RADIO
Joshua Baez a Must-Stash with Open Role on MLB Roster
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez remains one of the top bats to stash in fantasy, and with the departure of Lars Nootbaar at the trade deadline, there is one less roadblock to playing time with the big league club. The Cardinals' third-ranked prospect is 11-for-30 (.367) over his last eight games, with eight of those 11 hits going for extra bases (five doubles, three home runs), while adding three more steals to his season total. On the year, the former second-round draft pick is slashing .251/.325/.573 with 32 home runs, which are the most at Triple-A this season; he's also added 18 steals. While the strikeout rate remains elevated at 29.9 percent, the power is undeniable, and along with his speed, the 6-foot-3 slugger makes for a highly coveted waiver wire stash in all fantasy leagues, who should make his MLB debut in the coming weeks.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Jordan Walker Scratched on Tuesday With Knee Inflammation
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker (knee) has been scratched from Tuesday's starting lineup against the New York Yankees in the Bronx due to right-knee inflammation, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. With Walker sitting out, Nelson Velazquez will start in right field for the Red Birds and will bat cleanup against Yankees left-hander Ryan Weathers. Until we know more about Walker's condition, the 24-year-old right-handed power hitter will be deemed day-to-day. Fantasy managers will be crossing their fingers that it's not a serious injury that will send the former first-rounder to the injured list, as he's been one of the most valuable outfielders in the game in what has been a breakout campaign for him in 2026. Walker entered Tuesday's action with a .285/.343/.491 slash line, .834 OPS, 22 home runs, 81 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and 68 runs scored in 111 games across 475 plate appearances. While Walker has still been valuable all year, he has just seven home runs in June and July compared to 15 long balls in the first two months of the year. Check back on Walker's status on Wednesday.
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Derrick Goold
Alec Burleson Hits Three Homers, Drives in Six Runs in Win Over Yankees
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman/outfielder Alec Burleson was nearly all the offense the Cardinals needed in Monday's 13-7 win over the hosting New York Yankees in the Bronx. Burleson had a day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with three home runs, six RBI, and a strikeout to boost his season average to .288 and his OPS to .830. As a controllable young slugger, Burleson was getting calls from other teams on the trade deadline on Monday, but the Cardinals elected not to move him, and they're probably pretty happy with that decision. The 27-year-old left-handed slugger is now up to a .288/.350/.480 slash line this year with 18 home runs and 77 RBI for the Red Birds. Burleson was money in July, going 31-for-106 (.293) with two home runs, seven doubles, 14 RBI, 15 runs scored, and a stolen base in 28 games played, but the knock against him is that he's hitting just .194 (26-for-134) with three of his 18 homers against lefties and his poor defensive metrics. His advanced hitting metrics support his overall production, though, as he comes in with a .296 expected batting average and .379 xwOBA.
Source: MLB.com
Source: MLB.com
Diamondbacks Acquire Lars Nootbaar From the Cardinals
The Arizona Diamondbacks added outfield depth at Monday's Aug. 3 trade deadline by acquiring outfielder Lars Nootbaar from the St. Louis Cardinals, according to ESPN's Jorge Castillo and Alden Gonzalez. Nootbaar will head to the National League West after hitting just .234/.333/.354 with a .688 OPS, three home runs, 16 RBI, 22 runs scored, and a stolen base in 48 games and 183 plate appearances this year in his sixth season with the Cardinals. The 28-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder got a late start to the year after recovering from offseason surgery on both of his heels. Despite not really standing out offensively this year in St. Louis, Nootbaar should have a regular role in the Snakes' outfield because of injuries to all of Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (thigh), Tommy Troy (shoulder), and Jordan Lawlar (hamstring). Nootbaar has always teased power/speed upside, but he has not panned out in the big leagues thanks to injuries. He's hitting only .133 (4-for-30) with one of his three homers against lefty pitchers, and Nootbaar could lose playing time as Arizona's outfield gets healthy. Nootbaar is rostered in just 2% of Yahoo leagues.
Source: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
Source: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
Joshua Baez has Clear Path to MLB At-Bats Following Trade
St. Louis Cardinals top outfield prospect Joshua Baez could now find himself on the fast track to the big leagues for the remainder of the 2026 season after the team traded outfielder Lars Nootbaar to the Arizona Diamondbacks at the Aug. 3 deadline on Monday. Baez is considered St. Louis' No. 3 prospect and the No. 44 overall prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. The 23-year-old former second-rounder in 2021 has hit .251/.324/.577 with a .901 OPS, 32 home runs, 83 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and 73 runs scored in 95 games and 426 plate appearances at Triple-A Memphis this year. Baez can play center field and right field, which will give the Cardinals more options when they decide to bring him up, but with Nootbaar now out of the picture in center, it would not be a surprise if Baez is called up from the farm sooner rather than later. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound right-handed hitter's raw power and speed upside make him worth stashing in even single-year formats if you have room on your bench. Baez is an obvious candidate for 30 homers and 20 steals at the big-league level.
Source: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
Source: ESPN.com - Jorge Castillo
Alec Burleson a Trade Candidate at the Deadline?
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman/outfielder Alec Burleson is one of "the most popular controllable bats on the trade market," a source told Jon Morosi of the MLB Network. There is still time for Burleson to get traded before Monday's Aug. 3 deadline, but it remains to be seen if a contending team will offer the Cardinals enough to get something done. The 27-year-old left-handed slugger is under team control for two more years after 2026, which makes him pretty attractive, especially since he goes into Monday's action with a .284/.347/.458 slash line, .805 OPS, 15 home runs, 71 RBI, 57 runs scored, and three stolen bases in 111 games and 472 plate appearances in 2026 in his fifth year in the majors with the Cardinals. Burleson needs only seven more home runs to set a new career high in that department, and his .805 OPS is a career best. The former second-rounder from East Carolina University hit .293 (31-for-106) with a .751 OPS in 28 games in July, but he's batting just .194 (26-for-134) with two of his 15 homers on the year against left-handers, and his future is likely as a full-time DH.
Source: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
Source: MLB Network - Jon Morosi
Joshua Baez Crushes Home Run No. 32 as MLB Debut Nears
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez launched his 32nd home run of the Triple-A regular season on Thursday evening. Facing Jacksonville, the outfielder went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Baez has enjoyed a recent power surge at Memphis, hitting four long balls over his last 11 contests. On the season, the No. 48-ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline's recent update has carried a .251/.323/.577 slash line with a dominant .900 OPS. He has swiped an impressive 16 bags and added another 19 doubles with three triples. With the Cardinals now expected to entertain offers on some veteran pieces, including outfielder Lars Nootbaar, Baez's MLB debut could come shortly after the deadline. His five-category appeal makes him a top stash target across all formats.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Joshua Baez Continuing to Mash at Triple-A Memphis
St. Louis Cardinals prospect Joshua Baez has surpassed the 30 homer plateau this year at Triple-A Memphis as he continues to make a case for promotion to the big league club. Baez now has 31 homers and 77 RBIs in 360 at bats while hitting .244 with 69 runs scored and 15 stolen bases. The overall numbers for the former second-round pick are outstanding and now might be the time to stash the right-handed power hitter. In his past two games, Baez has hit homers, making it now or never to make a waiver wire move on the minor-league stud. The batting average in July is only .167 for Baez, but the power numbers have more than made up for it. The Cardinals could use a power boost and Baez can easily provide that given the call. He will have to improve the overall hitting but the power will play at the next level.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
July Skid Puts MLB Debut in Question for Joshua Baez
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez has endured a tough skid in July, which has delayed his eventual MLB debut. Since the start of the month, the young slugger in the St. Louis system has carried a modest .138/.239/.328 line. During this 15-game stretch, he has not shown his typical high-end power potential, hitting only three home runs, including a grand slam on July 17 and a two-home run effort on July 2. On the season, Baez has hit 29 home runs and even swiped 15 bags while holding a .241/.313/.551 line with a .864 OPS. While this stretch at the plate likely delayed an immediate promotion, his high-end five-category promotion keeps him at the top of most stash boards ahead of Week 18. He would immediately emerge as a must-start option for fantasy as soon as he earns the call.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Tai Peete Red-Hot in Return to High-A Peoria
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Tai Peete is on fire since returning to High-A Peoria with two homers and six RBI in four games back from injury. Peete was recovering from a concussion and has done so nicely. He has played three games on a rehab assignment with the FCL Cardinals but has spent the rest of the season at Peoria. With Peoria, Peete has racked up seven homers and 30 RBI to go with 28 runs scored while hitting .281. At age 20, Peete checks in at No. 17 on the Cardinals' top prospects list. He received a 55-grade power and 60-grade run tool, so he has the potential for fantasy production. He might need some time to progress through the minors, though, at such a young age. A dynasty prospect for sure, it is worth monitoring Peete's progress in the minors, and he could see time in St. Louis in a year or two.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Joshua Baez Powering Up at Triple-A Memphis
Following a grand slam in a game for Triple-A Memphis over the weekend, St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez continued to build his case for a big league promotion. The power numbers for the talented outfielder look gaudy on the season for Memphis as he has racked up 29 homers and 79 RBI to go with 65 runs while hitting .245. Baez has a four-homer game to his name as he showed off his power potential. Baez, the No. 3 overall prospect in the Cardinals' system, could be a difference maker in fantasy circles over the second half of the season. The right-handed hitting, former second-round pick, is a proven power bat that can benefit the Cardinals and fantasy teams, he just needs an opportunity to play at the big-league level. If Baez is still available in your league, rush to the waiver wire to add him.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Joshua Baez's MLB Debut Remains Within Reach After 473-Foot Grand Slam
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez turned in another show-stopping performance at Triple-A Memphis as his MLB debut approaches. On Friday evening, the young outfielder went 1-for-4 with a 473-foot grand slam against Iowa. While Baez has been very impressive at Triple-A this season, he has hit a somewhat cold slump at the plate. Over his last 15 contests (including Friday's game), Baez has posted a low .121/.200/.310 line with just three long balls and a stolen base. However, prior to this skid, the 23-year-old held a much-higher .275/.345/.634 line with 14 doubles, 26 home runs and 13 stolen bases. Even though there is not a clear spot for him in the St. Louis outfield, his high-end five-category potential makes him a priority stash across all formats ahead of Week 17.
Source: MLB Pipeline
Source: MLB Pipeline
Does Triple-A Call Up Mean Chase Davis is Inching his Way Toward Majors?
St. Louis Cardinals prospect Chase Davis has done most of his damage this year at Double-A Springfield with eight homers and 24 RBI to go with 24 runs scored and nine stolen bases, but he just recently got the call-up to Triple-A Memphis. The first-round pick out of Arizona has spent a bit of time this year injured and has rehabbed at High-A and Rookie ball. He has shown off the speed that makes him a five-tool contributor. The 24-year-old outfielder is not ranked among St. Louis' top overall prospects, but he was the No. 21 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. The left-handed hitter is putting up solid numbers in the minors but will have to prove himself at Triple-A before he can put his best foot forward towards a big league call-up. The St. Louis outfield of Jordan Walker, Nathan Church, and Lars Nootbaar seems pretty set, but if Davis continues to make waves, he could force his way to the majors.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
Jordan Walker Disappoints Philly Crowd, Wins 2026 Home Run Derby
In a stunning final round of the 2026 Home Run Derby in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park on Monday night, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker came back to stun Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber to win the event on his final swing, according to MLB.com's Theo DeRosa and Brent Maguire. Walker silenced the relentless Philly crowd by homering on each of his final four do-or-die swings to take home the title, his first ever. The 24-year-old right-handed slugger crushed a dozen homers in the final round to win it, homering on his final six swings to stun the hometown crowd. Walker entered this year's Home Run Derby as one of the biggest underdogs in the field, having never competed in the HR Derby. On 27 total swings on the night, he hit 19 homers, including 13 in the first round. In the process, he became the first Cardinals player ever to win a HR Derby. After teasing high-end power upside for years as one of the top prospects in baseball, Walker has finally put it all together in 2026, batting .294/.354/.532 with an .887 OPS, 22 home runs, 74 RBI, 62 runs, and 13 stolen bases in his 357 at-bats in the first half of 2026.
Source: MLB.com - Theo DeRosa and Brent Maguire
Source: MLB.com - Theo DeRosa and Brent Maguire
Joshua Baez Still Worth a Stash Despite Decreased Power Output?
St. Louis Cardinals outfield prospect Joshua Baez remains a priority name to monitor in fantasy circles even as his batting average has taken a bit of a dive in July, along with his power output. Nonetheless, Baez still has 28 homers and 69 RBI for Triple-A Memphis this season, despite a July in which he hit just .147 over 34 at-bats with two homers, both of which came in the same game. The slow July has come as a bit of a surprise to Baez, who has consistently hit with power at Memphis all season. Baez has posted an OPS of .894, the best of his minor league career, and remains a name worth paying attention to over the second half of the season. The Cardinals outfield of Jordan Walker, Nathan Church, and Lars Nootbaar is pretty steady, but Baez, the Cardinals' No. 3 overall prospect, could add some depth and punch to the lineup. If and when Baez gets the call to the big leagues, the power and speed should translate for fantasy managers, making him a priority stash in all standard leagues.
Source: Minor League Baseball
Source: Minor League Baseball
