Cardinals Face Arbitration With Nootbaar, Donovan, and Pallante

St. Louis reaches deals with three relievers but must negotiate contracts with key players to avoid arbitration hearings.

Outfielder Lars Nootbaar, utility player Brendan Donovan, and pitcher Andre Pallante did not reach salary agreements with the Cardinals by the arbitration deadline.
The team secured one-year contracts with relievers Ryan Helsley, JoJo Romero, and John King to avoid arbitration.
Ryan Helsley, who led MLB with 49 saves in 2024, earned an $8.2 million contract for 2025 after a record-breaking season.
Brendan Donovan, a 2022 Gold Glove winner, played 153 games in 2024, leading the team in batting average and excelling in multiple defensive positions.
Andre Pallante transitioned to a starting pitcher midseason, delivering strong performances with a 3.78 ERA across 20 starts.