photo: Bailey Horn (Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports)
The St. Louis Cardinals haven’t been busy in the free agent or trade markets this winter, but they continue to scour the waiver wire for pitching.
On Thursday, January 9, the Cardinals claimed left-handed reliever Bailey Horn off waivers from the Detroit Tigers. That follows the November 1 claim of right-hander Roddery Muñoz from the Miami Marlins. The two pitchers are the only external additions to St. Louis’ 40-man roster to date this offseason.
Horn, 26, has been well-traveled, with the Cardinals his third organization this winter and fifth in the last 12 months. Detroit designated Horn for assignment last week, just over a month after they claimed him from the Boston Red Sox, who had also waived the lefty.
Horn did not make his MLB debut until June 29, 2024, with the Red Sox. With Boston last season, he logged a 6.50 ERA in 18 innings on 22 hits and 10 walks against 13 strikeouts.
The Texas native has had some success in Triple-A, with a career 4.95 ERA and 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings, but walks have been a big problem with a 5.1 per nine rate. His fastball approaches the mid-90’s.
Originally the fifth-round pick of the White Sox in the COVID-shortened 2020 draft, Horn was traded to the Cubs in July 2021, only to head back in the other direction last February. Two months later, the White Sox designated him for assignment and subsequently sold his contract to Boston. (Note that Horn joined the Red Sox long after Chaim Bloom left the organization.)
It is unclear how Horn fits in the short term with St. Louis, as the Cardinals are well stocked from the left side of the pen. Incumbents are JoJo Romero, John King, Matthew Liberatore and Zack Thompson.
However, Horn still has two minor league option years remaining, so he can be stashed in Memphis for when the inevitable in-season needs arise.
The Cardinals used one of their two open 40-man roster spots for the addition of Horn.
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