Cardinals agree to an 8-year, $112.5 million contract with JJ Wetherholt

The St. Louis Cardinals and JJ Wetherholt have agreed to an eight-year, $112.5 million contract that starts next season and buys out the rookie second baseman's first several years of potential free agency.

St. Louis selected Wetherholt seventh overall out of West Virginia in the 2024 amateur draft and he rocketed through their farm system. The 23-year-old made his major league debut on opening day and was hitting .267 with 13 homers and 36 RBIs and nine stolen bases going into Friday night's game against the Atlanta Braves.

Advanced metrics also have graded Wetherholt as one of the best defensive second basemen in baseball this season.

He is earning the major league minimum $780,000 this year.

Wetherholt's emergence in the middle of the St. Louis infield is a big reason the club has been one of the surprises of the first half of the season. The Cardinals were 48-44 and three games out of an NL wild-card spot heading into the weekend.

His deal is one of the first big signings for St. Louis since significant changes were made to the top of the organizational ladder.

Last September, Chaim Bloom took over as the Cardinals' president of baseball operations, replacing longtime general manager John Mozeliak. Then last month, Bill DeWitt III took over as chief executive officer, though Bill DeWitt Jr. has continued as its chairman and principal owner with a hand in baseball and business matters.

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St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt, right, is greeted by Nelson Velázquez, left, after hitting a home run against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 4, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong, right, 1steals second base against St. Louis Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt, left, during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt takes up his position during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Monday, July 6, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will miss next week's All-Star Game in Philadelphia because of continued irritation in his left knee.

The Dodgers added that Ohtani would not make his scheduled start on the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night, but would continue his role as the team's designated hitter throughout the weekend.

The team says that after the series against the D-backs ends on Sunday, Ohtani will have some “interventions” done on his knee to get his ready for the second half of the season, which will cause him to miss the All-Star Game.

The four-time Most Valuable Player has once again been one of the best players in the big leagues this season and stands alone as the game's premier two-way player.

Ohtani is batting .290 with 20 homers and 56 RBIs and is 8-2 on the mound with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings.

Ohtani's absence will be a blow for baseball's midsummer showcase at Citizens Bank Park. The Japanese star — who turned 32 years old earlier this week — is among the game's most popular players and led MLB in jersey sales last year.

He hit his 300th career homer on Tuesday night, a leadoff shot against Colorado Rockies pitcher Michael Lorenzen that made him the first Japanese-born player in the majors to reach the milestone.

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Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani sits in the dugout during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani hits as he flies out during the first inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani fakes a pitch after the Dodgers defeated the against the Colorado Rockies in a baseball game Wednesday, July 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)