-06:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

### **Another quick 󠀁[Redbird Droppings](https://www.nyrdcast.com/tag/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](https://www.mlb.com/news/rule-5-draft-results-2024?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage)
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](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=thomas005con,thomas003con&search=Connor+Thomas&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-12-12_br)(
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](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mosque000odd&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-12-12_br)(
LHP, Yankees), [Angel Gonzalez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gonzal010ang&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-12-12_br)(
RHP, Cubs), [Jawilme Ramirez](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=ramire000jaw&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-12-12_br)(
RHP, Mets), and [Miguel Ugueto](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=ugueto000mig&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-12-12_br)(
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](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gomez-004hen&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-12-12_br)(
RHP, Hi-A), [Trent Baker](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=baker-002tre,baker-007tre&search=Trent+Baker&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-12-12_br)(
RHP, Double-A), [Aaron McKeithan](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mckeit000aar&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-12-12_br)(
C, Double-A), [Brandon Komar](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=komar-000bra&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-12-12_br)(
RHP, Double-A), [Lizandro Espinoza](https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=espino000liz&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-12-12_br)(
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](https://www.baseball-reference.com/search/search.fcgi?pid=thompza02,thomps022zac&search=Zack+Thompson&utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-12-12_br);
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](https://stlpinchhits.com/cardinals/cardinals-put-finishing-touches-on-2024-international-class-by-signing-cuban-pitcher/article_24c25f27-7035-5b48-afc8-8f4a56ba97b9.html)
   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](https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2024/12/9/24316708/meet-ryan-vilade)
   profiles minor league signee [Ryan Vilade](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/v/viladry01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-12-12_br).
 * [Redbird Rants](https://redbirdrants.com/what-is-nolan-arenado-s-value-and-how-does-that-play-into-the-cardinals-trade-talks)
   looks at [Nolan Arenado](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arenano01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.nyrdcast.com&utm_campaign=2024-12-12_br)‘
   s value.
 * [Wednesday’s With Walton](https://thecardinalnation.com/wednesday-with-walton-and-newberry-december-11-2024/)

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

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