Derrick Goold
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dgoold.bsky.social
Derrick Goold
@dgoold.bsky.social
8.8K followers 280 following 630 posts
Baseball writer. Postcard scribbler. Pencil enthusiast. Craic backer. Lapsed cartoonist. World record INF. 5x APSE No. 1 beat scribe.

Friendly neighborhood word slinger.
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dgoold.bsky.social
A #Cardinals rival before his #Cardinals revival, Carlos Beltran is now a Hall of Famer.

Cooperstown calls.
www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
A Cardinals rival before his Cardinals revival, Carlos Beltrán elected to Hall of Fame
In his fourth year on the ballot, the switch-hitting, five-tool great overcame sluggish early support that was likely tied to Houston's sign-stealing scandal.
www.stltoday.com
January 20, 2026 at 11:51 PM
Reposted by Derrick Goold
2xaught7.ing
I know @dgoold.bsky.social has visited this topic numerous times in chats and on podcasts: fan atmosphere inside Busch III.

This passage crystallizes the issue.

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/professional/mlb/cardinals/article_ca58a630-197f-407a-a509-1b6d3cedbc32.html
A reminder of what the Cardinals missed at home this past season actually happened on the road. A young player on his team approached manager Oli Marmol in the dugout at a raucous, buzzing ballpark and described how he enjoyed playing on the road more than in St. Louis. Marmol called the moment “heartbreaking.” He declined to identify the player or the opponent, though it could have been Philadelphia or Wrigley or San Diego — anywhere with a packed house and the crackle of contention to contrast with the uncharacteristic calm of empty sections at Busch Stadium. Marmol told this story Friday night during an event at Lindenwood University as a way to convey to the Cardinals fans present the role they play in bringing out the best in players and also bringing the best players home to Busch. To bring back the best of Busch. “For that young core to feel that,” Marmol told the crowd Friday night, “might be the most important thing ever.”
January 18, 2026 at 2:37 PM
dgoold.bsky.social
www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
Will Cardinals make the call on Brendan Donovan trade talks before spring training?
The Cardinals continue to field interest in versatile fielder, and those talks could accelerate into a deal at any point.
www.stltoday.com
January 18, 2026 at 4:42 PM
dgoold.bsky.social
#stlcards take their sales pitch to the fans to sell tickets, yes, and stoke excitement by bringing the buzz back to Busch.

www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
Bring the buzz back to Busch? How Cardinals are selling fans on their role in a rebuild
A reminder of what the Cardinals missed at home this past season actually happened on the road.
www.stltoday.com
January 18, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Reposted by Derrick Goold
2xaught7.ing
Interesting nugget from @dgoold.bsky.social's latest "Write Fielder."

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/article_ae16a404-c3bc-4d74-93ce-26d852a50e79.html?

FROM THE ‘PEN When Albert Pujols signed his $100-million extension with the Cardinals to avoid arbitration in February 2004, his deal was the ninth $100-million contract in the game. Kyle Tucker reportedly agreed to a four-year, $240-million deal Thursday evening that gives the Dodgers’ eight contracts greater than $100-million on their active roster. Five will be in LA’s lineup. … There are times
January 16, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Reposted by Derrick Goold
sportsinfosolutions.com
Stat of the Week:

We teach each team's best player's Defensive Runs Saved total at each position and sum them up to see which team would do best.

Kind of a 'best ball' competition for defense spanning 2003-2025

From the #1 Cardinals to #30 Marlins ...
www.sportsinfosolutions.com/2026/01/15/s...
Stat of the Week: Which Team Can Put Out The Best Defensive 9-Man Group?
It’s January, which is always the time when you see articles considering a team’s all-time performance or some other aspect of franchise history (best free agent signings is a common one).
www.sportsinfosolutions.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:55 PM
dgoold.bsky.social
It's Cardinals chat day at StlToday ... www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
Join baseball writer Derrick Goold now for live Cardinals and Hall of Fame chat
Greetings and welcome to the weekly Cardinals chat here at StlToday. And what a week it's been since last we chatted. The Cubs have stirred from their hibernation and are
www.stltoday.com
January 12, 2026 at 5:13 PM
dgoold.bsky.social
#stlcards reach agreement with all seven arbitration-eligible players, per source. No hearings for 2026.

All of the updates available here: www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
Arbitration deadline tracker: Cardinals agree to deals with Brendan Donovan, 6 others
With noon Thursday set as the deadline, the Cardinals spent the morning negotiating and attempting to finalize salary agreements with seven arbitration-eligible players on their current major-league r...
www.stltoday.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:18 PM
dgoold.bsky.social
#stlcards reach agreements with Brendan Donovan and JoJo Romero, per sources familiar with the deals.

All of them continue to be updated here: www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
Arbitration deadline tracker: Cardinals, Brendan Donovan agree to deal; updates on 6 others
With noon Thursday set as the deadline, the Cardinals spent the morning negotiating and attempting to finalize salary agreements with seven arbitration-eligible players on their current major-league r...
www.stltoday.com
January 8, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Reposted by Derrick Goold
mattsnydercbs.bsky.social
had a great time talking about my book and some other Cardinals stuff with @dgoold.bsky.social here!
Ignition switch: From sparking lineups with 'Leadoff Man' author to thawing a chilly Hot Stove
Podcast Episode · Best Podcast in Baseball · 01/08/2026 · 55m
podcasts.apple.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:49 AM
dgoold.bsky.social
Andre Pallante is first across the line ahead of today's deadline. @stltoday has started an arbitration tracker with six other arb-eligible Cardinals and the club facing calls today.

Follow along here for the latest: www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
Arbitration deadline tracker: Cardinals negotiating contract details with 7 players
With noon Thursday set as the deadline, the Cardinals spent the morning negotiating and attempting to finalize salary agreements with seven arbitration-eligible players on their current major-league r...
www.stltoday.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:48 PM
dgoold.bsky.social
Goold's chat: Do Cardinals need to sign a star attraction to bring fans back to Busch?
www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
Goold's chat: Do Cardinals need to sign a star attraction to bring fans back to Busch?
Happy New Year! Sorry for the delay in starting here. Questions are already overstuffing the in box, so let's forego the prelude and just dive right into the questions. Onward!
www.stltoday.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:15 PM
dgoold.bsky.social
As 2026 arrives, an all-time Cardinals' 26-man roster picked from 1st 26 seasons of 2000s

Can you put together a roster? www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
As 2026 arrives, an all-time Cardinals' 26-man roster picked from 1st 26 seasons of 2000s
The exercise gives perspective to the constellation of stars in St. Louis from the past two-plus decades.
www.stltoday.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Reposted by Derrick Goold
2xaught7.ing
LRS:

1) a nice read from @dgoold.bsky.social about said Flood letter.
2) If you can, find yourself a copy of "A Well-Paid Slave: Curt Flood's Fight for Free Agency in Professional Sports"
On Dec. 24, 1969, Curt Flood mailed a letter that changed baseball history
By rejecting a trade, Cardinals outfielder launched a labor relations revolution that led to free agency for players — and cost him his career.
www.stltoday.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Reposted by Derrick Goold
alexspeier.bsky.social
Contreras, under his renegotiated deal, makes $18M in 2026, $17M in 2027, and has a $20M team option with a $7.5M buyout - so a guarantee of $42.5M, and a chance to earn up to $55M. The Cardinals are sending $8M to the Sox in the deal. As a result, Contreras is valued at $17.25M for CBT purposes.
December 22, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Reposted by Derrick Goold
samdykstramilb.bsky.social
I know Hunter Dobbins has been mentioned as the better part of the Cardinals' return tonight, but a lot to like about Yhoiker Fajardo. Moved quickly past the FCL to Single-A at just 18yo and fanned 27.8% of batters faced at the higher level. A pair of good fastballs; slider and kick-change earn 55s.
December 22, 2025 at 1:33 AM
dgoold.bsky.social
#Cardinals trade Willson Contreras to Boston Red Sox.

Here are the complete deals on the move, with more coverage coming: www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
Cardinals trading Willson Contreras to Red Sox for Hunter Dobbins, 2 prospect pitchers
In exchange for Contreras and cash, the Cardinals are receiving three right-handed pitchers: Hunter Dobbins, Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita.
www.stltoday.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:41 AM
dgoold.bsky.social
Cardinals broadcast partner skips payment. Club says latest hiccup won't limit fan access.
www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
Cardinals broadcast partner skips payment. Club says latest hiccup won't limit fan access.
FanDuel Sports Network's parent company did not meet obligations to Cardinals, leaving them with two outcomes for 2026, neither likely to disrupt if fans have access.
www.stltoday.com
December 21, 2025 at 9:55 PM
dgoold.bsky.social
Chat, wrapped.

More than 18,000 words this week. That qualifies as a novella, #Cardinals fans.

www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
Goold's chat: Is Cardinals' focus on pitching overlooking need for hitter prospects, too?
A lively chat that ranges from the Cardinals' pursuit of young pitchers to whether they are in for a longer rebuild than advertised unless MLB changes.
www.stltoday.com
December 16, 2025 at 12:49 AM
dgoold.bsky.social
5 things we learned about the #stlcards at the Winter Meetings -- including four detailing their approach and market for specific players and a fifth that suggests, hey, there was a fan base who had a really awful week ...

www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
Goold: 5 things we learned at winter meetings about Cardinals' approach, MLB hot stove
The Cardinals made progress on multiple fronts and even felt some momentum in their trade talks before heading back to St. Louis for what could be a busy week ahead.
www.stltoday.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:30 PM
dgoold.bsky.social
Forget all of the trade talk, here is the real deal for the Cardinals.

What are they going to sell their fans on?

I asked Chaim Bloom ...
www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
With trades likely, here's the real deal for Cardinals: What's their sales pitch to fans?
'We don’t feel like we’re building this core from scratch,' says new president Chaim Bloom, who had a lengthy answer on what club owes its committed fanbase.
www.stltoday.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:30 PM
dgoold.bsky.social
#stlcards continue add depth and some roster flexibility for the bullpen ...

www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
Cardinals continue collecting pitching depth, pluck Zak Kent off waivers from Guardians
The Cardinals' accumulation of pitching depth and roster flexibility continued on the eve of the Winter Meetings during a flurry of waiver claims in Major League Baseball.
www.stltoday.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:19 PM
dgoold.bsky.social
He stitched together Cardinals' greatest eras, and now Butch Yatkeman is honored in Hall

www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
He stitched together Cardinals' greatest eras, and now Butch Yatkeman is honored in Hall
The constant through Cardinals' first nine World Series titles was Morris "Butch" Yatkeman, clubhouse manager who was recently honored by his peers in Cooperstown.
www.stltoday.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:09 PM
dgoold.bsky.social
Cardinals set to be MLB revenue-sharing recipient for first time. What does that mean?
www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
Cardinals set to be MLB revenue-sharing recipient for first time. What does that mean?
One benefit of 'slipping' out of the neutral zone between luxury tax payers and "payees" is immediately obvious with the MLB Draft Lottery next month.
www.stltoday.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:27 PM
dgoold.bsky.social
Meet the new Cardinals*.

Part 1 of ?, this winter.
www.stltoday.com/sports/profe...
Meet Brandon Clarke and Richard Fitts: Scouting the 2 pitchers Cardinals got from Red Sox
A dive into the details of the two prospects the Cardinals acquired in the Sonny Gray trade, including a high-upside left with some of the best stuff in the minors.
www.stltoday.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:44 PM