The St. Louis Cardinals have bolstered their organizational depth by signing first baseman and outfielder Bligh Madris to a minor league contract, according to reports from Chase Ford. The agreement does not include an invitation to Major League Spring Training, meaning Madris will likely begin the season working his way through the Cardinals’ farm system.
Madris, who will celebrate his 30th birthday later this month, brings experience from three MLB seasons. He appeared in 72 total games with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, and Detroit Tigers between 2022 and 2024, compiling a .204 batting average with a .273 on-base percentage and a .286 slugging percentage across 228 plate appearances.
Over the past two years, Madris has remained in the Tigers’ organization on minor league deals. He managed to reach the big leagues for 21 games in 2024 but spent the entire 2025 campaign in the minors.
His 2025 season was disrupted by injuries, restricting him to just 60 games. The final stretch of those appearances came during a rehabilitation assignment with Single-A Lakeland. Detroit ultimately released Madris in August, leaving him searching for another opportunity. He later resurfaced in winter ball in Mexico, where he produced impressive offensive numbers that may have helped spark renewed interest from St. Louis. His strong Triple-A track record including a .252/.343/.440 slash line with 59 home runs across 1,803 plate appearances likely made him an appealing depth option for the Cardinals.
While St. Louis has been searching for additional right-handed hitting outfield support, Madris bats from the left side. Throughout his professional career, he has spent significant time in right field while also logging innings at first base and in left field. During the 2025 season, however, he saw most of his playing time at first base, a shift that may have been influenced by his health rather than a permanent positional change.
Madris faces stiff competition for a potential return to the majors, particularly with the Cardinals already featuring left-handed hitters Alec Burleson at first base and Lars Nootbaar in left field. Still, Madris maintains some roster flexibility, as he retains a minor league option after not receiving a major league call-up in 2025. This could improve his chances of earning another opportunity if he performs well in the Cardinals’ system.
