By Chris Brown / STL Baseball Today | @cbrown_STLBBT | Feb. 22, 2016, 10:19 pm CT
As Brian Stull of STL Baseball Weekly writes, non-roster invitee outfielder Carlos Peguero checked in to the Cardinals Spring Training facility on Monday, marking the final player invited to camp to report this spring ahead of the team’s first full workout on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Peguero was signed to a minor-league deal with a Spring Training invite roughly one month ago.
Here’s a look at a few other notable developments from camp on Monday…
HOLLIDAY GETS MORE REPS AT FIRST
With official workouts for position players yet to get underway, Matt Holliday continued to get work in at first base, receiving instruction from infield coach Jose Oquendo at the position on Monday, MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch reports. The redbirds are unlikely to give the 36-year-old much playing time at first during Grapefruit League play this spring, Langosch writes, but the team does appreciate his work this winter to increase his versatility.
Holliday also told Stull on Monday that, under contract this year before a team option for 2017, he’d like to finish his career in St. Louis.
“I hope just to give them a no-brainer–that the option is no-brainer at the end of the year where it’s an easy pick-up,” the veteran said. “Anytime you’re in the seventh year of your seven-year contract you start to–obviously, I’d love to finish my career here. It’s somewhere I want to be. Like I said, I hope to make the decision for them easy and be here again next year and maybe beyond that. It’s one of those things where it’s out of my control all I can control right now is my effort, my preparation, and being a good teammate.”
Carlos Martinez throws a bullpen session on Monday. Photo: Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com / Twitter
MARTINEZ ON MODIFIED SPRING PROGRAM
As described here on Sunday, the Cardinals have Carlos Martinez on a modified schedule this spring as they ease the young right-hander back into action after a shoulder strain prematurely ended his 2015 season.
Langosch writes that Martinez was the only redbirds pitcher to throw off the mound during Monday’s workouts, hurling roughly 25 pitches after taking two days off between bullpen sessions.
The team will continue to keep Martinez on an altered schedule, though manager Mike Matheny said Sunday he’s received “all positive feedback.”
YADI’S OPENING DAY STATUS TO BE KNOWN BY MID-MARCH
Cardinals will determine catcher Yadier Molina’s Opening Day status in mid-March, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported on Monday. The redbirds are taking things slow with the Gold Glove catcher after he had two thumb surgeries this offseason.
If Molina is unable to take the field on Opening Day, offseason signee Brayan Pena will almost certainly get the call behind the plate.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Matheny tabs Wainwright for fourth straight Opening Day start | Chris Brown, STL Baseball Today
RECOMMENDED READS
Cardinals look beyond height when assessing pitchers | Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Expectations, not questions, greet Garcia | Jenifer Langosch, MLB.com
Fryer, Matheny traveled similar paths to bigs | Jenifer Langosch, MLB.com
2016 Cardinals Preview: the Powerful Randal Grichuk | Bernie Miklasz, 101Sports.com
TOP TWEETS OF THE DAY
Matt Holliday will play 10 pds lighter this year. Picked up some things from Tom Brady. Story @KSDKSports pic.twitter.com/rTPcyXqPCS
— Frank Cusumano (@Frank_Cusumano) February 22, 2016
Today's #STLCards camp highlights: Martinez dances to Spice Girls. Broxton dominates bunt competition. Reax from MM? "Big boy's got touch."
— Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) February 22, 2016
Mini-contests begin at #STLCards camp with a bunt contest. More pix in the gallery: https://t.co/npQgIDKBaK pic.twitter.com/klHqP7W6uZ
— Chris Lee (@pdchris) February 22, 2016
Jupiter pic.twitter.com/uGDWCtwjj5
— Benjamin Hochman (@hochman) February 22, 2016
