Jordan

Walker

Jordan Walker seemed like the biggest beneficiary of last night’s trade, and it still might work out that way, but it could hinge on whether this right-handed bat is someone who would start or someone who would fill in for Lars Nootbaar and/or Victor Scott II against lefties. Austin Hays and Chas McCormick are a couple of guys who could be in the Cardinals’ price range. Tommy Pham, too, but his second stint in the organization didn’t go so well.

The Cardinals will get righties Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita and will send Boston $8 million, according to Passan. Contreras, who is owed $41.5 million for the next two years or, if his option is picked up, $54 million for the next three, will apparently be waiving his no-trade clause to take over as Boston’s first baseman. That means Triston Casas could open up in Triple-A if healthy, though if he impresses in the spring, there’s also the chance the Red Sox could go with him and Contreras splitting time between first and DH. The Cardinals figure to install Alec Burleson at first, which would open an outfield spot back up for Jordan Walker alongside Lars Nootbarr and Victor Scott II. Contreras hit .257/.344/.447 with 20 homers in 135 games last season in his first year since giving up catching.

Walker’s offseason swing evaluation at Driveline revealed that his back hip was collapsing, causing him to drift forward and sap his power production last season. He said he’s feeling more optimistic after working through a series of drills designed to keep his hips back and allow him to drive the baseball again. It’s no secret the 23-year-old former top prospect hasn’t lived up to the astronomical hype yet, but the underlying metrics continue to tease big-time potential. His 92.3 mph average exit velocity and 78.1 mph bat speed last year graded out as elite-level tools — the kind you can’t fake. He’s made mechanical tweaks in previous offseasons, so it’s understandable if fantasy managers remain in wait-and-see mode. Still, the raw ingredients are here for a legitimate breakout if this latest adjustment finally unlocks his potential.

He also picked up his 10th stolen base. The homer off Caleb Thielbar was just Walker’s sixth in 392 plate appearances this season. Since the Cardinals never did send him down in spite of his struggles this season, he retains one option year going into 2026. One imagines the Cardinals will use it, assuming that they don’t trade him this winter and he doesn’t show immediate obvious improvement next spring. He’s been one of the league’s worst players in batting .217/.281/.309 and letting him try to figure things out in the majors hasn’t worked.

As a team, the Cardinals had nine hits off of Chad Patrick and company in the ballgame, with Walker and Nolan Arenado the only players to collect more than one. It has been another very rough season at the plate for the former top prospect as Walker is slashing a miserable .220/.276/.305 with five homers, 37 RBI, eight stolen bases and a 121/24 K/BB ratio over 369 plate appearances. Like many Cardinals’ outfielders, it may end up taking a change of scenery for Walker to unlock his true potential.

Burleson needed just the 10 days off to shake his right wrist inflammation. His return as a near-everyday player seems like bad news for Jordan Walker, and things will get even worse on that front when Brendan Donovan is activated.

With the Cardinals trailing 2-1, Walker was able to smack a two-run double off Ryan Walker to give St. Louis the win. Walker was hitless outside of that two-bagger and is still hitting just .216 on the season with a .676 OPS, but every once in a while, there’s a reminder that there’s a chance for a (very) bright future.

Walker had a big homer Thursday, but he’s 0-for-15 with seven strikeouts since. The Cardinals are using Nathan Church in right with Victor Scott II back patrolling center tonight.

The Cardinals had just taken a 2-1 lead on Thomas Saggese’s double when Walker made it a more comfortable margin. It was only Walker’s fifth homer in 312 plate appearances this season. He received a playing-time reprieve when Brendan Donovan and Victor Scott II went on the IL earlier this month, but with Scott almost back and Donovan still likely to return at some point, he’ll need to produce to remain a constant in the Cardinals lineup in September.

Walker opened the scoring in the ballgame with an RBI infield single off of Matthew Boyd in the second inning. He then clubbed a 434-foot (111.7 mph EV) solo shot off of Ryan Brasier in the sixth inning that extended the Cardinals’ advantage to 4-0. With his two-hit attack, the 23-year-old outfielder is now hitting .237/.291/.336 to go along with four homers and 31 RBI in what has been another disappointing campaign.