The Cardinals have signed first baseman/outfielder Bligh Madris to a minor league deal earlier this week, according to reporter Chase Ford. The deal apparently doesn’t include an invitation to the Cards’ big league Spring Training camp.
Madris (who turns 30 later this month) is a veteran of three MLB seasons, appearing in 72 games with the Pirates, Astros, and Tigers over the 2022-24 campaigns and hitting .204/.273/.286 in 228 career plate appearances in the Show. He has spent his last two seasons in Detroit’s organization on minors contracts, and after getting into 21 big league games in 2024, Madris spent the 2025 season entirely in the Tigers’ farm system.
Injury problems limited Madris to just 60 games last season, with the final 10 of those contests coming on a rehab assignment with A-level Lakeland. The Tigers released Madris in August, and he didn’t resurface until he started posting big winter-ball numbers in Mexico. This recent production and perhaps Madris’ solid career Triple-A production (.252/.343/.440 with 59 home runs in 1803 PA) seems to have caught the Cardinals’ eye as the team builds out its minor league depth.
St. Louis is known to be looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder, but Madris swings from the left side. He has primarily played right field during his pro career with a good dose of work as a first baseman and left fielder. Madris played mostly first base in 2025, though that could’ve been a nod to his health situation rather than necessarily a sign of a bigger-picture position change.
Being limited to first base wouldn’t be great for Madris’ chances of returning to the majors, and it also doesn’t help his case that the Cardinals have left-handed hitting starters at first base (Alec Burleson) and in left field (Lars Nootbaar). Madris does have a minor league option remaining, since the Tigers never called him up to the bigs in 2025.
Mutinous move.
It was the strawberries.
Astros legend!
Setting up Lars and Alec to be shopped around, eventually traded IMO.
That was my first thought but after checking Madris’ stats, he won’t replace anyone.
His numbers are off in some regard, true, and that’s his dossier until he proves otherwise. Epic collegiate career albeit nearly ten years ago.
I watched some recent highlights of his, this guy is stacked, looks far bigger than he is listed at Baseball Reference.
.320/.414/.521 in his most recent effort in Mexican Winter League. Big pullside power. Id say he is a good addition to the farm and could certainly replace Walker’s production if called upon.
Burly isn’t going anywhere. second best hitter on the team with 3 years of control. Plus they aren’t even inviting this guy to spring training. He is a very distant depth piece.
Agree. Plus he is still cheap. That’s top priority for tightwad owner, Billionaire Bill DeWallet.
3 years of team control and 2 of those years the team is almost guaranteed to be bad. Why not trade him?
Second best hitter on the team? Who cares? The team isnt trying to win.
Because by the time he is ready to hit fa the teams window will be opening and then he should be extended. The trades they have made this off season made sense. Trading a player just to trade him when his value will likely go up getting a full season at first makes none.
Burlesons value isnt going up. Nearly impossible for that to happen.
Why should he be extended. He’s a decent hitter hes not a star. He should be traded and then the benefit of that trade could come in a couple years when it actually matters.
Why does trading Donovan make sense and not Burleson? Explain that.
Burly stacks up high .800 ops months like its a habit. Lead the club w/4 months last season. An extension isn’t even necessary w/his control, but a couple more? Ok. His availability is top shelf.
@Flags you know ball
@Flags you know ball.
Org depth for a rebuilding club.
Slow news day…
If they sign Kaleb, they’ll have Ort depth.
Ba-doom csh.
That’s Bah-dum-tssss.
Well, I’m not a drummer. Double bassist. Bum bum bum. Sums me up right there.
Who dat
Blocking Blaze Jordan with each of their last two moves. Lack of confidence in him or sending a message?
Stl is an open competition org now. When they both suit up as Cardinal farmhands, the competition can begin. Letting the players seperate themselves is just part of the process.
How is this blocking Blaze? Blaze is way ahead of him on the depth chart. This guy wont even get full time in the minors.
Rumble Mavs!!!
Captain Bligh heading to St.Louis
Is this what is considered to be a blah signing?
Blegh!
Blaze and Bligh: Cards are cornering the market on badass names.