Cardinals Face Arbitration with Nootbaar, Donovan, and Pallante
The St. Louis Cardinals were unable to reach agreements with three arbitration-eligible players—outfielder Lars Nootbaar, utility player Brendan Donovan, and right-handed pitcher Andre Pallante—by Thursday’s salary exchange deadline. However, the team avoided arbitration with relief pitchers Ryan Helsley, JoJo Romero, and John King, signing them to one-year contracts.
Arbitration-Eligible Players
Lars Nootbaar
At 27, Nootbaar has established himself as a key piece of the Cardinals’ outfield since debuting in 2021. Primarily a right fielder, he has appeared in 213 games at the position out of his 392 career games. In 2024, Nootbaar batted .244 with 12 home runs and 45 RBIs. His career totals include a .246 batting average, 45 home runs, and 146 RBIs.
Brendan Donovan
Donovan, who turns 28 on January 16, had a strong 2024 campaign, playing a career-high 153 games. Splitting time primarily between left field and second base, he batted .278, with career-best numbers of 14 home runs and 73 RBIs. A Gold Glove winner in 2022, Donovan was also the third-place finisher in National League Rookie of the Year voting that same year.
Andre Pallante
The 26-year-old transitioned to a starting role in late May 2024, completing his third MLB season. Pallante made 20 starts in 29 total appearances, amassing an 8-8 record with a 3.78 ERA, 94 strikeouts, and 48 walks over 121 1/3 innings.
Players Avoiding Arbitration
Ryan Helsley
Helsley, 30, reportedly agreed to an $8.2 million salary for 2025. He led the majors with 49 saves in 54 opportunities while recording a 7-4 record and a 2.04 ERA in 65 appearances. Helsley earned his second All-Star selection and finished ninth in Cy Young Award voting.
JoJo Romero
Romero, 28, had a standout 2024 season with a 7-3 record, a 3.36 ERA, and one save over a career-high 65 games. The left-hander also set personal bests in strikeouts (51) and innings pitched (59).
John King
King, 30, ended the 2024 season with a 3-3 record and a 2.85 ERA across a career-high 56 games. He posted 38 strikeouts to 14 walks in 60 innings.
Additional Move
The Cardinals also claimed left-handed pitcher Bailey Horn off waivers from the Detroit Tigers. Horn, 26, made his MLB debut in 2024, going 1-1 with a 6.50 ERA in 18 relief appearances. The Tigers had previously claimed him from the Boston Red Sox in November.
Outlook
The Cardinals will now prepare for arbitration hearings with Nootbaar, Donovan, and Pallante unless agreements can be reached beforehand. These negotiations will shape the roster heading into the 2025 season as the team looks to improve on a disappointing 2024 campaign.
