Cardinals Sign Ryan Vilade to Minor League Deal
The St. Louis Cardinals have signed infielder/outfielder Ryan Vilade to a minor league contract, which includes an invitation to major league spring training. Represented by Icon Sports Management, Vilade, who turns 26 in February, brings some MLB experience despite limited opportunities.
Vilade has appeared in 20 major league games, splitting time with the 2021 Rockies and the 2024 Tigers, but has struggled at the plate with a .157/.200/.216 line across 56 plate appearances. After being outrighted by Detroit at the end of the season, he elected free agency.
While his major league numbers are modest, Vilade’s minor league performance paints a more promising picture. In 108 Triple-A games in 2024, he slashed .278/.346/.449, posted a 105 wRC+ in 442 plate appearances, and stole 20 bases. Defensively, he showcased versatility by playing all three outfield positions as well as first, second, and third base.
Drafted in the second round by the Rockies in 2017, Vilade was highly regarded as a prospect, ranked by Baseball America among Colorado’s top ten prospects from 2018 to 2022. However, struggles at Triple-A in 2021 and 2022 led to his release, with subsequent stints in Pittsburgh and Detroit showing mixed results. His 2024 rebound at Triple-A caught the Cardinals’ attention.
St. Louis appears to be gearing up for a developmental year in 2025, prioritizing its player pipeline over short-term contention. The team may explore trades involving players with limited long-term value, including Nolan Arenado, Brendan Donovan, and Lars Nootbaar, while Paul Goldschmidt has already departed via free agency. Vilade’s ability to cover multiple positions makes him a valuable depth option amid potential roster changes.
With one remaining minor league option and minimal MLB service time, Vilade offers the Cardinals a flexible and cost-effective roster piece for the future.
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