St. Louis Cardinals' trade buzz heats up as Willson Contreras and Lars Nootbaar attract major interest from the New York Mets following Pete Alonso's blockbuster move to Baltimore. Are the Cardinals ready to shake up their roster, and what could a deal mean for the club's youth movement and future prospects? JD Hafron breaks down possible trade scenarios, top Mets prospects, and the shifting priorities in the Cardinals organization.

Cardinals fans also get the latest on the Rule 5 Draft, as the team selects right-handed pitcher Matt Pushard from the Miami Marlins to bolster the bullpen and takes a chance on Ryan Murphy from the Giants, adding needed pitching depth. Plus, the loss of promising arm Cade Winquest to the Yankees stings, and JD Hafron celebrates Joe Buck’s Hall of Fame recognition. Don’t miss this fast-paced, rumor-packed offseason update on the Birds on the Bat!

0:00 – Cardinals Winter Meetings Rumors
5:04 – Mets Trade Interest: Contreras & Nootbaar
12:03 – Rule 5 Draft Results

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/professional/mlb/cardinals/article_f2007d71-a239-4dd2-b74d-ee1aae4e7391.html
https://www.bnd.com/sports/mlb/st-louis-cardinals/article313599594.html

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-st-louis-cardinals/

Locked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More
🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/mlb/

Everydayer Club

If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.

Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonstlcardinals.supercast.com/

Follow on Twitter/X: @JDSPORTSRADIO
Follow the show on Twitter/X: @LO_Cardinals

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.

FanDuel
Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA and NFL seasons are here, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

#ForTheLou #stlcards #mlb #lockedoncardinals #stlouiscardinals

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

St. Louis Cardinals tumble in the MLB Draft lottery, dropping from the eighth-best odds for the No. 1 pick all the way to unlucky No. 13. Can they still uncover a hidden gem in a draft spot that’s produced stars like Manny Ramirez and Chris Sale? JD Hafron unpacks the surprising fallout, breaks down mock draft predictions including Virginia standout AJ Gracia, and explores what this setback means for the Cardinals’ ongoing rebuild.

Trade buzz heats up as Brendan Donovan and JoJo Romero attract interest from over a dozen teams, while the market for elite relief pitchers explodes during winter meetings. Soto, Finnegan, and bullpen dominoes fall fast—will the Cardinals capitalize before prices climb higher? Key topics include St. Louis’s draft history, top prospects to watch, and pressing questions about potential moves with playoff implications. Don’t miss JD Hafron’s expert analysis on whether Lady Luck will swing back for the birds on the bat.

0:00 - MLB Draft Lottery Fallout
8:30 - Notable 13th Overall Picks
20:11 - Winter Meetings Rumors & Updates

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-st-louis-cardinals/

Locked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More
🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/mlb/

Everydayer Club

If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.

Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonstlcardinals.supercast.com/

Follow on Twitter/X: @JDSPORTSRADIO
Follow the show on Twitter/X: @LO_Cardinals

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.

FanDuel
Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA and NFL seasons are here, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

#ForTheLou #stlcards #mlb #lockedoncardinals #stlouiscardinals

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

St. Louis Cardinals eye under-the-radar upgrades as the Rule 5 Draft approaches. Can a savvy bullpen addition like Peyton Pallette or a power lefty such as Felipe De La Cruz become game-changers for the 2026 roster? Host JD Hafron, joined by Thomas Gauvain of RedbirdRants.com, breaks down the top unprotected minor league arms that could fit the Cardinals’ needs and evaluates the internal risk of losing Pete Hansen.

Trade rumors swirl as JoJo Romero’s market heats up and teams like the Yankees circle Brendan Donovan. Hafron and Gauvain analyze which Cardinals—Lars Nootbaar, Nolan Gorman, Alec Burleson—are most likely to stay or go, and what returns might reshape the team’s future. The impact of Kyle Schwarber’s and Edwin Diaz’s signings, plus speculation on Pete Alonso and potential NL Central shakeups, make for a fast-paced, can’t-miss winter meetings update for any Cardinals fan.

https://redbirdrants.com/5-rule-5-draft-candidates-the-st-louis-cardinals-should-consider

0:00 — Cardinals Rule 5 Targets
10:16 — Cardinals Trade Market
23:28 — MLB Free Agency Signings

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-st-louis-cardinals/

Locked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More
🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/leagues/mlb/

Everydayer Club

If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.

Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonstlcardinals.supercast.com/

Follow on Twitter/X: @JDSPORTSRADIO
Follow the show on Twitter/X: @LO_Cardinals

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.

FanDuel
Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA and NFL seasons are here, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

#ForTheLou #stlcards #mlb #lockedoncardinals #stlouiscardinals

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.