Day 3 features Oli, Noot, Willson, and the Dewitts!
I hope you all have enjoyed the content that has been provided as a result of the Winter Warm Up. Before we dive into day 3 I just wanted to extend one final thank you to the St. Louis Cardinals for hosting the event, providing the access that they did, and for being so welcoming and taking as good of care of us as they did. Now, with that out of the way on to day 3!
Cardinals Manager Oliver Marmol:
When asked about his evaluation of the tone of players throughout the offseason Oli spoke about his excitement for the upcoming season and noted that it will be interesting to see how guys’ roles develop. He’s especially excited about the hunger in the guys wanting to really get after it and hopes players “leave their mark” this season on the franchise.
Marmol was asked about the uncertainty surrounding the Nolan Arenado situation and his still not being traded and how he views opportunities for young players if he is still on the roster. Oli said, “He’s with us until I get a call. I’ve had great conversations with Gorman, and he will be ready for anything, so he’s done a really nice job with being prepared for that for sure.”
Oli was asked about Jordan Walker and hitting coach Brant Brown and the young hitters he’s seen from him this offseason and he said, “It’s been awesome and a lot of credit to “Brownie” [Brant Brown]. He has been incredible this offseason, I mean, he brings energy for everybody, and he’s traveled around and seen all the players, he’s hitting with them, they’re making the adjustments, getting that trust early on. He’s super knowledgeable and he’s able to speak to differently to different hitters based on what they need.” On Jordan Walker specifically he mentioned that Walker has taken to what Brown has shown him and making little adjustments to get back to things he did really well in 2023 and has been very positive about it. He feels like they’ve formed a really good relationship very quickly.
Oli was asked about leadership in the clubhouse and some of the younger players stepping up to become part of the new leadership core. He said, “Yeah that’s important. Sonny said young guys have to do their thing and he’s right about that. But if you listen closely, he says ‘I love playing alongside the young players.’” On Sonny he said, “At times this guy looks unapproachable but that couldn’t be further from the truth. This guy loves talking baseball with everyone.” He said the veterans currently in the clubhouse really work well with young players and helping develop young players.
On the topic of Masyn Winn and being able to have tough conversations between he and Oli, he smirked and said, “It goes both ways.” When asked about developing that relationship with young players what was most important to establish that he said, “You just gotta love on them and let them know you care. These guys don’t really care what you have to say unless they know you’re invested in them and who they are off the field.” Speaking on Masyn specifically he said “I love that kid. On the field, off the field, I think we get excited about what he does on the field, but he has a pretty good vision for what he wants to provide off the field.”
When asked about the direction of the team this season Oli talked about Sonny’s comments and how they can’t get caught in-between and they don’t view themselves that way and that’s why he’s so fired up about 2025 because, to them, they’re 100% full bore going one direction and focusing on pouring into the young guys in the room. They feel given the names on the staff they’re well equipped to handle that. Between Stubby, Dusty, “Pop”, Jay, Descalso; these guys do so well at communicating with young players and developing them. He’s really excited to see what comes of this season and beyond.
Oli was asked about the catching battle between Herrera and Pagés and how he sees that battle going into spring training and said, “They’re both very talented guys who both bring something exciting to the table. They both have shown they can catch at the big-league level, and they’ve done a really nice job. They’ve earned the trust of our pitching staff. They’re young but they’re studious and that’s what earns respect, regardless of experience or age. These guys want to know are you as prepared as me.”
When asked about what it will look like if things go right this season, he referenced Michael Siani last season and even though the counting stats don’t always look that great if what they’re seeing under the hood supports that take. With Alec Burleson, for example, if the results aren’t there, but he’s hitting the ball hard they’re likely to come through over time. That’s what they mean in regard to providing runway because they want to make absolutely sure they’re able to properly evaluate with enough course of time. They know in the past the organization has moved on from players too soon without fully knowing what they were at the big league level.
On the topic of Nootbaar and what about him excites Oli: “Couple things, first of all he’s fun, and he works hard, and that’s a terrific combo when you consider where we are and the young guys that we have coming up and seeing what that’s like. We’re going to count on his energy, but he also has some big tools that can lead to him having a really, really successful season.”
When asked about the rotation and young guys getting opportunities there with veterans still in the rotation Oli, like Mo, stated there’s injuries that always occur and that’s an unfortunate part of the game, but then you will have young guys come fill in those spots. If nobody gets hurt, then they will have some really tough decisions to make.
When asked if the new direction of the team will influence the way he manages or if it might force him to manage differently, he said it was interesting to consider the difference considering there will likely be young role players on the bench who will also need those opportunities to come off the bench and develop what they do. Luken Baker was used as an example and his experience in his first run as a big leaguer. Baker he was just really nervous and didn’t know how to handle the pressure at this level and said the last time he came up he had a better plan for how to handle that pressure and just take an at bat. It will all be about picking their spots.
Lars Nootbaar:
Lars was asked about his close friend Nolan Arenado and where his headspace is and what he’s feeling and how things are going this offseason for Nolan. With tongue in cheek response Lars responded, “Yeah my body feels good,” to which got a loud laughter from the press. Answering the question he said, “You know Nolan, he’s working right now, and he looks good, and things are being said and talked about, but my role for Nolan is to be a friend and so that’s just what I am to him.”
When asked about health and if there is a way to prepare specifically for that, he talked about just taking every step possible to prevent it; making sure his diet is where it’s supposed to be, making sure his body is flexible and moving around properly, and most of all he needs to try and avoid running into walls.
When asked about his personality and how that can help a clubhouse, Lars talked about how important it is to just be yourself in the profession they’re in and guys always value authenticity. If they can tell you’re acting one way one day and different the next that’s not great for clubhouse culture. Just being yourself, even if it means being silly, that’s always important.
Lars was asked about taking on a potential leadership role and he spoke about the excitement and not trying to change too much but also growing in a sort of maturation process and be who he is, so they know it’s okay for them to be themselves too; to lead by example but also have fun with the guys.
When asked about working with Brant Brown Lars talked about how he’s talked to him on the phone a few times and he sends him video of his swing when he’s working. He called him a “hitting rat” which he considers to be the highest compliment anyone can get in hitting. Talked about his understanding of swing mechanics and the conviction that he has in that has been awesome to experience so far.
On the topic of pressure this season Lars spoke about how in the past it felt like everything was on two guys, Goldy and Nolan, and now it feels like the pressure is more spread across the entire team and there’s just an expectation to go out and be a big leaguer and win as many games as possible and try to win a World Series. He said that’s the standard thought process for all players across the league and he’s open the challenge. That might mean he has to answer for more this upcoming season because they might not have those two vets who will step in and take responsibility; now it’s on everyone to share it more. Also speaking tongue and cheek, with Willson Contreras waiting in the back of the room, he said “If anything goes wrong just blame Willson,” to which Willson looked up from his coffee and smiled.
Willson Contreras:
Willson started off by being asked about how the conversation with Mo went after the end of the season and he said, “Towards the end of the season they started talking about where they were going as an organization and I told them I want to be a part of this. When I signed in St. Louis I told them that by the time I left I wanted to see the team be in better spot than when I got here. The second reason was I love my team and my teammates and that it would have been too easy to ask for a trade and be a coward and leave everything behind and I like challenges.”
When asked about being moved to first base he said he knew the opportunity was going to be there going into next season and at the end of the year he told Pedro Pagés “Don’t be surprised if next year I’m playing first base.” To which he said Pedro laughed at him. Said that most of his career he has had trouble staying healthy and thought it presented him an opportunity for first, and it also would open an opportunity for the young catchers behind him.
Contreras was asked about his relationship with the team and its leadership, and he said that he wasn’t sure if he was going to be here this year after he called out the front office at the end of last season. When he got the first call of the offseason, and they told him they wanted him to stay he said he was relieved. He called Oli a good communicator and was good at laying out a vision for players.
Contreras said he has been working with Jose Oquendo and Stubby Clapp on getting acclimated to being a first basemen and said he was also going to continue bringing his catching gear, just out of habit. He further said that he was going to continue helping the young catchers and if he see’s something he’s still going to say something.
On the changing landscape of the minor leagues for the Cardinals and the new direction the team was going, Willson said: “It was something that was necessary, in my eyes, because it was bad. Just being honest.” He said this season is going to be different because in seasons past it’s been very veteran heavy and this year there will be more young players. When he hears about people doubting him or his team, he really hates that. He expects they will prove people wrong.
On the young players he said they’re doing things the right way. They’re excited to play and excited to learn and that’s very encouraging. Willson said at the end of the day all the veterans want to know when players come up is whether the young player can step in and play at the same level as the veterans can.
Willson was asked about what his brother thought of him moving to first base he said that his brother told him that he was excited for him. He said he was one of the best catchers in the game for 7+ years and that he doesn’t have anything to prove to anyone. Said he might need to be a little nicer to players when they reach first base, however.
Cardinals Chairman and CEO Bill DeWitt Jr and Cardinals team President Bill DeWitt III:
Bill DeWitt Jr. was asked about the decision to reset and change course and Mr. DeWitt said that ever since he took over for the Cardinals, he has been a draft and develop centered owner, and they’ve reached a point where it’s appropriate to shift back to that as a focus to build their next Cardinals championship team.
When asked about keeping up with the rest of the league in terms of spending Mr. DeWitt responded with that there have been seasons where they experienced financial success and there have been seasons where they have lost money. When looking at where they are at the moment, he said their “debt has gone up.” They have several projects they’re focused on with stadium renovations and baseball is not an easy business and that anytime they’ve made money they’ve put it back into their product.
He said last season he was grumbling a little bit about going from 5 to 7 in the draft lottery but this year going from 16 to 5? He likes it this year. Bill DeWitt III talked about their excitement and talking with Randy Flores and understanding they will have one of the largest bonus pools to work from next season.
Going back to the subject of putting a competitive team on the field DeWitt III said they have tried to be as honest about the direction they’re headed this offseason. He said they could’ve tried to pull the wool over Cardinals fans eyes but admitted that would’ve last about a second with how smart the fanbase is. He said that the word “rebuild” isn’t applicable and that the young core at the MLB level gives them an already built in leg up on that process. Once that young core is established, they see themselves returning to investing significant financial resources into the roster.
On the topic of spending across the league Dewitt Jr. said that “it’s a revenue game.” He said that big market clubs can spend more because they have more while mid-market and small market teams don’t have that luxury.
On the topic of current Manager Oli Marmol being the right guy for the job DeWitt Jr. said: He was a guy who came up through the Cardinals system and from that line of thinking that was started with George Kissell. He has done a really nice job.
DeWitt III spoke about Chaim and his understanding of what an elite development system in today’s baseball side looks like, as well as Anuk Karunaratne, who came over from the Toronto Blue Jays, as two key members moving forward from the baseball operations and the financial operations department who are going to be leading the Cardinals into this exciting new direction.
On the topic of Nolan Arenado and needing to make further cuts to the payroll if they’re unable to trade him. “No, I don’t think so, and in regard to try to trade Nolan, we would prefer to go with younger players and Nolan, himself, if he could find the right opportunity, that he would be more open to going to, on paper, at least that has a top chance at being a World Series champion. But, having said that it’s not so easy to find A. That team that he has so much confidence in going to and B. He likes it here — it’s not like he’s begging to leave.” He called Nolan a Hall-of-Fame-type-player and they were happy to have had him and will continue to if he stays.
When asked about the investments being made behind the scenes and if they’re just director related, both mentioned the Jupiter Complex as a big project and the investment that that is. DeWitt III said in jest “Fans don’t see the PNL on that project, but that’s real investment from tech for both pitchers and hitters, to expanded weight facilities, larger more modern dining areas, larger kitchen space.” DeWitt Jr. said his dad had a card on his desk that was a quote from Branch Rickey that said, “get the players and the rest will take care of itself.”
Lastly they mentioned that direct-to-consumer prices for FanDuel Sports to stream the Cardinals will be “around $20 a month.”
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What an incredible experience that whole weekend was, and I am very grateful to have had it and hope to be able to provide more like it in the future for readers of this site. Thanks for reading!