The St. Louis Cardinals have added organizational depth by signing first baseman and outfielder Bligh Madris to a minor league contract, according to a report from Chase Ford. The agreement does not appear to include an invitation to major league spring training, signaling that the move is more about strengthening the farm system than making an immediate big-league addition.
Madris, who will turn 30 later this month, brings a fair amount of professional experience despite limited time at the MLB level. Over parts of three major league seasons from 2022 through 2024, he appeared in 72 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, and Detroit Tigers. Across those stints, Madris posted a combined slash line of .204/.273/.286 in 228 career plate appearances. While those numbers don’t jump off the page, they don’t fully reflect the consistency he has shown in the minors.
The past two seasons were spent in the Tigers organization on minor league contracts. Madris saw brief big-league action in 2024, appearing in 21 games, but he did not receive a call-up at all in 2025. Instead, his most recent season was spent entirely in Detroit’s farm system, where injuries significantly impacted his availability and performance.
Health issues limited Madris to just 60 total games last season. The final stretch of those appearances came during a rehab assignment with Class A Lakeland, highlighting how much of the year was devoted to recovery rather than regular competition. Detroit ultimately released him in August, and for a time it looked like his season — and possibly his affiliated career — might be over.
However, Madris managed to revive his stock by playing winter ball in Mexico, where he put together an impressive offensive showing. That performance, combined with his strong track record at the Triple-A level, appears to have drawn the Cardinals’ attention. Over 1,803 career plate appearances in Triple-A, Madris owns a solid .252/.343/.440 slash line with 59 home runs, production that suggests he can still be a useful depth bat.
Defensively, Madris has shown versatility throughout his career. He has primarily played right field, while also logging significant time at first base and in left field. During the 2025 season, most of his innings came at first base, though that may have been influenced more by his health situation than a permanent shift away from the outfield.
A move to being mostly a first baseman could make it more difficult for Madris to work his way back to the majors, especially given the Cardinals’ current roster makeup. St. Louis already features left-handed hitters at first base and left field, including Alec Burleson and Lars Nootbaar, which limits clear paths to playing time. Additionally, while the Cardinals have been linked to a search for a right-handed-hitting outfielder, Madris bats from the left side.
Still, Madris does retain a minor league option, as he was never promoted to Detroit’s big-league roster in 2025. That flexibility gives the Cardinals another experienced option who can provide depth across multiple positions while potentially earning a second look with a strong performance in the minors.
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