Lars Nootbaar’s SHOCKING Heel Surgery Could DERAIL St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day Plans

Lars Nootbaar’s SHOCKING Heel Surgery Could DERAIL St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day Plans

Lars Dupar speaks since having surgery and what will the Cardinals plan be without him if he’s not ready for opening day. This is Locked on Cardinals. You are Locked on Cardinals, your daily St. Louis Cardinals podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey there, Cardinal fans. I’m JD Haffron, a former national radio sports anchor, born and raised in St. Louis on the Lifetime Cardinals fan and I’m your host for Locked on Cardinals, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, covering your team every day. Big thank you to our everydayers for being here with us throughout the season and now into this off season. For those of you who are new, welcome aboard and I hope you enjoy the content. This is a show serving Cardinal Nation and giving you all the info about the birds on the bat. Today’s episode being brought to you by FanDuel. Right now, new customers can bet just $5. And if your bet wins, you’ll get $300 in bonus bets to use across the app. So, download the app today. It would benefit you. Uh today’s episode, we’ve got Cardinal Confessions. Uh we’re going to talk about free agents. A lot of opinions on um the article by Jim Bowden uh from the Athletic had the Cardinals linked to uh four different pitchers. So, some thoughts on that. Uh we’ve got uh an update on the Albert Poohole’s managerial possibilities, latest going on with him. Uh but we’re going to start here with the latest on Cardinals outfielder Lars Newbar. First though, uh apologies for not being around yesterday after covering the 18 inning game three of the World Series on Monday night into Tuesday morning. I got to bed at like 4:00 a.m. and then woke up and had just an awful cold. I’m still dealing with it. I’m I’m under the weather today still. Um although I I was able to get MLB game night done last night, but I I just felt like butt. Uh I still do, but uh we’re gonna power through. So I’m here for you. Um you know, seasons change and like the weather’s dipped from 75 to 50 and it gets wet and gross and I don’t know what it is, man. It hits me every year. It’s nasty. So um I don’t even get sick a lot. It really doesn’t happen all that much. So when I go down and you I can’t show up, then you know it’s probably pretty bad. So I appreciate your patience. Now moving on. Lars Dupar, one of a handful of Cardinals players who had surgery during the off season. And honestly, this was the one that caught me off guard the most. I mean, we kind of knew that Donnie was dealing with stuff. We knew Ivon Herrera was going to have to do some stuff. I was not aware that Lars Dupart was going to have to go under the knife this off season. And uh so it caught me off guard a little bit. We know N has dealt with his fair share of injuries in his career, but this past year he was relatively healthy. You know, he played in a career-high 135 games. So, you’re like, “Oh, well, finally, he may have gotten over the the injury bug.” So, it came as a bit of a surprise to me. And apparently to nude as well that he was going to have surgery according to Derek Gul’s recent article atcla.com, which I do have linked in the description and in the show notes as well. So, uh, if you want to click on that and, uh, read it in its fullest for yourself, you should do that. Uh, N said, “When they told me I needed surgery, I was like, hold on, let me get a picture of N up here for you guys.” There you go. Uh, I I was like a huge shock. I I didn’t know how to respond. I was nervous. You got the start of the season. The WBC World Baseball Classic is coming up. There were so many things. And there was a part of me that was like, “All right, finally there’s a solution to this problem that’s been happening for a while and it’s been eating me up.” Part of me was relieved. There was light at the end of the tunnel. Now, what he had surgery on sounds extremely uncomfortable. And I’m not somebody who has had a lot of surgeries in my life. Uh, very few, honestly. I’ve had trying to think of I one one I think that like I would consider like a surgery is when I when I broke a leg once. Um but this sounds very uncomfortable to say the least. He had to have surgery on both of his heels due to Hagglan’s deformities which are basically bony enlargements at the back of the heelbone right by the Achilles tendon. Apparently they’re very very painful. It it sounds painful. It sounds awful. And N had to get those shaven down. So, these bony enlargements uh that were causing so much uh just just friction and just pain to him while he’s just walking and just everyday life. I mean, you’re on your feet all the time, especially if you’re a ball player. Uh had to get those shaven down. So, doesn’t sound like it’s something that, you know, it’s not just like h no big deal type of surgery. I mean, this is this is legit. Um, we also learned from Him Bloom’s interview with Matt Paulie on KOX that opening day is not guaranteed for new as he heals from the surgery. You get it? Heals. Okay. Sorry, cold medicine dad jokes probably not a good mix, but anyway. So, in Gould’s article, N talked about his recovery and said that, hey, it’s going well. Uh, Gould pointed out that recoveries are are based on the individual. Everybody’s a little different, but usually range between four to six months. Opening day is going to be on March 26th at Bush Stadium against Tampa Bay. So, you can see why there would be some skepticism for his availability. They’re not going to say like, yeah, you know, he should be here. Um, but they’re not going to say he’s not going to be there either. You know, they’re just going to kind of play it by ear and see how things unfold. But N is expressing optimism, which he should. It shouldn’t shock you. He’s one of the most optimistic dudes you’ve ever heard speak. Uh he said this again, this is from Derrick Cool’s article. To be honest with you, there is a part of me that for a couple of years now in the cage or with the information I had in the weight room that I’m getting as much as I can done, but also I can’t run or do certain things like I want because of the pain in my feet. Um with me getting this done and getting such good treatment on it, I almost for me feel like this off season might be better. I’m clearing myself. I’m getting completely healthy. I’m not ignoring these ongoing injuries that have been bothering me. So, good news, bad news situation when it comes to what he’s dealing with. All right. The good news for Lars new bar is the surgery appears to have been a success. It it appears that it’s that it’s worked out. He’s rehabbing it. There wasn’t some like major issue while he was under or anything. So, that’s good. Uh, so we’ll know more as he continues this this rehabilitation process. It appears that he’s got a good mindset moving forward on how this will help him become a better player for the Cardinals in 2026 after, let’s be honest, he regressed in a lot of categories last season. You know, uh, a healthy and productive new at the top of the order was instrumental to the Cardinals solid start in the first couple of months. um at the end of what May he’s hitting 248 which isn’t great but he had eight home runs 28 RBI’s the OBP was at 347 and more importantly the Cardinals were 32 and 24 as the season went on he became less and less effective and in the second half he had just one home run and 11 RBI’s over 47 games and that’s almost 200 played appearances this is not I’m not talking about like a couple of weeks 47 games. That’s all he was doing. And Cardinal suffered to go 21 and 26. N’s part of the guys that that that get this engine going and when he’s at the top of the order and he’s wearing out pitchers with his keen eye. I still want to see what he he can do with the ABS because we know how good Lars’s eye can be. Um, but the good news is he he feels like this is going to help him uh significantly. The bad news other than he’s hurt because we never wish injuries upon anyone. But if the Cardinals were entertaining any trades that involve Lars Newar, then those are kind of squashed right now, right? Like until he proves he can return healthy next season. You know what team is trading for a guy who’s had surgery on both his heels this off season and is currently in boots and using crutches? I I don’t know anybody who would be like, “Yeah, sign me up.” Um, in the meantime, what will the Cardinals outfield look like without Lars Nuke Bar as a part of it? I’ll discuss that next coming up on Locked on Cardinals. This episode is brought to you by Prize Picks. 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Now, I’ve been someone who has openly stated I’m kind of ready to move on from the Lars Newar experience and see if they can find someone else who can do more for them, who can stay healthy. And honestly, we could use a right-handed bat in the Cardinals lineup to be honest with you. I, you know, somebody with a little bit of thump. Uh, that would be nice. But trading him while he’s hurt, is that really a good idea? You know, the value it’s at its lowest. You hope he comes back, makes a really good impression, and then if you, you know, can find a cool deal that involves Lars New to help you in other areas, uh, so be it. So be it. So, as much as it sucks to lose the trade chip that Lars Newar might have been, Heim’s going to have to put that sucker back in his pocket for now because I just don’t see anybody pulling the trigger on a deal to get him. Uh, so what will the Cardinal outfield look like without me? That’s a legitimate question. As of now, you you haven’t traded anyone, although that could change in the coming weeks when the World Series wraps up and then GM meetings take place November 10th through the 13th. But the with N out, there shouldn’t be any panic, okay? Like, I’m not freaking out because Lars newbar is not going to be in the lineup on opening day. Although, that’s not for sure, but I’m just going to say he ain’t gonna be ready yet. That’s just going to be my guess. Uh, and if he shows up, then good for him, man. That’s great. Ahead of schedule in my opinion, but um the Cardinals have capable bodies to help fill this void. And you don’t have the kind of stigma where it’s like, well, we got to play N, right? You got to play him. I do you because I got some guys here. Alec Berles, I think, becomes your your everyday left fielder for the foreseeable future. We know the bat plays. Um he’s going to be in your lineup anyways. They’re not going to bench his bat, who’s up for a silver slugger award, will probably win it. So, put him in left field. You would have them and Victor Scott and then Walker in right field to start the season. Brennan Donovan could begin the season in left field as well. Have the DH also playing some first base with Willie Contrarus. That opens up a spot at second base for Thomas and JC. Or if they’re feeling frisky, top prospect JJ Weatherhold. Yeah. Yeah, I remember him. Um, this is also assuming that Nolan Aronado gets moved and Gorman becomes your everyday third baseman because if that doesn’t happen, Gorman can uh can play second base and you don’t have to feel the pressure of uh bringing JJ up just yet and you move Donovan to left there. Um, Ivon Herrera, my guy, took some reps in left field last year. Um, is it ideal to have him in left field? No, but you want his bat in the lineup. Um, I know they want to give him another shot at catching and they’re going to do that. But if it doesn’t work out, is Ivon Herrera somebody that you can leave in left field and not freak out every time the ball’s hit in his general direction? Uh, also currently on the 40man roster, you’ve got guys like Nathan Church, who we saw at the end of last season, Matt Caperniaak, who had a rough year at Memphis. The production dipped in 2025. Wasn’t what you were hoping for after kind of a breakout 2024 season. My guy Michael Ciani is still down there on the 40man roster as well, but all three of those guys, you know, they’re bedroom guys. You’re not looking to have them be in your starting lineup. Uh so, but those are like other options to kind of fill the different spots that when when you have to shuffle guys around. So, there are options. There are options is what I’m telling you. And you could also look outside the organization and try to find someone to bring in if you want to. There’s plenty of right-handed hitting names available in free agency that won’t be too expensive. Um, they’re not the sexiest names. Uh, you can make a trade to acquire someone that that is serviceable uh if you if you were able to find something that that fit what you’re trying to do. But knowing the Cardinals, I I would just assume that they’re going to patch this up with some in-house options until Nude is ready to roll because this isn’t something that’s supposed to keep him out, you know, to the middle of the season or anything like that. At least we don’t think so. We’ve heard this before with, you know, remember when Tommy Edmond and he had the wrist injury and we’re like, well, you know, he’ll be all right. He’s gonna be fine. And then we never saw him in a Cardinal uniform again. he got traded to the Dodgers the trade deadline right when he got healthy and uh missed the entire season as far as uh being a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. Um so I’d assume they they’re going to patch this up in house somehow. Um sadly kind of how they did with using Jos Barrero and Ryan Valade uh at the beginning of the season. Again, it is not sexy, but it doesn’t need to be if N’s only going to miss the first couple weeks. If he was out a really long time, then maybe you make a bigger deal out of it. Um, you got a number of different combinations that you could you could use here to to cover the spot, assuming everyone returns healthy at the start of the year. U, I know we’re going to get some people in the comments who are mad that Jordan Walker is automatically getting right field again, but that’s just the way it’s going to be. I would be shocked if anything else happens. They they need him to work out in the worst way. He needs to become a dude for them. They need some thump in that outfield that was so bad offensively in 25. Ev Walker was part of the problem. We know that. But if he could somehow get going next season, what a boost that would be. Plus, you know, you’d have Burley who who you trust with his bat to swing the lumber at that Silver Slugger level. And then you have the Victor Scott also improves in his second full season. I know we we’ve got people who are already like, “Ah, Victor Scott, he can’t hit. He sucks. Can’t hit at the major league level.” He’s had one full season. like why why is it just an absolute that he is going to be crap at the plate for his whole career? I I I don’t know where that thinking comes from, but um it’s no guarantee that he’s going to be good either, but second full season coming up. Hopefully, he’s made some adjustments and uh we’ll be better in 2026. Um Cardinal confessions, we got to do these next. The topic is free agency. Uh Jim Bowden’s top 50 free agents. The cardinals were linked to four of them. We uh discussed this on Monday. Now, it’s time for your feedback about what was said in that particular episode. So, we’ll get to that coming up next here on Lockdown Cardinals. The NBA is back and there’s no better place to get in on the action than FanDuel, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. Even if you miss the start of a game or you want to ride the hot hand, FanDuel has got live bets on everything from who’s gonna score next to the fourth quarter comebacks. Austin Reeves, I’ve been harping on this for those of you listening. I’ve been harping on Austin Reeves for the better part of the last week. He continues to go off. No LeBron, no Luca Donuch. So, it’s been Reeves who has scored 26, 25, 51, and then 41 points a game. Uh, if you jumped in on this hot hand when I told you to two games ago, then you’re scoring big right now. You’re living large. If you haven’t, time to pay attention to what I’m telling you. You can even combine your live bets into a same game parlay for a shot at a better payout. 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Uh, the question I posted under Monday’s episode was, would you pay that amount for Zack Gallon at this point in his career? 30 years old, five years, 135 million, I think is what Jim Bowden said uh that he predicted that his salary and contract would be. uh would you pull the trigger on that if he were willing to come to St. Louis and which bullpen piece makes the most sense to you? The bullpen piece stuff everybody was just kind of like yeah they all kind of sound good which I agree all of them seem like pretty good fits for the Cardinals in their own ways but uh had a lot more responses on the Zack Gallon side of things. Uh here are some of them. St. Louis should definitely be in the mix of free agent negotiations for Gallon. actually for both Gallon and Dylan CE Gray might even want to stay if he sees the Cardinals put together a complete pitching staff. Um, sure. Sure they I mean I would imagine if you put better players on the roster that the you know Sunny Gray would be more apt to stick around. Um, do you trust Dylan C’s? I have a tough time believing that he’s as good as everybody wants him to be or thinks he’s going to be. Like I’ve seen him flash brilliance here and there and then I see him pitch well for two innings and then get clobbered a lot. So I I don’t know. I don’t know. I I I see why people like him though. Great arm. Nasty stuff. But um yeah, I don’t know. And I just feel like somebody’s gonna overpay for Dylan CE. Like I think somebody’s going to throw the bag at him. Uh I think he’s going to get more than Zack Allen does. Um so another response here, no, I would not pay big money for a guy who seems to be drifting past his prime. Cards need to draft and develop their starting pitching. There are too many high roller teams that would outbid the Cardinals. Stick to the plan. Draft and develop. I think that’s probably what they’re going to do. Um, they might kick the tires on Zack Gallon. Um, here’s another one. No way Gallon comes back after the bridges that were burned. He was publicly making negative comments about the Cardinals not too long ago. Yeah, I kind of remember that, too. But the almighty dollar usually smooths stuff like that over. Um, when it’s all said and done, I I don’t think the Cardinals are ready to spend that kind of money on a free agent pitcher right now. as much as it might make some sense, it just doesn’t feel like the type of move that the team would do at this point of how they’re going about rebuilding things. And again, and I’ve gotten a lot of responses about um you know, the the possible work stoppage in 2027. Um that that’s certainly weighing on owners minds as well. So um I it just doesn’t seem like something that they’re going to do in my opinion. the uh the three years or less type of pitchers. Uh those are the guys I think that they’re that’s the shopping aisle that the Cardinals are going to be in at this point. Uh I just don’t see them venturing outside of that for any of these other guys uh at this point. Uh here’s one who doesn’t who’s upset that it was all about pitching. Pitching for all four spots. Dude, they really need another bat, especially a right-handed bat that can kill left-handed pitching. And N setting like he’s going to be out for quite a while. They do not have a power outfielder or third baseman. And that’s with already having the likes of 220 batting average with absolutely zero power outfielder in Victor Scott. Sorry, but that’s just effing stupid to me. If we’re to pursue more than one free agent, I’d want at least one position player added to the mix. Okay. All right. Lot of caps, a lot of exclamation points there. I love it. I love it. I love the fire. Um, again, when it comes to the offense, I I think they are really banking, and this is going to upset some people. I think they’re just banking on full seasons and progression from the younger guys to carry them. Burley, Herrera, Victor Scott, Gorman, Walker, um, Mason W. Mason Wen coming back from the knee issue. Jimmy Krooks they think can add more offense behind the plate. uh whatever role Thomas and JC is in, they think he should be a better offensive player. JJ Weatherhold coming up at some point to go along with Donnie Wilson Contrarus Nar when he’s back healthy. And I know Vic isn’t the power guy. You don’t need him to be though. Not everybody needs to be hitting 20 home runs a year. Uh it’d be cool. A lot cooler if you did. Cobweb right there. Be a lot cooler if you did. Uh, but you you need him to just be the gold glove caliber guy he is in center field and learn to get on base more. That’s really what I want for Victor Scott so he can become an even bigger weapon on the base paths. Honestly, the guys and it it’s like I feel like I’m just regurgitating the same crap, but it’s the way I feel. Walker and Gorman have to be these guys that that’s what they’ve been groomed to become. Walker needs to be 25, 30 home run guy. Gorman needs to be 2530 home run guy. That’s where the power upgrade needs to come from. I I’m sorry if that’s too much pressure for somebody, but I’m just asking you to do what you’re supposed to be doing and to be the player you’re supposed to be. It’s what’s expected of these guys and they have fallen so short of where they need to be at this point in their career. So, um that’s really where I see it coming from. If they do that, if you can get them to guys to turn it around and then you get what you saw last year from Alec Burles and Ivon Herrera plus Willie and Donniey’s normal production. I I feel like you got a decent lineup in my eyes, but they need those two guys to become those bats for them and that it’s a very big if. I know that. It’s uh you know we we saw it fail miserably last year and it’s part of the reason why the offense struggled because you had two guys well Gorman couldn’t get on the field for the longest time and Walker couldn’t stay on the field because he kept getting hurt last year. He kept having issues. So uh we need healthy seasons and uh they got to become the dudes. They got to become real dudes in this lineup. Uh could you trade one or both of them for an established bat? Maybe. But think about it this way, too. And I I I tend to do this when I’m feeling a certain way about a player and then I try to like put myself in the shoes of somebody else. So, if we’re so desperate as Cardinal people to punt on these guys, like we’re like, “No, no, no. They suck, man. We can’t we’re not putting up with them anymore. Get them out of here.” If you were the GM of another team, why why would you want why why would you swap a productive bat that you have for either of these guys for lottery tickets, if you will? Think about that. In Bowden’s top 10 trade candidates, uh he does have Angels outfielder Joe Wedell, who I have been fond of for years and had and I pointed out that he that Jordan Walker reminds me of Joe Wedell. And it’s it’s not just the look and the physical look or anything. I’m talking about just the way he came up and he just has not had he never found his groove. Never found his groove. And then finally this past year, Joe Adell found his groove. He he figured something out and ended up hitting 37 home runs. This will be Jordan Walker’s third year really, you know. Is this the year that it finally clicks for him? I hope so. I really do. But Joe Adell’s a guy um under control for two more years. Bowden has him as the uh number 10 guy on the list of the top 10 trade candidates this off season. So, could you go get him? Would you want to go get him? Cuz uh he’s got a lot of red there. Strikes out a lot. Know that. But he’s got a lot of red there. Um not sure what it would take, but you know, Walker and a couple of pitching prospects would be the start. Are you ready to give up stuff to go get somebody like that or are you just willing to be patient with Jordan Walker and hope that you know he becomes that guy that he becomes your Joe Adele? So that’s that’s the that’s the question. Um and it’s not like the free agent outfielder Mark’s that much better. It is not flush full of t uh talent. Miguel Anduhar, Rob Refnider, Cedric Mullins, Hunter Renfro. I mean, there’s not a lot out there. There’s been some Nick Costanos rumblings that I’ve seen online. Uh, but he seems like a guy would prefer to go to a contender if he’s got his choice at this point in his career if the Phillies end up moving on from him. Um, yeah, seems like somebody else maybe go back to Detroit, maybe he goes back to Chicago. He was a Cub, too. But, uh, he tends to go places and they win. And I don’t think he’d want to go somewhere like St. Lewis where winning isn’t likely something that’s going to happen as much as he would like it to to where you could be a playoff caliber guy. Uh real quick, Albert Pooh interviewed for a second time with the Padres’s as they try to replace uh former Cardinal manager Mike Schilt. According to reports, uh, Pooh Holes ex Padres’s coach and current Cubs bench coach Ryan Flity, expadre and current Rangers exec Nick Hunley, Padres’s pitching coach Ruben Yaba, Padres scout and ex-mariners manager Scott Service, and Padres’s third base coach Brian Espazito are among the candidates. So Albert didn’t get the job with the Angels, did not get the job with the Orioles. Padres’s maybe I feel like he’d be a good fit there. I feel like him with, you know, Machado and Fernando Tastis Jr. I feel like that would be a a pretty good fit for Albert Pooh Holes, but it’s still going to be weird to see him in another uniform again. Anyway, still nothing on Yachti at this time. So, that’s still uh radio silent so far. Uh game five of the World Series tonight. Series tied at two. You Savage vers Snell. I had the Dodgers winning in six, so I’m not wavering on that. I still think that’ll happen. But the Blue Jays, man, have they been really resilient considering the loss of George Springer who got hurt, losing that 18 ining game, which is a real kick to the Nards and, uh, having a hobbled Bob Bashette who can’t even run. So, um, to be tied at two with the Dodgers and beating Otani on Tuesday, pretty impressive. Pretty impressive. So, it’s been fun to watch. You know, I still think the Dodgers win this thing, but my my heart is pulling for Toronto. Thanks for making Lockdown Cardinals your first listen every day. If you haven’t already, give us a follow on X at l_cardinal at JD Sports Radio, Tik Tok, and Instagram at Lockdown Cardinals. Like, subscribe on YouTube. I think we’re less than 20 subscribers away from hitting that 13,000 mark. That would be awesome if we could do that by the end of the week. I’d appreciate it. You guys are the best fans in baseball for a reason. I’ll see you next time on Lockdown Cardinals.

Lars Nootbaar’s heel surgery throws the St. Louis Cardinals’ Opening Day plans into uncertainty. Will the Cardinals outfielder be ready for March 26th, or could his recovery stretch into April?

JD Hafron breaks down Nootbaar’s shocking diagnosis of Haglund’s deformities, the 4-6 month recovery timeline, and how this impacts his trade value heading into the offseason. The discussion covers internal outfield solutions including Alec Burleson, Victor Scott, and Jordan Walker, plus listener reactions to potential free agent targets like Zac Gallen at 5 years, $135 million. Key topics include why the Cardinals must bank on Jordan Walker and Nolan Gorman becoming 25-30 home run threats, the team’s offensive needs beyond pitching, and Albert Pujols’ second interview for the San Diego Padres managerial position.

Tune in for a complete breakdown of how Nootbaar’s surgery reshapes the Cardinals’ offseason strategy and roster construction.

0:00 Intro

1:34 Lars Nootbaar’s Heel Surgery Update

4:38 Recovery Timeline and Opening Day Concerns

8:45 Cardinals Outfield Options Without Noot

14:21 Jordan Walker Gets Right Field Again

16:53 Cardinal Confessions: Free Agency Discussion

19:26 Zac Gallen Contract Debate

22:31 Cardinals Banking on Young Offensive Talent

26:06 Jo Adell Trade Possibility

28:08 Albert Pujols Padres Manager Interview

https://www.stltoday.com/sports/professional/mlb/cardinals/article_d536dfd4-8bf1-417a-9198-86f9dee6cedc.html

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