photo: Jared Shuster (Tommy Gilligan/Imagn Images)
The St. Louis Cardinals have agreed to a minor league contract with pitcher Jared Shuster, as first reported by national writer Jon Morosi on Monday morning. The deal includes a non-roster invitation to big-league spring training camp.
Source: LHP Jared Shuster has agreed to a minor league contract with the Cardinals that includes an invitation to @MLB spring training.
With the Cardinals listening to trade offers for multiple veterans, Shuster has a good chance to make the Opening Day roster.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 22, 2025
Atlanta’s first-round draft pick in 2020, taken 25th overall from Wake Forest, made the Braves’ major league rotation coming out of 2023 spring camp. However, the 6-foot-3 lefty was sent down and recalled five times that season. In between, he made 11 starts for Atlanta with a 5.81 ERA.
That November, Shuster was sent to the White Sox in a multi-player trade, headlined by Aaron Bummer and Mike Soroka.
In 2024, Shuster was optioned out three more times but also made 39 appearances for Chicago, primarily in relief. He posted a 4.30 ERA.
2025 brought many more up to Chicago and down to Triple-A moves for Shuster. He threw in just 12 games for the Pale Hose, with an ERA of 8.04, but a FIP of 2.94. The latter didn’t save him, as in mid-August, he was placed on outright waivers.
The A’s claimed him, but he did not return to the majors with them. That was likely due to his 8.53 ERA (5.55 FIP) in 12 2/3 innings over 10 appearances with their Triple-A affiliate. Shuster walked seven, same as his strikeout total.
Over parts of three MLB seasons, the 27-year-old has appeared in 62 games with a 5.27 ERA. Shuster is a pitch-to-contact guy with a low-90’s fastball with a slider and changeup that leave little margin for error. His career strikeout rate is just 15.5% against a walk rate of 10.1%.
Brian Walton’s take
As the Cardinals roster is currently constructed, Jo Jo Romero, rumored to be a trade candidate, is the only dependable left-hander in the bullpen. The only other 40-man lefty is unproven Nick Raquet.
Hence, it makes sense to take a shot at Shuster with a low-risk minor league contract.
Having said that, I would stop short of projecting him to make the Cardinals Opening Day roster in 2026 as Morosi suggested. Many more transactions are likely ahead for Chaim Bloom and company in this busy offseason, hopefully to build additional pitching depth.
In fact, later on Monday, during a Zoom call to discuss the Willson Contreras trade, Bloom restated that “adding experience to the bullpen” is one of his remaining offseason priorities.
If anyone is expecting miracles from Shuster because he is a former first-rounder, his recent history suggests you should your dial down your expectations.
Despite having a thin left-handed relief corps like the Cardinals, the Athletics removed Shuster from their 40-man in November. This time through outright waivers, he went unclaimed by the other 29 organizations. With Shuster off the roster, the A’s could have kept him in Triple-A for 2026 if they chose. Instead, they turned around and released him earlier this month.
Shuster used his three minor league options in 2023, 2024 and 2025, so even if he makes his way onto St. Louis’ 40-man roster, he won’t be able to ride the I-55 Shuttle in 2026.
Just think of this as one of many depth moves and not as a Romero replacement and all should be good.
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