The St. Louis Cardinals are preparing to welcome back one of their key outfielders, as manager Oli Marmol confirmed to reporters—including Jeff Jones of The Belleville News-Democrat—that Lars Nootbaar will be activated from the 60-day injured list ahead of Friday’s series opener against the Cincinnati Reds.
This move marks an important step for both the player and the organization, as Nootbaar has yet to appear in a major league game this season due to a lengthy recovery from offseason surgery.
In order to officially reinstate Nootbaar to the active roster, the Cardinals will need to make a corresponding move. Fortunately for the club, they already have some flexibility on their 40-man roster.
That opening was created when they returned Rule 5 Draft selection Matt Pushard to the Miami Marlins earlier in the year. As a result, the front office now only needs to clear a spot on the active roster rather than reshuffling both the 26-man and 40-man groups simultaneously.
Nootbaar’s return comes after an absence that has stretched beyond two months, stemming from a surgical procedure he underwent last October. The operation addressed lingering issues in both of his heels, where doctors shaved down problematic bone growths that had been causing him discomfort and limiting his effectiveness.
These issues were serious enough to sideline him for the entirety of spring training and the opening portion of the regular season. In fact, the Cardinals placed him on the 60-day injured list before Opening Day, ensuring he would miss at least the first two months of the campaign (Reuters).
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To work his way back into game shape, Nootbaar embarked on a minor league rehabilitation assignment. Over the course of 11 rehab appearances, he gradually ramped up his workload while splitting time between lower-level affiliates and Triple-A Memphis. His performance during that stretch was modest but encouraging given the circumstances.
He posted a .233 batting average and managed to hit two home runs, showing flashes of his power while also focusing on regaining timing and comfort at the plate. The primary goal of the rehab stint was not necessarily statistical dominance, but rather rebuilding endurance and confidence after such a significant layoff.
There is little doubt that Nootbaar’s heel issues affected his performance during the 2025 season. While he remained relatively durable—logging a career-high number of plate appearances—his production took a noticeable step backward. Over 583 trips to the plate, he recorded a .234/.325/.361 slash line, which represented the lowest offensive output of his career to date.
Although he still managed to hit 13 home runs, that total was largely in line with previous seasons in which he received considerably less playing time. His rate statistics, which had previously been a strength, declined from the .246/.351/.426 line he produced between 2022 and 2024.
At his best, Nootbaar has been known for his disciplined approach at the plate, strong on-base skills, and emerging power potential. Those attributes made him an intriguing piece for the Cardinals as they evaluated their roster direction over the past year. However, the combination of declining production and lingering health concerns complicated his outlook heading into the offseason.
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Had Nootbaar been fully healthy and coming off a stronger campaign, there is a very real possibility that he would have been moved during the winter months.
The Cardinals entered the offseason with a clear intention to retool their roster, focusing on reshaping the team around a different competitive window. As part of that strategy, they showed a willingness to part ways with players who were nearing free agency or entering the latter stages of their arbitration years.
Nootbaar fits that description, as he is now down to his final two seasons of team control through arbitration. Players in that situation often become trade candidates, particularly for teams that are not firmly in championship contention. The Cardinals demonstrated this approach by dealing Brendan Donovan, another player with a similar service-time timeline, as part of their broader restructuring effort.
However, Nootbaar’s diminished trade value—due largely to his injury and underwhelming 2025 performance—likely played a significant role in the team’s decision to hold onto him. Trading him at that point would have meant selling low, potentially receiving only a fraction of his true value in return.
Instead, the Cardinals opted to retain him with the hope that he could rebuild his stock during the 2026 season and potentially become a more appealing trade chip closer to the deadline.
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That long-term plan may now need to be reconsidered, given the team’s unexpectedly strong start to the current season. Through their first 60 games, the Cardinals have compiled a 32–28 record, placing them squarely in the mix for a National League Wild Card spot. While they have not been dominant in any one area, they have managed to stay competitive through a combination of solid defense and adequate offensive production.
Offensively, the Cardinals have been roughly league average, generating enough runs to remain competitive without standing out as an elite unit. Defensively, however, they have been among the better teams in the league, which has helped compensate for a pitching staff that has struggled to consistently generate strikeouts. This balanced approach has allowed St. Louis to remain in contention despite some underlying weaknesses.
One of those weaknesses has been the team’s production in left field. Throughout the season, the Cardinals have struggled to find consistent output from that position, cycling through multiple players in an attempt to stabilize the spot. The left-handed hitting Nathan Church has received the bulk of the opportunities, often operating in a platoon arrangement with either José Fermín or Thomas Saggese.
Church’s performance has been serviceable but unspectacular. Across 156 plate appearances, he has posted a .247/.282/.390 slash line, numbers that fall short of what teams typically expect from a corner outfield position. While he has provided some value, he has not done enough to firmly secure the role as his own.
Complicating matters further, Church is currently dealing with a minor shoulder strain. Although the injury is not considered serious, it has temporarily sidelined him and opened the door for other players to receive opportunities. He is expected to begin a rehabilitation assignment soon, which suggests he could return to the major league roster in the near future.
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In the meantime, the Cardinals have turned to a mix of internal options to fill the void. Both Saggese and Fermín have seen time in left field, but neither player has managed to distinguish himself offensively. Their struggles have mirrored those of Church, leaving the team without a clear solution at the position.
More recently, the organization has given opportunities to Bryan Torres and Nelson Velázquez, two players who were called up in hopes of providing a spark. While both have shown some potential, they remain relatively unproven at the major league level and are still trying to establish themselves as consistent contributors.
Roster logistics add another layer of complexity to the situation. Velázquez and Fermín are both out of minor league options, meaning they cannot be sent down to the minors without first being designated for assignment. This creates a difficult decision for the Cardinals, as removing either player from the roster would expose them to waivers and potentially result in losing them to another team.
Velázquez’s situation is particularly noteworthy. The Cardinals only recently selected his contract, indicating that they saw enough value in him to add him to the major league roster. It would be somewhat surprising for the team to reverse course so quickly by designating him for assignment, especially without giving him a more extended opportunity to prove himself.
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On the other hand, players like Torres and Saggese still have minor league options remaining, providing the team with greater flexibility. If necessary, the Cardinals could send either player back to the minors without risking losing them, making them more likely candidates to be moved when Nootbaar is activated.
Church also retains minor league options, which could come into play once he completes his rehab assignment. If the Cardinals decide that there is no immediate opening for him on the major league roster, they could opt to send him to the minors temporarily rather than making a more permanent roster move.
Ultimately, Nootbaar’s return has the potential to significantly reshape the Cardinals’ outfield picture. At full strength, he is capable of providing a combination of on-base ability, defensive versatility, and occasional power that has been lacking from the team’s left field production this season. His presence could help stabilize the lineup and provide a much-needed boost as the Cardinals continue their push for a postseason berth.
At the same time, his return will force the organization to make difficult decisions regarding roster construction. Balancing performance, player development, and long-term asset management is never easy, particularly for a team that finds itself unexpectedly in contention.
From a broader perspective, Nootbaar’s comeback also carries implications for the Cardinals’ trade deadline strategy. If he performs well and helps the team remain competitive, the front office may be less inclined to move him in a midseason deal. Conversely, if the team falls out of contention or receives a compelling offer, he could once again emerge as a trade candidate.
For now, however, the focus is on getting him back onto the field and reintegrated into the lineup. After months of recovery and rehabilitation, Nootbaar is finally on the verge of making his 2026 debut—a moment that could prove pivotal for both his individual season and the Cardinals’ overall trajectory.
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