photo: Guillermo Zuniga (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
Recapping recent roster news for the St. Louis Cardinals, the most recent of which is the sale of the contract of relief pitcher Guillermo Zuñiga to the Los Angeles Angels.
The fringes of the St. Louis Cardinals’ still-full 40-man roster have changed in the last 10 days as the organization made a pair of transactions with the Los Angeles Angels. To make room for the newcomers, two others were pared off the roster with one leaving the organization.
The team’s most recent six moves are recapped below.
Tuesday, 1/29: 1B/OF Alfonso Rivas claimed off waivers from Los Angeles Angels.
The 27-year-old is a well-traveled first baseman-outfielder who has joined his sixth organization in the last 13 months, starting with the Chicago Cubs. Rivas has been successful in Triple-A (.916 OPS), but much less so (.673) in 459 MLB plate appearances. More details on Rivas can be found here.
Rivas will wear no. 22 for the Cardinals in spring training, previously assigned to pitcher Jack Flaherty.
Tuesday, 1/29: Memphis OF Moisés Gómez designated for assignment.
The slugging outfielder lost his 40-man spot due to the arrival of Rivas.
Gómez was the organization’s co-Player of the Year in 2022 and blasted 69 home runs over the last two seasons but doesn’t hit for average and strikes out in the 30% range consistently. Despite having been on the 40-man roster for the entire 2023 season and the Cardinals experiencing a rash of injuries, Gómez was not called up to St. Louis.
Friday, 2/2: Gómez cleared waivers, was outrighted to Memphis, and received a non-roster invitation to spring training.
The Cardinals had seven days to resolve Gómez’ status. The 25-year-old could have been claimed by another organization, passed through waivers and reported to Memphis, traded or released.
After he cleared outright waivers, Gómez remained a Cardinal and will be back in spring camp as a non-roster invitee (NRI).
Saturday, 2/3: Free agent RHR Keynan Middleton signed.
The 30-year-old free agent right-handed reliever received a one-year contract worth $6 million with a team option for 2025 and should figure in the late-inning mix. More details on his signing here.
As a Cardinal, Middleton will wear no. 99, as he did with Arizona, Seattle, and the White Sox previously.
Saturday, 2/3: RHR Guillermo Zuñiga designated for assignment.
The hard-throwing right-hander lost his roster spot in favor of Middleton.
Zuñiga was signed as a free agent in December 2022 and was given his first ever 40-man roster spot despite having never pitched above Double-A. An injury-plagued 2023 followed during which the 25-year-old made just two brief appearances with the Cardinals.
Wednesday, 2/7: Zuñiga traded to Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations.
Same as with Gómez, the Cardinals had seven days from when Zuñiga was designated for assignment to resolve his status (claimed, cleared waivers, traded, released). The Angels want to keep Zuñiga on their 40-man roster and paid St. Louis an undisclosed amount for his contract.
In conclusion, Rivas, Middleton and Gómez will be in St. Louis’ spring training camp while Zuñiga joins his new Angels teammates in the Cactus League.
Of the three remaining Cardinals, only Middleton is likely to make the big league team coming out of camp. The two position players will likely serve as depth at Triple-A Memphis.
Other Cardinals uniform number changes
Uniform number news from #stlcards: Matt Carpenter returns to his old no. 13 with newcomer Buddy Kennedy shifted from 13 to Paul DeJong's old no. 11. Keynan Middleton returns to his no. 99 as he wore with the White Sox and prior. pic.twitter.com/I7kvU8rGHo
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) February 7, 2024
For more
Check out The Cardinal Nation’s free Roster Matrix to view the Cardinals’ 40-man roster, spring camp invitees, and the entire system by level and position along with every player transaction.
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