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The old thread reached the 100-page maximum, so we are starting over.
This thread is about player transactions anywhere in the Cardinals system.
With the influx of players from the draft, other players in the system are released. The end as #stlcards came for P Jason Savacool (Peo) and IF Jeremy Rivas and OF Matt Koperniak (Mem). The latter was once an IL All-Star and had a 40-man roster spot. Best to all three going… pic.twitter.com/HJbRgdzunq
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) July 14, 2026
A little bit bummed for Koperniak as I was always pretty high on him. I think the Cardinals could have used him in 2024 in particular when the OF was pretty bad and he was very solid in AAA. Still, you could tell that he wasn’t going to be in the team’s future plans so he was going to have to make a go of it elsewhere. Hopefully for his sake, he can keep following his dream if that’s what he wants. Rivas showed some flashes at points as well, and Savacool was a good organizational soldier. Such is the nature of the game.
Slightly surprised by Rivas but I think Trey Richardson’s recent climb has pushed aside Rivas as the super emergency depth SS guy. Rivas was just never able to consistently hit or get on base. At best, he was a fringe utility prospect.
Koperniak lost his luster the past 2 seasons and it is pretty clear Savacool just isn’t any good at the upper levels. I’m not as surprised by these two. Savacool never got into my top 50 list. Koperniak certainly did at one point.
Well Savacool was a good soldier, and he got a very brief taste of AAA. I always rooted for Kooerniak. He beat the odds of an undrafted free agent. Rivas never developed as expected. I believe he was a top 30 prospect.
I wonder about the explanation for Koperniaak’s precipitous dropoff from 24 to 25.
I do think that there’s something to the mental side for a guy who did everything he could but just couldn’t break through. For some, that realization can really sap their concentration. Still, over multiple years it seems slightly strange, so perhaps nagging injuries had some role. I would have thought he would have hit at the big league level if given a chance in ’24.
I thought someone mentioned maximum roster spaces. With these cuts, would that account for the possibility of adding the 23 players just drafted? I’m Assuming there are more cuts coming. Now that I think about it, some players won’t be activated until next year.
With those releas3s does that give Chase Davis a chance at promotion after his rehab. Memphis has only 3 traditional outfielders. I like Medlinger, but he is a utility guy.
I too liked Koperniak and there were times I thought he should have been given a go at the big club, above Siani at one point. But alas it never happened. Like others, I hope he hangs in there and keeps plugging away.
Savacool is a great name and for that reason I wish he had gone further. Could have done a lot of creative writing with that name.
27 said
I thought someone mentioned maximum roster spaces. With these cuts, would that account for the possibility of adding the 23 players just drafted? I’m Assuming there are more cuts coming. Now that I think about it, some players won’t be activated until next year.
Yes 165 domestic minor Leaguers that are not on the 40 man. Players also on the Full Season Injured List (FSIL) or the minors 60 day IL also do not count against the limit. I am taking from the Roster Matrix and calculating based off those rules.
Memphis – 37
Springfield – 33
Peoria – 32
Palm Beach – 35
FCL – 3040 man in minors – 14
Minors 60 Day IL – 10
FSIL – 3That gives a total of 140 players and leaves 25 spots for 23 draftees, although 1 (Ritchie) won’t sign. Baseball America has the Cardinals with 3 undrafted FA signings (Tristan Bisesetta, JR Fordham, John Lemm). That brings the incoming player count to 25 which takes all 165 spots up.
Although note that Henderson, Robberse, and Clarke are actively on rehab (thus still on 60 day IL) and when they return, they will need a spot. They can either transfer some guys on the 7 day IL to the 60 day IL, or they will have to release 3 players.
Brian’s matrix has Naughton on the 7 day IL and he is out for the year. He should be an easy transfer so that leaves 2 potential releases. Palm Beach has a lot of guys I don’t know their injury but I’m guessing they will find at least 1 or 2 of them to move from the 7 day to 60 day IL. Brian may have a better idea if some of those guys are expected to be out all year.
Former #stlcards first round draft pick, OF Chase Davis, has completed his minor league rehab and has been promoted from Double-A Springfield to Triple-A Memphis. pic.twitter.com/ExFDAOO8nW
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) July 15, 2026
From the transaction page:
07/15/26 – Springfield Cardinals activated OF Zach Levenson from the Development List.
07/15/26 – Springfield Cardinals transferred 3B Trey Paige to the Development List.
07/15/26 – Springfield Cardinals activated C Rainiel Rodriguez.
07/15/26 – Springfield Cardinals activated LHP Liam Doyle from the temporarily inactive list.
07/15/26 – SS Brody Moore assigned to Memphis Redbirds from Springfield Cardinals.
07/15/26 – OF Chase Davis assigned to Memphis Redbirds from Springfield Cardinals.
07/15/26 – SHP Jurrangelo Cijntje assigned to Memphis Redbirds from Springfield Cardinals.Hey Albert,
Freshcorn has also tweeted that he’s returning to college so that’s another guy off the potential roster crunch
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