photo: Caleb Ferguson (Katie Stratman/Imagn Images)
The St. Louis Cardinals have replaced traded left-handed relief pitcher JoJo Romero with Caleb Ferguson, acquired from the Cincinnati Reds.
St. Louis Cardinals release
The St. Louis Cardinals completed a trade with the Cincinnati Reds in advance of today’s (Monday, August 3) trade deadline, acquiring left-handed relief pitcher Caleb Ferguson in exchange for International Cap Space.
Ferguson, 30, is a veteran of eight Major League seasons since debuting in 2018 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and he’s had prior postseason experience in 2018, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The 6-3, 225-pound lefty has compiled a 25-17 career mark with a 3.69 ERA in 359 games for the Dodgers (2018-24), Yankees (2024), Astros (2024), Pirates (2025), Mariners (2025) and Reds (2026).
In 26 games with the Reds this season, Ferguson was 1-0 with a 4.01 ERA in 24.2 innings pitched after beginning the season on the Injured List due to an oblique strain.
The Columbus, Ohio native was 7-2 with a 3.49 ERA in 29 games as a rookie in 2018. He was 7-4 with a 3.43 ERA in 68 games pitched for the Dodgers in 2023.
Ferguson is expected to join the Cardinals Major League club in the coming days.
Brian Walton’s take
Ferguson is a rental intended to help shore up the Cardinals leaky bullpen, directly replacing traded lefty JoJo Romero. Though no terms were disclosed, the Cardinals are likely to be covering the remainder of Ferguson’s one-year, $4.5 million contract signed with the Reds in December 2025.
Several reports have pegged the amount of international cap space transferred to the Reds to be $250,000. While I don’t care for giving up flexibility to sign players, per my calculations, the Cardinals have over $1 million in remaining bonus space that will go away if unused by December 15.
For more information on the new Cardinal
Special Trade Deadline Edition – Monday With Walton and Reis
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