Cardinals reshape front office amid playoff push and roster investment
Cardinals promote Chaim Bloom to president of baseball operations and name Bill DeWitt III CEO.
Event / Sports
JJ Wetherholt Cardinals Extension
St. Louis Cardinals sign rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt to an eight-year, $112.5 million extension after his strong debut season.
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2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 11 Jul, 01:29 UTC
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What happened
St. Louis Cardinals sign JJ Wetherholt to eight-year, $112.5 million extension
The St. Louis Cardinals agreed to an eight-year, $112.5 million contract extension with rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt. The deal buys out several years of the 23-year-old's future free agency rights. The extension represents one of the largest guarantees in Cardinals franchise history, trailing only Paul Goldschmidt's $130 million extension in 2019 and Matt Holliday's $120 million free agent deal from 2010.
Chaim Bloom becomes Cardinals president of baseball operations
Chaim Bloom assumed the role of president of baseball operations for the St. Louis Cardinals in September 2025, replacing longtime general manager John Mozeliak. This extension with JJ Wetherholt represented Bloom's first major extension signing since taking the position.
St. Louis Cardinals hold 48-44 record, three games out of NL wild-card spot
The St. Louis Cardinals posted a 48-44 record heading into the weekend, placing them three games out of an NL wild-card playoff spot. The team attributed their competitive performance to the emergence of young players in the middle of their infield, including JJ Wetherholt.
JJ Wetherholt posts strong rookie season statistics through 87 games
Through 87 games in his 2026 rookie MLB season, JJ Wetherholt batted .267 with a .362 on-base percentage and .411 slugging percentage. He accumulated 13 home runs and 36 RBIs with 9 stolen bases. His strikeout rate of 15.4% and walk rate of 9.6% both exceeded league average. Advanced defensive metrics credited him with 12 Defensive Runs Saved and 16 Outs Above Average, leading all major league second basemen in both categories.
Bill DeWitt III becomes St. Louis Cardinals CEO
Bill DeWitt III took over as chief executive officer of the St. Louis Cardinals, while Bill DeWitt Jr. continued as chairman and principal owner with involvement in baseball and business matters.
JJ Wetherholt drafted seventh overall by Cardinals in 2024, promoted to majors in 2026
JJ Wetherholt was selected seventh overall in the 2024 MLB Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals out of West Virginia. He progressed rapidly through the Cardinals' minor league system and made his major league debut on opening day of the 2026 season after being drafted two years prior.
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Cardinals Lock Up Young Star Wetherholt With Eight-Year Deal
Cardinals extend young star Wetherholt to eight-year, $112.5 million deal after strong rookie season.