Derrick Goold

Back for my 22nd spring training covering #Cardinals for @stltoday. Fortunate to be on the beat and call ballparks my office and BP my meetings.

Will be a season unlike any other, however it goes. Write on.

Goold: 10 questions facing the Cardinals this spring as they start to rebuild Team is hoping current roster can conjure up more power out of its offense this season.

10 questions. 1 rebuild. www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

Cardinals trade Brendan Donovan to Mariners for haul of prospects, picks in 3-team deal Donovan becomes the fourth All-Star traded this winter, and the return for Cardinals includes two outfielders, a switch-pitcher and two draft picks.

www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

A Cardinals rival before his Cardinals revival, Carlos Beltrán elected to Hall of Fame In his fourth year on the ballot, the switch-hitting, five-tool great overcame sluggish early support that was likely tied to Houston's sign-stealing scandal.

A #Cardinals rival before his #Cardinals revival, Carlos Beltran is now a Hall of Famer.

Cooperstown calls.
www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

Thank you for doing that.

Ugh. That’s a concern for my future.

A reminder of what the Cardinals missed at home this past season actually happened on the road. A young player on his team approached manager Oli Marmol in the dugout at a raucous, buzzing ballpark and described how he enjoyed playing on the road more than in St. Louis. Marmol called the moment “heartbreaking.” He declined to identify the player or the opponent, though it could have been Philadelphia or Wrigley or San Diego — anywhere with a packed house and the crackle of contention to contrast with the uncharacteristic calm of empty sections at Busch Stadium. Marmol told this story Friday night during an event at Lindenwood University as a way to convey to the Cardinals fans present the role they play in bringing out the best in players and also bringing the best players home to Busch. To bring back the best of Busch. “For that young core to feel that,” Marmol told the crowd Friday night, “might be the most important thing ever.”

I know @dgoold.bsky.social has visited this topic numerous times in chats and on podcasts: fan atmosphere inside Busch III.

This passage crystallizes the issue.

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/professional/mlb/cardinals/article_ca58a630-197f-407a-a509-1b6d3cedbc32.html

Will Cardinals make the call on Brendan Donovan trade talks before spring training? The Cardinals continue to field interest in versatile fielder, and those talks could accelerate into a deal at any point.

www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

Bring the buzz back to Busch? How Cardinals are selling fans on their role in a rebuild A reminder of what the Cardinals missed at home this past season actually happened on the road.

#stlcards take their sales pitch to the fans to sell tickets, yes, and stoke excitement by bringing the buzz back to Busch.

www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

FROM THE ‘PEN When Albert Pujols signed his $100-million extension with the Cardinals to avoid arbitration in February 2004, his deal was the ninth $100-million contract in the game. Kyle Tucker reportedly agreed to a four-year, $240-million deal Thursday evening that gives the Dodgers’ eight contracts greater than $100-million on their active roster. Five will be in LA’s lineup. … There are times

Interesting nugget from @dgoold.bsky.social's latest "Write Fielder."

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/article_ae16a404-c3bc-4d74-93ce-26d852a50e79.html?

Absolutely. I have a Christmas ornament for you that I picked up in Colorado. No reason to wait till next offseason!

Stat of the Week: Which Team Can Put Out The Best Defensive 9-Man Group? It’s January, which is always the time when you see articles considering a team’s all-time performance or some other aspect of franchise history (best free agent signings is a common one).

Stat of the Week:

We teach each team's best player's Defensive Runs Saved total at each position and sum them up to see which team would do best.

Kind of a 'best ball' competition for defense spanning 2003-2025

From the #1 Cardinals to #30 Marlins ...
www.sportsinfosolutions.com/2026/01/15/s...

Join baseball writer Derrick Goold now for live Cardinals and Hall of Fame chat Greetings and welcome to the weekly Cardinals chat here at StlToday. And what a week it's been since last we chatted. The Cubs have stirred from their hibernation and are

It's Cardinals chat day at StlToday ... www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

Thank you.

We do not have one planned, no.

Explicitly is doing a lot of work in that sentence. There was a ban on PEDs -- there was just no enforcement. So, I hear what you're saying with explicitly. Hard to have a ban with any teeth if it doesn't have testing or penalties.

McGwire was never on a ballot for me. Bonds, Clemens, etc. were.

I explain it in the above link and have tried to remain consistent with that going back many years, with more detailed explanations a few years ago (never sure how often to repeat myself on this).

Suspensions for violating rules must be considered.

No worries. I'm impressed.
It went out with a broken link to your Tracker.
That's frustrating.
But I've fixed it now for the site.

That's appreciated.
You are on the ball!
That was supposed to go out to subscribers to the newsletter first. Not sure how it got to you first.
Cap tip!

Arbitration deadline tracker: Cardinals agree to deals with Brendan Donovan, 6 others With noon Thursday set as the deadline, the Cardinals spent the morning negotiating and attempting to finalize salary agreements with seven arbitration-eligible players on their current major-league r...

#stlcards reach agreement with all seven arbitration-eligible players, per source. No hearings for 2026.

All of the updates available here: www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

Arbitration deadline tracker: Cardinals, Brendan Donovan agree to deal; updates on 6 others With noon Thursday set as the deadline, the Cardinals spent the morning negotiating and attempting to finalize salary agreements with seven arbitration-eligible players on their current major-league r...

#stlcards reach agreements with Brendan Donovan and JoJo Romero, per sources familiar with the deals.

All of them continue to be updated here: www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

Money. And years. But mostly money.

Thanks again Matt for the time -- and the conversation.

Ignition switch: From sparking lineups with 'Leadoff Man' author to thawing a chilly Hot Stove Podcast Episode · Best Podcast in Baseball · 01/08/2026 · 55m

had a great time talking about my book and some other Cardinals stuff with @dgoold.bsky.social here!

Arbitration deadline tracker: Cardinals negotiating contract details with 7 players With noon Thursday set as the deadline, the Cardinals spent the morning negotiating and attempting to finalize salary agreements with seven arbitration-eligible players on their current major-league r...

Andre Pallante is first across the line ahead of today's deadline. @stltoday has started an arbitration tracker with six other arb-eligible Cardinals and the club facing calls today.

Follow along here for the latest: www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

Goold's chat: Do Cardinals need to sign a star attraction to bring fans back to Busch? Happy New Year! Sorry for the delay in starting here. Questions are already overstuffing the in box, so let's forego the prelude and just dive right into the questions. Onward!

Goold's chat: Do Cardinals need to sign a star attraction to bring fans back to Busch?
www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

Thank you, Grant.

As 2026 arrives, an all-time Cardinals' 26-man roster picked from 1st 26 seasons of 2000s The exercise gives perspective to the constellation of stars in St. Louis from the past two-plus decades.

As 2026 arrives, an all-time Cardinals' 26-man roster picked from 1st 26 seasons of 2000s

Can you put together a roster? www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...

Thank you. Happy New Year.
I'm trying to think of the best way to share the ballot. Will probably try a few new ways this year ...

Yes, and that's true for all things. That's like the art of trades -- it's all in the timing.

But it also cannot be imposed. If the Cardinals want to press Team X on a deal because they think it's the best one, but Team X prefers to acquire Marte ... Cardinals cannot dictate, but can benefit.