St Louis Cardinals

It is only the start of spring training, but Major League Baseball is reportedly already investigating an incident between umpire C.B. Bucknor and St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol.

Marmol said Bucknor refused to shake his hand ahead of Saturday's game, and Buster Olney of ESPN reported the league is investigating the matter.

"I don't think he's good at his job, and it just shows a lack of class as a man," Marmol said of Bucknor and the incident.

The manager and umpire have a history.

As Olney explained, Bucknor ejected Marmol during an August game last season when the manager argued a strike call against third baseman Nolan Arenado.

"As the two yelled at each other, Marmol appeared to tell Bucknor that his time in the sport was done, and Bucknor yelled back that Marmol, relatively new to his position as St. Louis manager, had just gotten to the big leagues," Olney wrote.

Bucknor has umpired in the major leagues since 1996, while the 2022 campaign was Marmol's first as a manager. The Cardinals made the 36-year-old their first base coach in 2017.

Marmol said Ron Kulpa, Angel Hernandez and Carlos Torres, who were the other three umpires for Saturday's game, all shook his hand and apologized that Bucknor would not also do so.

Saturday's contest was St. Louis' spring training opener, and it lost 3-2 to the Washington Nationals. Erick Mejia's RBI single in the ninth inning proved to be the difference.

The Cardinals went 93-69 during Marmol's first season as manager and won the National League Central. However, they were swept in two games by the Philadelphia Phillies in their National League Wild Card Series.

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol ripped umpire C.B. Bucknor for not shaking his hand prior to first pitch following Saturday's 3-2 spring training loss to the Washington Nationals.

"I think he has zero class as a man," Marmol told reporters after the game.

All three other umpires, including Ángel Hernández, apologized to Marmol for Bucknor's actions and shook his hand, according to The Athletic's Katie Woo.

Marmol and Bucknor have history dating back to last season when the two got into a heated exchange during a game between the Cardinals and Arizona Diamondbacks on August 21.

The St. Louis manager was ultimately ejected in the third inning of that matchup for arguing balls and strikes. The Cardinals went on to win the game 6-4.

"I didn't like his smirk when I got out there," Marmol said at the time of his exchange with Bucknor. "And then he questioned my time in the league. And so I returned the favor and questioned his time in the league."

Marmol, now in his second season as St. Louis' manager, led the Cardinals to a 93-69 record last season, which was the best mark in the National League Central. The team went on to be eliminated by the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Wild Card.

Prior to being named manager, Marmol served in various roles for the Cardinals. He was the team's first base coach from 2017-2018 and was elevated to bench coach in 2019 before becoming manager in October 2021.

Bucknor, meanwhile, has been an MLB umpire since 1996. He has long been considered one of the worst umpires in the game.

The Cardinals will be back in action on Sunday against the Miami Marlins.

Former All-Star closer Alex Reyes has agreed to join the Los Angeles Dodgers on a one year, $1.1 million deal, as first reported by Juan Toribio of MLB.com. The club has yet to confirm a deal.

Although it is pending a physical, the deal is filled with performance bonuses that make it worth up to $10 million.

An All-Star in 2021 with the Cardinals, where he spent the first six years of his career, Reyes missed the entirety of the 2022 season with a shoulder injury that required season-ending surgery in May.

The deal also includes a club option for the 2024 season worth $3 million, per Toribio.

Reyes, 28, was non-tendered by the Cardinals in November and hit free agency. It took a while to find a deal, however, as he continues to recover from surgery to repair a frayed labrum.

While he will likely miss the beginning of the season, Reyes is expected to be back on the mound sometime before the All-Star break, according to a report by Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.

Reyes was one of the most effective closers in all of baseball over the first half of the 2021 season, and he finished that year with a 3.24 ERA over a career-high 72.1 innings pitched.

That season, he also tied the record for the most consecutive saves to start a career (24).

The Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays were also interested in Reyes and watched him throw in recent weeks, according to Toribio.

The Dodgers will hope that he's able to regain his 2021 form in his first season in Los Angeles and contribute to a bullpen that finished second in the majors with a 2.87 ERA.

Longtime St. Louis Cardinals' play-by-play television announcer Dan McLaughlin won't return to Bally Sports Midwest's broadcasts of the Cards after being arrested for his third DWI last week, per Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"Dan McLaughlin will not return as the Cardinals television play-by-play announcer on Bally Sports Midwest," the team and station said in a joint statement. "Dan has been the voice of memorable Cardinals moments for 24 years. We thank him for his contributions to Cardinals baseball, to Cardinals fans and for his many charitable efforts."

McLaughlin, 48, would have been entering his 25th season season in the role. He said the decision was mutual.

"I have spent the last several days reflecting on my steps towards addressing my health and the well-being of my family and me," his statement read. "I have come to the conclusion that my sole focus needs to be on my recovery, which I have started, and that of my wife and (four) children.

"As a result, I am stepping away from my duties at Bally Sports Midwest," he continued. "I thank all of the people of Bally for their support throughout the years and wish them the best. As I move forward, I please ask for your patience and your privacy. Thank you. God Bless."

McLaughlin had also served as an announcer for St. Louis University men's basketball. He will also not return to those telecasts.

His previous arrests for DWI came in 2010 and 2011. He was sentenced to two years of probation after the first incident and had his license suspended for 90 days after the second.

Last week's arrest carried with it a felony charge for being a "persistent" offender.

After his arrest, McLaughlin said he was "deeply remorseful" and added he would make "no excuses. I'm dealing with this and seeking the treatment that I need."

His next court hearing is Feb. 7.

Carlos Rodón is one of the top free-agent pitchers left on the market, but at least one team has been deterred from paying the hefty price tag for the veteran.

The St. Louis Cardinals are unlikely to "shell out the years and money" that Rodón is seeking on his next deal, according to The Athletic's Katie Woo.

Rodón is seeking a deal in the range of seven-plus years and worth at least $200 million, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on Dec. 12. It's not surprising the Cardinals are hesitant to cough up that much cash.

St. Louis has never signed a player for that kind of money. While Nolan Arenado is the highest-paid player on the roster, he signed his eight-year, $260 million deal when he was still a member of the Colorado Rockies.

Paul Goldschmidt's $130 million extension signed in March 2019 is the largest the franchise has ever handed out. Adam Wainwright's $97.5 million extension signed in March 2013 is the largest the Cards have ever dished out to a pitcher.

Further, the Cardinals are set to have a 2023 rotation that includes Wainwright, Miles Mikolas, Jack Flaherty, Jordan Montgomery and Matthew Liberatore. While Rodón would undoubtedly improve the rotation, he's not a necessity.

Additionally, not many pitchers have earned $200 million or more on a single contract. Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, David Price, Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer and Zack Greinke are the only arms to hit the $200 million mark in their careers.

Rodón has been impressive in each of the last two seasons, but he doesn't match up with some of those elite pitchers.

The 30-year-old spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Chicago White Sox. He didn't break out until the 2021 campaign, when he went 13-5 with a 2.37 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 185 strikeouts in 132.2 innings across 24 starts en route to his first All-Star Game selection.

Rodón went on to sign with the San Francisco Giants ahead of the 2022 campaign. He went 14-8 with a 2.88 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 237 strikeouts in 178 innings across 31 starts, earning his second straight All-Star Game selection.

The lefty has also topped more than 170 innings in a season just once—2022—and has been limited by injuries for much of his career.

If Rodón's price drops, then the Cardinals would likely continue to express interest. For now, it seems like pursuing him has been put on the backburner.

Free-agent starting pitcher Carlos Rodón prefers to sign with the New York Yankees, but the Minnesota Twins and St. Louis Cardinals were "believed to be seriously in play" Tuesday afternoon.

Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media reported the news on the 30-year-old left-hander, who went 14-8 with a 2.88 ERA for the San Francisco Giants last season. He struck out 237 batters in 178 innings en route to his second straight All-Star Game selection.

The interest between the Yankees and Rodón is mutual, and Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Monday that a formal offer from New York was expected to be sent to the eight-year veteran Monday or Tuesday.

Heyman also reported that the Yankees' "main focus" was Rodón and that New York seemed "very serious and hopeful about this pursuit."

The Yankees, however, have competition. Heyman reported Sunday that the Cardinals were in the mix.

St. Louis has already made one major free-agent acquisition in catcher Willson Contreras to replace franchise legend Yadier Molina, and Rodón could be the team's ace.

Rodón is searching for at least a seven-year deal, per Heyman and Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Heyman added that the Yanks appeared "reluctant" to give Rodón such a contract.

Rodón would help complete a tremendous rotation in the Bronx led by All-Stars Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes. He'd likely slot in between the two as the Yankees seek their first World Series appearance since 2009.

For now, Rodón has options as the top free-agent pitcher on the market. He is coming off a tremendous two-year stretch wherein he went 27-13 with a 2.67 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP and 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings.

The former North Carolina State star began his MLB career in 2015 with the Chicago White Sox. He signed as a free agent with the Giants in March and opted out of the second and final year of the deal in November.

Now that he is officially a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, Willson Contreras admitted the thought of joining his former team's biggest rival first crossed his mind when he got an in-person look at Albert Pujols' pursuit of 700 homers.

At his introductory press conference on Friday, Contreras said a Sept. 4 game between the Cardinals and Chicago Cubs was when he envisioned himself playing for the other team.

The Cardinals defeated the Cubs, 2-0, with Pujols' pinch-hit two-run homer off Brandon Hughes in the bottom of the eighth inning being the difference.

Contreras was unable to play in the series due to a sprained ankle. He has been around the rivalry between the two National League Central clubs since making his big-league debut in June 2016.

There was a time last season when it seemed like Contreras wouldn't be around to see those September games between the Cubs and Cardinals. He was one of the most talked about players being moved prior to the trade deadline, but no deal ever materialized.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Houston Astros owner Jim Crane vetoed a deal in August that would have sent Contreras to Houston in exchange for right-handed pitcher Jose Urquidy.

Even though that one deal didn't go through, it's even more baffling in hindsight the Cubs didn't trade Contreras. There was no indication they even tried to negotiate a new contract with him this offseason after he turned down the qualifying offer.

A trade was expected for Contreras and Ian Happ before the deadline that both players received a standing ovation after a July 26 game at Wrigley Field. The Cubs were going to embark on a road trip that lasted through the trade deadline.

Instead of being able to pick up a player who could have helped them in 2023 and beyond, the Cubs got nothing back and saw Contreras accept a five-year, $87.5 million deal from the Cardinals.

Contreras hit .249/.368/.441 with 15 homers in 95 games against the Cardinals. He will get his first chance to play against the Cubs on May 8 at Wrigley Field.

Free-agent catcher Willson Contreras, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Chicago Cubs, has reached a five-year, $87.5 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal first reported a deal was close.

Contreras, who is entering his age-31 season, hit .243 (.815 OPS) and posted 22 home runs and 55 RBI in 2022.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported in December 2020 that the Cubs were "extensively shopping" Contreras. A trade never happened, and he and the Cubs agreed to a one-year, $9.6 million deal for the 2021 season to avoid arbitration.

It appeared Contreras could be leaving town last summer as the Cubs conducted a 2021 midseason fire sale that saw 2016 World Series heroes Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Báez all get moved as the team began a significant rebuilding process.

That didn't happen either, but the backstop is now moving on of his own accord.

Contreras will have massive shoes to fill, as he's replacing Yadier Molina behind the plate in St. Louis. The 10-time All-Star retired after the 2022 season.

That obviously left the Cardinals in need of a veteran catcher as they look to make the playoffs for the fifth straight year in 2023.

The St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly among the favorites to sign free-agent catcher Willson Contreras.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported the news as the free-agency period continues to heat up.

Contreras, 30, hit .243/.349/.466 with 22 home runs and 55 RBI in 113 games last season while making his third All-Star team. The Venezuela native has spent his entire seven-year career with the Chicago Cubs.

The Cardinals are looking for a replacement for Yadier Molina, who retired after the 2022 season. Molina spent his entire 19-year career in St. Louis and was the team's primary catcher since 2005. He made 10 All-Star appearances and won nine Gold Gloves, making him a potential Hall of Famer.

It's unlikely the Cardinals will be able to find any catcher to fill those massive shoes, but Contreras would be a strong replacement. He's one of the sport's best power-hitting catchers, though he is not even remotely the same level of defensive mind as Molina.

The Cubs are unlikely to be a serious player to retain Contreras as they continue their roster rebuild. Chicago went just 74-88 in 2022 after going 71-91 the previous season.

The descent of the Cubs helped St. Louis retake its spot atop the NL Central for the first time since 2019.

St. Louis Cardinals television broadcaster Dan McLaughlin has been arrested on a DWI charge for at least the third time since 2010.

Per Gabe Lacques of USA Today, McLaughlin was charged with a felony count of persistent DWI after police arrested him Sunday following multiple calls about a "vehicle driving erratically in traffic" in Creve Coeur, Missouri.

According to the police report (h/t Lacques), McLaughlin's official charge was "persistent offender of driving while intoxicated," and he was transferred to St. Louis County Justice Center where he is being held on $25,000 bond.

"We are very disappointed to hear this, and are working to gather additional information before offering further comment," Bally Sports Midwest said in a statement about the situation.

"No excuses," McLaughlin wrote in a text message to Taylor Tiamoyo Harris of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I'm dealing with this and seeking the treatment that I need. I ask for your privacy for me and my family."

According to Harris, McLaughlin had two DWI charges in a 13-month span in 2010 and 2011. He received two years' probation for the first charge.

In a 2011 interview with Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, McLaughlin discussed his struggles with alcohol use.

"I'm an alcoholic, and I'm not ashamed to say that because I needed help in a bad way," he said. "Through what's happened, it's turning my life around. That's the truth."

Fox Sports Midwest indefinitely suspended McLaughlin after his second arrest. He was reinstated in February 2012.

McLaughlin, 48, has been the play-by-play voice for Cardinals television games since 2000.