Photo: Roel Ramirez (Springfield Cardinals FANatic Photos)
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced this afternoon that they have selected the contract of right-handed rookie pitcher Roel Ramírez from Memphis (AAA) and recalled rookie left-hander Brandon Waddell (pronounced wah-DELL) from Memphis. The team also optioned pitchers Seth Elledge and Jake Woodford to Memphis and designated first baseman John Nogowski for assignment.
Ramírez, 26, who debuted with the Cardinals in 2020, has worked 18 games in relief for the Memphis Redbirds this season, going 0-1 with a 4.67 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP in his 27.0 innings pitched. The 6-0, 220-pound Texas native has been especially good of late, posting a 0.63 ERA and 0.63 WHIP in nine June contests (14.1 IP) with 15 strikeouts and just three walks. Ramirez was acquired by the Cardinals from Tampa Bay on July 31, 2018 in a deal that also included Génesis Cabrera and Justin Williams.
Waddell, 27, was claimed on waivers from Baltimore on June 6. He has appeared in seven career games in the majors with Pittsburgh (2020), Minnesota (2021) and Baltimore (2021). In five relief appearances with Memphis this month, the 6-3, 180-pound Waddell has logged 7.0 innings pitched with a 2.57 ERA.
Ramírez wears uniform no. 77 and Waddell no. 70.
Blake Newberry’s take
St. Louis’ search for bullpen help has led to the promotion of a pair of relievers from Memphis.
Ramirez made his MLB debut last season and allowed six runs, on four home runs, while collecting just two outs. He did not make another appearance.
Ramirez’ 3.23 FIP is much lower than his 4.67 ERA in 27 innings this season. While he has improved in June, his FIP suggests that his full season results have been solid, and that he is better than his ERA suggests.
The 26-year-old has been a bullpen prospect for the Cardinals since he was acquired from the Rays in the Tommy Pham trade. Despite his difficult debut last season, Ramirez has earned another chance with his solid performances in Memphis. The right-hander has done a good job of keeping the ball in the yard (0.67 HR/9), while he has posted strong strike out rates since 2018 (9.84 K/9 in 2018, 10.15 K/9 in 2019, 9.00 K/9 in 2021) and has seen his walk rates improve in recent years (2.67 BB/9 in 2021).
Waddell has tossed 8 1/3 innings at the highest level, although the Cardinals will be the fourth team he has played for in the majors. In this time, Waddell has compiled a 6.48 ERA while walking six, fanning three, and allowing two long balls.
The 27-year-old has done a good job of preventing runs at Memphis since being acquired on waivers from Baltimore, but his 4.23 FIP suggests that he has not pitched as well as his 2.57 ERA might indicate.
The southpaw has struggled with the long ball in Triple-A, and he has not had a significant amount of success at the level despite throwing over 150 innings there. However, he has struck out batters at a high rate in Memphis this season, and did the same in the Pirates organization in 2019 (10.26 K/9 in 2019, 10.29 K/9 in Memphis).
Waddell was claimed on waivers to add upper level pitching depth to the Cardinals system. With the Cardinals’ bullpen struggling, it is minor league depth that is now needed at the major league level. Since Waddell is on the 40-man roster, his promotion was an easy transaction that did not require someone to be DFA’d.
The Cardinals bullpen has few, if any, reliable relievers besides Giovany Gallegos, Alex Reyes, and Genesis Cabrera. It appears that the Cardinals are searching for arms who can provide solid middle relief, and Ramirez and Waddell are the next two pitchers to get a chance to do that.
Waddell will likely slot in as one of the lesser used options in the bullpen. Being left-handed, he has Genesis Cabrera and Andrew Miller ahead of him. Ramirez, on the other hand, will likely be given every chance to seize a spot as a go-to middle reliever since the Cardinals could use stability in the bullpen.
To make room for the reinforcements, Seth Elledge and Jake Woodford are both returning to Memphis after struggling in bullpen. Woodford (6.54 FIP) has had less success than Elledge (4.43 FIP), but neither one has seized a full-time big league job.
It appears that Jake Woodford will enter the Memphis rotation. This will give him the chance to enter the Cardinals rotation if he returns to St. Louis this season. The 24-year-old spent the entirety of his minor league career in the rotation, and with the Cardinals rotation struggling, this could be helpful down the road. If Woodford is to return to St. Louis, though, he will need to control his high walk rate (4.67 BB/9) and his high home run rate (1.78 HR/9).
Elledge, like the rest of the Cardinals’ pitching staff, has struggled with walks (5.40 BB/9) and will likely focus on improving his control in Memphis so that he can be more reliable if he returns to St. Louis later in the season.
To make room for Roel Ramirez on the 40-man roster, the Cardinals designated John Nogowski for assignment. The first baseman opened the season in St. Louis after a strong Spring Training, but he was limited to pinch-hitting while serving as Paul Goldschmidt’s backup.
The 28-year-old slashed .056/.150/.056/206 in 20 plate appearances. At the Triple-A level, Nogowski recorded a .601 OPS in 148 plate apperances.
If Nogowski remains in the organization, he will likely remain with Memphis. If claimed, he will leave the Cardinals organization and join a different team’s 40-man roster.
For more
To track the status of the Cardinals’ 40-man roster as well as all players in the system by position and level, check out the Roster Matrix, always free and updated here at The Cardinal Nation. Also included is every player transaction across the full organization all year long.
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