At the outset of the offseason, it was reported that St. Louis Cardinals’ Luken Baker had teams overseas expressing interest in his services, but nothing ever came out of those initial reports. His fit with the team has always been a curious one, and I wrote last month about how it may be best for his career to move on from St. Louis. However, I admit that I may have spoken a little too soon.

The right-handed-hitting Baker has consistently tormented opposing pitchers throughout his minor league career, smashing 126 homers and adding another 118 doubles in 576 games in the minors. Those extra-base hits, paired with solid plate discipline, give him an above-average .839 OPS, and he was named the International League MVP after the 2023 season. During that campaign, the former second-round pick laid waste to Triple-A pitching, putting up a video-game-like .334/.439/.720 slash line with 33 homers, 22 doubles, and 98 RBIs… in just 84 games. In that limited time, he also drew 59 walks against just 76 strikeouts. His performance that year earned him his first big league call-up in June, but he was unable to carve out any meaningful playing time despite the Cardinals struggling offensively during their miserable season. Baker continued to hit for power in 2024, but his batting average dropped significantly. In 108 games with Memphis, he hit .231 but smacked another 32 homers and again rode the shuttle back and forth to St. Louis.

For his major league career, Baker is hitting a tough .198 with four homers but has only received 126 at-bats in 54 games at the highest level in the past two seasons. Soon to be 28, Baker does not have the same prospect pedigree as others in the organization and has defensive limitations, only playing first or designated hitter over his career. The Cardinals plan to trot out Willson Contreras at first base, where early reports about his defense are encouraging, and use his “off days” at the designated hitter spot. While Contreras is at the cold corner, all expectations were that Alec Burleson would be the regular DH, especially against righties after struggling against left-handed pitchers over his career. This appeared to leave minimal opportunity for Baker to see any meaningful or consistent at-bats with St. Louis.