6:57pm: St. Louis officially announced that Pozo has been re-signed on a major league contract. It’s a split deal that pays different rates depending on whether the backstop is on the MLB roster or in Triple-A, according to Jeff Jones of The Belleville News-Democrat. This pushes their 40-man roster count to 38.
1:48pm: The Cardinals and catcher Yohel Pozo are in the final stages of agreeing to a new deal for the 2026 season, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Pozo was non-tendered by St. Louis on Friday.
Pozo, 28, logged 67 games with the Cardinals in 2025 and tallied 188 plate appearances — both career-high marks at the MLB level. He hit just .231/.262/.375 in that time, however — well shy of league-average (even relative to other catchers, where offense is lighter than that of the average position). Pozo delivered a handful of clutch pinch-hits, endearing himself to many in the Cardinals fanbase. He’s now a .248/.278/.376 hitter with six home runs in 245 MLB plate appearances.
Pozo hit well with the Cardinals’ top minor league affiliate in Memphis, albeit in a sample of just five games. He’s a career .321/.343/.525 hitter in Triple-A, with a significant portion of his time spent in an extraordinarily hitter-friendly Las Vegas setting (with the Athletics’ Triple-A club). Pozo draws decent grades for his framing and has regularly posted strong caught-stealing rates in the minor leagues.
While Pozo isn’t going to jump to the top of the depth chart anytime soon, he’ll give the Cards some additional depth along with Jimmy Crooks, Ivan Herrera and Pedro Pages. Pozo has a full slate of minor league options, so he can be shuttled freely between St. Louis and Memphis without first needing to be exposed to waivers.
I wonder if he’s related to all-time Red Sox Great Arquimedez Pozo?
According to Baseball Reference the answer is no.
Better Pozo than some Bozo
Arquimedez Pozo aka Catnac the Magnificent
Wasn’t he living out of his car 2 years ago? Dude really turned his Baseball career around if he’s who I’m thinking of.
Yeah but that was to pay for his sick kid.
It was due to covid, he wasn’t “working”
Yes, it was just about a year ago. And he also had a new baby at that time.
He’s still got a long way to go to be able to successfully throw out runners, but a lot of people in the STL are definitely pulling for him 👍👍
Making it to the Bigs just shows how much grit Pozo has. Hard to make it to the show, but even harder to stay in the show.
It was during covid
It was during covid when they weren’t paying MiLBers
The Rangers got it taken care of after they found out.
More like Shin Soo Choo singlehandedly paying their way and Rangers reluctantly following
That was the reliever dude with the walrus mustache living in his Chevy van with deep shag carpeting while with the Cubs. Chick magnet
You must mean Andrew Chafin. I believe he put up an or put it out the radio that he was looking to buy a beater, no more than 2K for it, to drive while he was with the Cubs. I could be mistaken but that’s the gist of his story while with the Cubs.
And he lived in it!
Hot Stove heating up!!!!!!!!! 🔥 that will probably about do it for cardinals offseason
Very very very unlikely.
interesting to see he gets some positive defensive praise. i thought the reports had been his defense mostly stunk, hence sitting in AAA for quite awhile across orgs. if they’re serviceable though, could be a guy that has a long MLB career as a backup given he can hit decently well for the role
Some Cards fans are a little too high on him. Though he was hitting nearly .300 through late July, which coincides with when many Cardinals fans started checking out of the season lol
Ew, I really don’t like that it’s a MLB deal
It’s Bozo the Clown’s cousin Pozo the Clown.
This is not the most original comment.
Wasn’t trying to be original. It’s an inside joke among myself and a few others. I occasionally do a podcast with. And we watch Cubs games through an app.
It’s more original than trash cans and deferrals.
Do NOT let this guy near any underage teammates again
Put him on a diet first
He needs to drop about 30 pounds
Cardinals now have just as many capable catchers on their 40 as they have starting pitchers. LOL
Cardinals also sign Sam Robberse and Scott Blewett to minor league contracts with invites.
Maybe they can carry 5 catchers on the 26 man this year!!
Sounds like lollapalooza ?
Looks like probably one of the catchers and maybe two will be traded.
Cards could get a really good player back for Bernal. Pages has suitors for a lessor return. Crooks needs this year to see what he can be.. Pozo is good insurance. Catching is at a premium around the league this year.
That’ll do it. No need to do any more. World series bound.