St. Louis

Cardinals

Hampton is a worthwhile zero-risk pickup for the Orioles since he was one of the top pitching prospects for the division-rival Yankees just a few years ago before injuries derailed his career. The 25-year-old spent time with the Nationals and Cardinals at the end of last year following New York’s decision to finally move on. He’s a literally lottery ticket at this point of his development.

Fleming began last season with the Blue Jays before signing a minor league deal with the Cubs and then another minor league deal with the Cardinals in August after he was released by the Cubs. The 30-year-old posted a 4.01 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 82/24 K/BB ratio in 112 1/3 innings at Triple-A across all three organizations.

Stanek’s 4.02 ERA in 70 appearances last season was his low mark since he came in at 1.15 for the 2022 Astros. The Cardinals, though, are going to buy him out for $1 million instead of paying him $6 million for 2027.

Peete has been the star of the Arizona Fall League so far. The 21-year-old is hitting .365/.459/.731 in 13 games with two home runs, four triples, nine RBI, 10 steals, and a 15/9 K/BB ratio. Peete missed two months of the 2026 season with an illness, but he has a real chance to start 2027 at Triple-A and be just one step away from making his MLB debut. He’s looking like a major win for the Cardinals, who acquired him from the Mariners for Brendan Donovan last offseason.

Estrellas is well stocked with Cardinals this winter; Rincón got to throw to Leo Bernal in his appearance last night, the lead he was handed was in part supplied by a two-run triple from Cesar Prieto. Rincón has allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings to date.

Seems like the Cardinals are really dropping the ball here. Brown was hired following a 2024 season in which the Cardinals ranked 22nd in MLB in scoring. They climbed to 19th in 2025 and 17th this year despite shedding personnel, as Jordan Walker busted out and Alec Burleson and Iván Herrera continued their steadier climbs. On the other hand, guys like Nolan Gorman, Masyn Winn and Victor Scott II have regressed. Aside from Brown, the rest of the Cardinals’ coaching staff is expected to remain intact, though that could change if bench coach Daniel Descalso gets interviews for managerial openings.

Four straight games with a triple is pretty cool. It’s a feat pulled off only once in MLB this century, that by Nomar Garciaparra in 2003. Peete is batting .348/.423/.674 and is 7-for-9 stealing bases through 11 games.

Peete was everywhere in this one. The 21-year-old now has six steals, three doubles, and two triples in AFL action, while hitting .361 with a 1.091 OPS. Peete, who came over in an offseason trade for Brendan Donovan, missed over two months this season with an illness, but finished the year strong at Double-A. He figures to start there again in 2027, but a hot start, paired with his strong AFL results, could lead to a Triple-A promotion in short order.

Bernal, whose impressive late-season audition should make him a strong candidate for the Cardinals’ 2027 roster, struck out in his other three at-bats. The homer was a 106-mph rocket that knocked Aaron Brooks out of the game in the fourth.

Peete is a 2023 first-round pick of the Seattle Mariners who was traded to the Cardinals in the Brendan Donovan deal. He has gone 6-for-14 in three games in the AFL with a home run, two RBI, and three steals. On the season, he hit .296/.359/.549 in 66 games across two levels while registering 13 home runs and 16 steals. He ended the season with 21 games at Double-A and will likely begin 2027 there as well.