The Cardinals have announced the signing of infielder/outfielder. As part of the deal, Vilade, a client of Icon Sports Management, will also receive a non-roster invitation to Major League spring training.
The gifted player, who will turn 26 in February, has had some brief major league experience. He appeared in three games for the Rockies in 2021 and in 17 games for the Tigers in 2024, posting a .157/.200/.216 batting line across 56 plate appearances. He was designated for assignment by Detroit at the end of the season and chose free agency.
While those major league numbers are unimpressive, they come from a small sample size, and the Cardinals are likely focused on his minor league performance. In 2024, Vilade played 108 games at Triple-A, batting .278/.346/.449 with a 105 wRC+ in 442 plate appearances. He also stole 20 bases and played all three outfield positions as well as the non-shortstop infield spots.
He was a second-round pick by the Rockies in 2017 and had a strong start to his career, earning a spot among the Rockies’ top ten prospects from 2018 to 2022, according to Baseball America. However, after struggling at Triple-A in 2021 and 2022, Colorado waived him, and the Pirates briefly claimed him before he had another disappointing season at Triple-A in 2023.
After electing free agency heading into 2024, Vilade signed a minor league deal with the Tigers. Though his time in the majors was short, he showed some promise at Triple-A, which has drawn the Cardinals’ interest.
As the Cardinals look toward a reset year in 2025, focusing more on player development than immediate contention, they could trade players with limited long-term value. Nolan Arenado may be a trade candidate as he turns 34 and seeks to play for a contender, while Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar, with three years of club control left, could also be available. Nolan Gorman, who has four years of club control remaining, may be another player the Cardinals look to move. Paul Goldschmidt is already gone via free agency.
Vilade’s versatility in the field could allow him to take on more playing time as the team adjusts its roster. If he earns a spot on the major league roster, he still has one option year remaining and limited service time, making him a potentially affordable option for the future.
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