The Cardinals' best extension candidate isn't who you think it is

The St. Louis Cardinals have historically been among MLB’s most financially consistent teams. This year, that mark took a major downturn. 

Amidst a new front office and what was deemed a “rebuilding season,” it made sense to pull back on payroll and let the young guns play. 

That’s exactly what POBO Chaim Bloom did, as the Cardinals slot 28th in baseball for payroll, only ahead of the Miami Marlins and Cleveland Guardians. 

All of this extra space on the payroll will need to be filled eventually. The Redbirds have functioned best when they land around the top-10 in payroll rankings–28th isn’t going to cut it long term. 

Free agents can always increase spending, but with the recent uptick in internal talent, some fans are more inclined to look towards the minor leagues.

The division-rival Brewers extended a few of their more prominent pieces this year–before their respective debuts–in Cooper Pratt and Luis Lara; could St. Louis take a page out of their cookbook with their own budding backstop? 

Should the Cardinals extend Rainiel Rodriguez before he debuts?

The St. Louis Cardinals have a 19-year-old catcher who just won Baseball America’s MiLB player of the year award: Rainiel Rodriguez. 

The catcher/first baseman/designated hitter has been nicknamed “The Hulk” for his gargantuan blasts and his emphatic play style. 

Usually, with power-hitting prospects like this, strikeouts are a regularity and can get in the way of the A-swing. 

Rodriguez has a decidedly sound approach for his young age, and he pairs it with immense upside. 

This season the phenom slashed .324/.413/.574 between High-A and Double-A, and helped push the Springfield Cardinals all the way to the championship this season. 

Rodriguez is also projected to stick behind home plate. A catcher who can bash 27 home runs and 30 doubles sounds mighty fine to me. 

The biggest hesitancy for any extension of this caliber should be certainty. The Cardinals seem uncertain which mouths to feed moving forward. 

Jordan Walker looked like he’d become one of baseball’s best hitters in the first half; since then, he’s posted an OPS well below .700. 

The same can be said for Ivan Herrera’s 2026 season, and for JJ Wetherholt’s. There’s no doubt St. Louis is riddled with talent, but which talent is foundational and which is not?

Rodriguez looks like he’s got a chance to be something special in Redbird lore. And if St. Louis wants to keep him around for the long haul, a contract would need to be in play now. 

The Cardinals have never been the team to hand out the biggest check, and if they’ve got a superstar in their midst, they’ll have to sign for projectability before they see results. 

Otherwise, Rodriguez could become just the next player to slip through the Cardinals’ fingers. He’s sure to make an impact, but for how long? And when? 

All is to say: St. Louis has money to spend, and youngsters in bulk. If it were my money? I’d extend The Hulk. 

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