photo: Yadier Molina and Carlos Martinez (Evan Habeeb/USA TODAY Sports)
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to tonight’s (Tuesday’s) series opener with Miami that they have activated All-Stars Yadier Molina and Carlos Martínez from the 10-day disabled list.
The Cardinals also announced today that right-handed pitcher Preston Guilmet has been purchased from Memphis and infielder Greg Garcia has been placed on the paternity list. The Cardinals optioned catcher Carson Kelly to Memphis following Sunday’s game and today they optioned right-handed pitcher Mike Mayers to the triple-A club. Memphis catcher Steven Baron has been designated for assignment to make room for Guilmet on the team’s 40-man Major League roster.
Molina, out since May 5 with a pelvic injury with traumatic hematoma, missed 26 games. He played two games this past weekend for the Springfield Cardinals (AA) on an injury rehabilitation assignment, catching five innings on Saturday and eight innings on Sunday. Molina was batting .272 with 6 HR’s & 17 RBI in 30 games played at the time of his injury.
Martínez, who made his last appearance for the Cardinals on May 8, was leading the National League with his 1.62 ERA at the time of his injury (right lat strain), going 3-2 in eight starts. He worked 4.0 innings in an injury rehab starting assignment for Springfield last Thursday (May 31) and will make the start for the Cardinals tonight.
Guilmet, 30, was signed by the Cardinals as a minor league free agent in January after having spent the 2017 season pitching (1-1, 3.62 ERA) for the Yakult Swallows of the Japanese Central League. The 6-2, 217-pound reliever has a career mark of 0-1 with an 8.22 ERA in 19 games in the majors with Cleveland (2013), Baltimore (2014), Tampa Bay (2015) and Milwaukee (2015).
In 21 relief appearances for Memphis this season, Guilmet is 0-0 with a 0.93 ERA and a league-leading 11 saves. He’s struck out 35 in 29.0 innings pitched and walked just five, holding opposing right-handed hitters to a .094 average (5-for-53) and lefties to a .103 mark (4-for-39). When facing batters with runners in scoring position, he’s allowed just one hit in 18 at-bats for a .056 mark and he’s stranded 11 of 14 inherited runners for the year.
Guilmet has been assigned uniform no. 58.
Brian Walton’s take
The two are expected to reprise their Opening Day battery roles Tuesday night when the Cardinals entertain Miami at Busch Stadium.
I have nothing against Baron, but I am glad the Cardinals saw the light and decided to leave prospect catcher Andrew Knizner with fellow prospect Carson Kelly at Memphis. That makes Baron and his precious 40-man spot a reasonable casualty. The organization has seven days to decide his fate.
Knizner can play first, as well, but the Redbirds also have Rangel Ravelo – plus Luke Voit could be back down from St. Louis soon, too. Still, this was the right move, in my view.
(Kelly’s option was actually announced on Monday, but Baron’s move was not.)
It was recently disclosed by national reporter Ken Rosenthal that Guilmet’s contract gave him an out if he was not in the majors by June 1. Though he did not force his free agency on the first, perhaps an agreement for this move was struck a few days ago.
The struggling Cardinals bullpen could use another impact arm. Perhaps Guilmet could be it. Despite the unorthodox delivery (see below), he clearly dominated at Memphis. In fact, the right-hander was TCN’s choice as system-wide Pitcher of the Month in April and was just as good in May. And if he doesn’t get the job done, the Cards will keep trying.
As to Mayers, well, he knows the drill by now. In other words, by the end of the week, there should be another injury, enabling his return from Memphis.
Update
Further details on Guilmet’s contract situation.
Reliever Preston Guilmet had a clause in his contract stipulating the #STLCards let other teams know by June 1 he could be available. If any team expressed interest, they then had to decide whether to put him on the 25-man roster. Somebody apparently inquired because he's here.
— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) June 5, 2018
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