CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 16: Joshua Báez #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on before a game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 16, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Isaac Wasserman/Getty Images)
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The St. Louis Cardinals’ outfield picture has changed considerably as the organization has watched young talent begin to force its way into the major league conversation during an ongoing rebuild.
Joshua Baez’s emergence was particularly notable in a record-setting rookie debut, instantly giving the Cardinals another intriguing option as they evaluate their long-term lineup.
And Baez’s rise has been especially impressive considering where his prospect stock stood only a couple of years ago.
“Baez, 23, spent four weeks on the Development List back in August 2024 and then grinded with the Cardinals’ player development staff that offseason,” Josh Jacobs noted for MLB.com. “He emerged looking like a completely different prospect in 2025. Entering last season, Baez wasn’t even among the Cardinals’ Top 30 Prospects, according to MLB Pipeline. Yet by the end of the season, he was a Top 100 prospect in the sport, debuting at No. 59.”
That progress has created a more crowded outfield picture for St. Louis. But that didn’t keep the Cardinals from quickly reuniting with a veteran organizational outfielder who was released earlier this summer.
St Louis Cardinals Bring Back Veteran Outfielder Shortly After Cut
The Cardinals have re-signed outfielder Bligh Madris to a minor league contract, according to the official transaction log. Notably, the move comes just over a month after the organization released him, giving the 30-year-old another opportunity to remain in the organization and provide depth behind the club’s younger options.
Surprisingly enough, the Cardinals felt he should get another look despite a poor stint at the plate that pushed him overseas — a sojourn that didn’t produce encouraging results either.
“Madris is back with the Cardinals after hitting .175 (11-for-63) with four homers in 17 games for the SSG Landers in Korea,” George Bissell noted for NBC Sports. “The 30-year-old outfielder hasn’t appeared in the majors since the 2024 campaign. He’s merely organizational depth at this stage of his career.”
Madris’ major league experience includes stints with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers, though his overall production has been limited. He has a career .204/.273/.286 slash line with two home runs and 12 RBI across 206 career at-bats.
St Louis Cardinals’ Joshua Baez Changes Cardinals’ Outfield Picture
Based on the performance data, Madris’ return is less about competing directly with Baez than it is about giving St. Louis another experienced option while the organization determines which young players belong in its future plans.
Baez’s emergence has made that evaluation increasingly interesting. A prospect who once fell outside the organization’s Top 30 has rapidly climbed the ladder, and his development has given the Cardinals a legitimate young outfield option to build around.
For Madris, meanwhile, the reunion represents another opportunity to keep his professional career moving. His major league track record is modest, but his experience and ability to play multiple positions give St. Louis some insurance as it navigates the remainder of the season.