Opening Day is here, with the San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees kicking off the season, while the St. Louis Cardinals are set to begin their campaign at home against the Tampa Bay Rays.
For St. Louis, however, the excitement of a new season is overshadowed by serious concerns. The franchise appears to be entering a transitional phase after parting ways with several key veterans, including Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Tommy Edman, Sonny Gray, Miles Mikolas, and Ryan Helsley. Despite those departures, the team has made only modest additions like Dustin May and Ryne Stanek, leaving noticeable gaps in the roster.
There are still a few bright spots, including Masyn Wynn, Alec Burleson, Nolan Gorman, Victor Scott II, and top prospect JJ Wetherholt, who has made the Opening Day roster. But the team has already suffered a significant setback.
Outfielder Lars Nootbaar has been placed on the 60-day injured list due to bilateral Haglund’s deformity, a condition that required surgery on both heels. The procedure removes bony growths that irritate the Achilles tendon and surrounding tissue, often causing persistent pain.
Recovery from this type of surgery typically takes between 6–12 weeks, depending on timing and rehabilitation progress, meaning Nootbaar will miss a substantial portion of the early season.
With a depleted roster and injuries already piling up, the Cardinals appear headed for a difficult 2026 campaign before it has even fully begun.
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