photo: Sonny Gray (Jim Rassol/USA TODAY Sports)
The St. Louis Cardinals cut their roster to 26 players but have one more addition and one more subtraction coming before Opening Day.
St. Louis Cardinals release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced following this afternoon’s game (Tuesday, March 26) that the team has reduced its Spring Training roster to 26 players, sending three players to the minors, with six players to be placed on the injured list.
The team optioned LHP John King and C Pedro Pagés to the Memphis (AAA) roster, and re-assigned infielder Thomas Saggese to Memphis.
The following six players will be placed on the Injured List to begin the season:
RHP Sonny Gray (15-day, right hamstring strain); RHP Keynan Middleton (15-day, right forearm flexor strain), LHP Drew Rom (15-day, left shoulder biceps tendinitis); OF/IF Tommy Edman (10-day, right wrist sprain); OF Lars Nootbaar (10-day, left rib contusion); OF Dylan Carlson (10-day, left AC sprain).
All of the injured list players, except for Dylan Carlson, will be backdated to March 25. Carlson will be backdated to March 26.
Brian Walton’s take
While it might appear that the team is set for Opening Day at 26 players, it is not. Replacing Carlson, injured on Monday, will be center fielder Victor Scott, who has yet to added to both the 26-man and 40-man rosters. The player among the current 26 who is most likely to be sent down, in my estimation, is infielder Jose Fermin. The corresponding 40-man change is unknown – but it will only remain that way for a short while longer.
King being sent down means right handers Riley O’Brien, Andre Pallante and Rule 5 pick Ryan Fernandez have made the opening bullpen.
King, acquired from Texas last July, has been sidelined by illness and last pitched for St. Louis on March 19.
The lefty had an uneven camp with a 7.88 ERA on eight runs, seven earned, in eight innings. King allowed 15 hits and walked five against four strikeouts. He should be back with St. Louis later.
Pages, added to the 40-man in November, will serve as the third catcher in waiting and regular starter at Triple-A Memphis.
In 25 spring at-bats, The Cardinal Nation’s no. 28 prospect had six hits including two doubles and a home run. Pages drove in three, walked four and struck out seven times. His slash line is .240/.367.440/.807.
Saggese, the 2023 Texas League batting champion, was the last non-roster player in camp (prior to Scott’s planned return). He showed off his offensive prowess in camp, with a slash line of .300/.364/.420/.784. This spring, Saggese had 50 plate appearances, just one off the team lead, and his 11 RBI tied for second-most on the Cardinals.
This season, Saggese should be the regular second baseman for Triple-A Memphis.
For more
To see all players in the system by level and position plus every transaction all year ‘round, check out the always free Roster Matrix here at The Cardinal Nation, refreshed today.
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