Why Release John King? Cardinals Non-Tender Breakdown | Cards Central 365

On this episode of Cards Central 365, Joe Roderick and Brenden Schaeffer react to the St. Louis Cardinals' recent roster moves following the non-tender deadline. The team has reduced their 40-man roster to 37 players by declining 2026 contracts for left-handed pitcher John King, catcher Yohel Pozo, and pitchers John King Sem Robberse. The guys debate the decision to move on from John King. Brenden argues that King's projected $2.1 million arbitration salary was too high for his production, while Joe believes the Cardinals need reliable innings eaters for the upcoming season. The conversation shifts to the catching situation. With Yohel Pozo out, the focus turns to the dynamic between Iván Herrera and Pedro Pagés. Joe argues that holding onto Pagés might be a missed opportunity to trade for value, whereas Brenden sees Pagés as essential insurance given Herrera's injury history and the developmental timeline of prospects like Jimmy Crooks and Leonardo Bernal. ⭐️ Become an STL Sports Central Insider: https://stlsportscentral.com/2025/11/15/stl-sports-central-insiders 👑 Presented by DraftKings. The Crown is Yours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices