The St. Louis Cardinals began Grapefruit League competition in kind against the Washington Nationals at 1:05 p.m. ET on Saturday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Fla.

Hours before the Cardinals began spring training, they agreed to a contract with a veteran infielder.

According to a report from Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic, St. Louis and infielder Ramon Urias agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract. The deal includes a $1.5 million salary for 2026 with a $500,000 buyout for a 2027 mutual option. The deal also includes up to $2 million in additional incentives, according to Rosenthal's report.

The deal came one day after reports that Urias had met with the Cardinals and the two sides were "closing in" on a deal.

Right-handed pitcher Zak Kent was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.

Urias spent a brief amount of time with St. Louis' organization. He was with the team on a minor league deal from 2018-2020.

Urias' original stint with the Cardinals ended after the team designated him for assignment Feb. 6, 2020.

After St. Louis cut ties with Urias, he was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles, where he was able to find his footing as a major leaguer.

Urias made his major league debut with Baltimore in 2020, which was the start of a six-season stint with the American League East squad in which he won a Gold Glove as the team's primary third baseman in 2022.

With the Orioles, Urias posted a total slash line of .259/.324/.404 with a .728 OPS and hit 76 doubles, six triples and 47 home runs with 205 RBIs in 506 games. 

Urias was traded by Baltimore to the Houston Astros on July 31, 2025, in return for right-handed pitcher Twine Palmer.

Across 112 games last season with both the Orioles and the Astros, Urias slashed .241/.292/.384 with a .676 OPS and hit 16 doubles and 11 homers with 44 RBIs.

Urias will provide the Cardinals much-needed veteran depth at third base. The team traded away the incumbent starter at the hot corner and multi-time Platinum Glove winner Nolan Arenado to the Arizona Diamondbacks this offseason.

St. Louis doesn't have another player on the 40-man roster who's played an entire major league season at the position. Currently, Nolan Gorman is anticipated to be the Opening Day starter at third base.

Utility player Thomas Saggese and the organization's top prospect JJ Wetherholt, the later of whom are predicted to break camp as the team's starting second baseman, is also capable of playing third base.

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