Lars Nootbaar - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Lars Nootbaar might return to a Cardinals team he doesn't recognize Things have changed in St. Louis. How will Lars Nootbaar fit in?

2 DAYS AGO • REDBIRDRANTS.COM

Cardinals outfielder going on IL creates problem ahead of opening day The Cardinals didn’t open the season with Lars Nootbaar on the 60-day injured list because they wanted to. They did it because his heels sti...

3 DAYS AGO • THEBIGLEAD.COM

Lars Nootbaar's IL designation means we won't see him with the Cardinals for a while This was always a possibility, but now the Cardinals confirm that Lars Nootbaar will be out for an extended period of time.

4 DAYS AGO • REDBIRDRANTS.COM

Goes to 60-day IL The Cardinals placed Nootbaar (heels) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

Impact Nootbaar began a running progression last week and took live batting practice Tuesday, but the Cardinals are planning to proceed cautiously with the outfielder, who underwent surgery in October to address Haglund's deformities on both of his heels. A firmer target date for Nootbaar's season debut should become available in the weeks to come once he ramps up the intensity and frequency of his on-field work, but he won't be eligible to debut until late May after landing on the 60-day IL. The transaction will free up a spot on the 40-man roster for top prospect JJ Wetherholt, who will be part of the Cardinals' Opening Day squad.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Being evaluated for 60-day IL move Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom said Monday that Nootbaar (heels) will be evaluated this week for a potential placement on the 60-day injured list, Derrick G...

Impact Bloom noted that the team's current wish is to avoid the 60-day IL with Nootbaar, as the transaction would leave him ineligible to make his season debut until late May. However, that decision will be made after the Cardinals get a better sense of how far Nootbaar is along in his rehab from offseason surgery on both heels. The 28-year-old outfielder's recovery has come along well, but he has not yet been cleared for full baseball activities. St. Louis will use a combination of Nathan Church, Thomas Saggese and Jose Fermin in left field until Nootbaar is ready.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Nootbaar to open season on IL JUPITER, Fla. – Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar will start the season on the 10-day injured list because his surgically repaired heels ar...

MARCH 21 • MLB.COM

Cardinals Receive Mixed Lars Nootbaar Opening Day News One question hanging over the St. Louis Cardinals throughout Spring Training has been the status of outfielder Lars Nootbaar. He underwent o...

MARCH 21 • SI.COM

Will open season on IL Nootbaar (heel) will start the 2026 regular season on the Cardinals' injured list, William Ladson of MLB.com reports.

Impact As expected, Nootbaar will miss the opening portion of the regular season while rehabbing from offseason surgery on both heels. There is no clear timeline for when the 28-year-old outfielder will be ready to make his season debut. Nootbaar's absence means Nathan Church should see a bump in starts in the outfield to open the 2026 campaign.

MARCH 21 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals' Left Field Decision Complicated By WBC Who is going to be playing left field for the St. Louis Cardinals on Opening Day? If Lars Nootbaar were fully ready to roll, it wouldn't be...

MARCH 14 • SI.COM

To ramp up running program Nootbaar (heels) has been increasing his agility drills and is soon slated to ramp up his running program, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact Nootbaar's running will occur on an altered-gravity treadmill, so while his progression from offseason surgery on both heels is coming along slowly but surely, he does not appear close to being cleared for game action. The 28-year-old outfielder will begin the campaign on the injured list, and there remains no firm timetable for when he might be ready for his season debut.

MARCH 12 • ROTOWIRE

NL West Contender Called Trade Fit for Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar The St. Louis Cardinals will likely begin the season without veteran outfielder Lars Nootbaar. The 28-year-old had surgery on both of his he...

MARCH 11 • SI.COM

No timetable to play in games Nootbaar (heels) remains without a timetable for his Grapefruit League debut, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact Nootbaar is expected to begin the season on the 10-day injured list as he continues his recovery from offseason surgery on both heels. He's going through baseball activities and will continue to ramp things up as his health allows, but there's no target date for his participation in games. A clearer picture regarding Nootbaar's timetable should be available later this month.

MARCH 3 • ROTOWIRE

The villains behind Lars Nootbaar's middling stats with the Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar is a "Statcast All-Star" with charisma to match. But why don't the on-field results ever match...

FEBRUARY 20 • REDBIRDRANTS.COM

Why Cardinals Prospect Could Add Unexpected Outfield Depth The St. Louis Cardinals' depth is already being tested. Early in the offseason, outfielder Lars Nootbaar underwent surgery on both heels, an...

FEBRUARY 19 • SI.COM

After surgery on both heels, Nootbaar ready to prove himself again JUPITER, Fla. -- Lars Nootbaar arrived in Cardinals camp Wednesday unsure of when he'll be able to play in Major League games again. Nootbaa...

FEBRUARY 18 • MLB.COM

Beginning stages of running program Nootbaar (heels) has been able to hit and throw without issue but is just now getting into the stage of being able to run unaided, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat report...

Impact Recovering from surgery in early October to address deformities on both of his heels, Nootbaar's arrival in Cardinals camp was delayed until Wednesday as the team awaited the delivery of an altered gravity treadmill. The outfielder said Wednesday that he does not have a timeline for a return, but the consensus is that he will begin the season on the injured list. Once healthy, Nootbaar will be the club's everyday left fielder.

FEBRUARY 18 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals May Have Internal Answer If Lars Nootbaar Is Sidelined The St. Louis Cardinals outfield very well could be a player short when Opening Day gets here in March. That is, of course, because Lars Noo...

FEBRUARY 15 • SI.COM

Running on alt-gravity treadmill Nootbaar (heels) has progressed to running on an altered gravity treadmill, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact Nootbaar underwent surgery in early October to address deformities on both of his heels and is progressing slowly but surely. He will be a few days late in reporting to camp, as the Cardinals still need to have an altered gravity treadmill delivered to their spring training complex in Florida so Nootbaar can continue rehabbing. It's looking unlikely that Nootbaar will be ready in time for Opening Day, but more clarity on his timetable should be available later in spring training.

FEBRUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Could open season on injured list Nootbaar (heels) opening the season on the injured list is "fair to assume" until he shows he can play in games at full speed, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact Nootbaar underwent surgery in early October to address deformities on both of his heels. It's possible the outfielder looks good in camp and is ready to go Opening Day, but the likelier scenario is the rebuilding Cardinals err on the side of caution and ease Nootbaar into things. More will be known during spring training about the progress of his recovery. If Nootbaar does need an IL stint and Brendan Donovan is still with the team, Donovan could slide out to start in left field. Nathan Church could handle left field if Nootbaar isn't ready and Donovan is traded.

JANUARY 29 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals trade target nobody is asking for suddenly appears on Mariners radar The Mariners are linked to a Cardinals package featuring Brendan Donovan — and Lars Nootbaar. Seattle won’t love what that says about the 20...

JANUARY 15 • SODOMOJO.COM

Settles with Cards at $5.35 million The Cardinals and Nootbaar (heels) avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.35 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Impact Nootbaar played a career-high 135 games but produced a career-low .686 OPS for the Cardinals this past season. He underwent surgery on both heels in October and is not a lock to be ready for Opening Day. Once Nootbaar is ready, he's expected to be the team's primary left fielder.

JANUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Dodgers Rumors: New Cardinals trade candidate could be of Shohei Ohtani influence The Dodgers are reportedly shifting interest from the Cardinals' Brendan Donovan to Lars Nootbaar.

DECEMBER 18, 2025 • DODGERSWAY.COM

Cardinals fire sale could provide Guardians with prime opportunity to bolster lineup Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar would both be solid fits for the Guardians, and they could be available in trade talks thanks to the Cardi...

DECEMBER 3, 2025 • AWAYBACKGONE.COM

2 teams have emerged as trade suitors for Cardinals' Lars Nootbaar At least two suitors emerged for Lars Nootbaar prior to his offseason surgery.

NOVEMBER 10, 2025 • REDBIRDRANTS.COM

Foot pain dates back multiple years Nootbaar -- who is recovering from Oct. 7 surgery to address deformities on both of his heels -- has dealt with discomfort in both feet off and on over the past two-and-a-half year...

Impact Nootbaar has had ongoing treatment during the season to address recurring soreness in his heels, but he elected to have surgery earlier this month with the goal of alleviating the condition. It's difficult to gauge how much the foot issues have affected Nootbaar's play, but it's notable that his sprint speed has fallen each year, from the 83rd percentile in 2021 to just the 39th percentile in 2025. The outfielder admits that the discomfort "was holding me back." Nootbaar -- who played a career-high 135 games this season but produced a career-low .686 OPS -- has not been ruled out for Opening Day next season, but because the surgery he had is uncommon, there's uncertainty regarding how long his rehab will take.

OCTOBER 29, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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