photo: Greg Holland (Jeff Curry/USA TODAY Sports)
The St. Louis Cardinals flipped over four pitching roster spots in a series of transactions announced on Friday afternoon. All of the replacements come from the minor leagues.
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced prior to tonight’s (Friday) series opener with Chicago a series of roster moves, including a trade with Seattle that sent right-handed pitcher Sam Tuivailala to the Mariners in exchange for minor league right-handed pitcher Seth Elledge who is being assigned to Springfield (AA). Below is a listing of today’s moves:
- Acquired right-handed minor league pitcher Seth Elledge from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for righthanded pitcher Sam Tuivailala;
- Recalled right-handed pitcher Luke Weaver from Peoria (A);
- Recalled left-handed pitcher Tyler Webb from Memphis (AAA);
- Recalled right-handed pitcher Daniel Poncedeleon from Memphis (AAA);
- Purchased right-handed pitcher Dakota Hudson from Memphis (AAA);
- Designated left-handed pitcher Tyler Lyons for assignment;
- Designated right-handed pitcher Greg Holland for assignment;
- Placed left-handed pitcher Brett Cecil (right foot inflammation) on 10-day disabled list, retroactive to July 23.
Hudson, 23, the Cardinals supplemental 1st round draft choice (34th player overall) in 2016 out of Mississippi State University, will be making his Major League debut with his first appearance. Hudson was 13-3 with a 2.50 ERA at Memphis in 19 starts in an all-star season that also included the MLB Futures Game during All-Star Week.
Webb, 28, a waiver claim from San Diego in late June, will be making his first appearance with St. Louis, but has appeared in a combined 13 games (13.0 IP) in relief with the Yankees, Brewers and Padres over the past two seasons. Webb was a combined 1-1 with a 2.10 ERA in 25 games at triple-A this season between El Paso and Memphis, striking out 41 in 34.1 innings pitched while walking just 12. He appeared in six games at Memphis (2.19 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 12.1 IP).
Poncedeleon, who on Monday in Cincinnati became one of just five pitchers since 1961 to throw 7.0 or more nohit innings in their Major League debut, was 9-3 with a 2.15 ERA for Memphis in 18 games (17 starts).
Elledge, 22, recently rated as the 10th best prospect in the Mariners system by Baseball America, was 5-1 with a 1.17 ERA and 9 saves in 31 games for Modesto (A), striking out 54 in 38.1 innings while being named a California League All-Star.
Hudson has been assigned uniform no. 43 and Webb no. 30. Poncedeleon wears uniform no. 62.
Brian Walton’s take
My general feelings on these moves can be summed up in this brief tweet.
First time I've ever thought of using the term "Black Friday" to refer to a baseball team's transactions. #stlcards have made some tough calls to try to recover their 2018 season.
— Brian Walton (@B_Walton) July 27, 2018
I don’t see it as much of a change of direction as it is a move back toward youth from within. Only Holland came in from the outside, and it was clearly a mistake. However, Tuivailala and Lyons were both homegrown Cardinals, now replaced by younger players, ones with minor league options that they no longer have. Free agent acquisition Cecil, with two more years on his hefty contract, remains a major open question.
The purpose of designating Lyons and Holland for assignment is to give the Cardinals time to try to trade them, rather than release them for nothing, though that remains an ultimate option. Holland’s $14 million salary is the largest millstone, not to mention the 2018 draft pick forfeited, 76th overall, and the games lost due to his poor performance.
The move of someone to the disabled list – in this case, Cecil – was necessary to enable the return of Poncedeleon prior to the mandatory 10 days in the minors following his last option out, which occurred “way” back on Tuesday.
The 25-man active roster changes are relatively straight-forward – four off and four on.
In terms of the previously-full 40-man roster, only Hudson is a new addition. That means there are two open spots, at least temporarily, since three players were removed on Friday – Lyons, Tuivailala and Holland. Elledge was not on Seattle’s 40-man and does not need to be on the Cardinals’, either.
It will also be interesting to see how all these pitchers are used by new manager Mike Shildt. Not counting injured Carlos Martinez, Michael Wacha and Adam Wainwright, the Cardinals have regular starters Miles Mikolas, Weaver and Jack Flaherty.
Then, there are John Gant, Austin Gomber, Poncedeleon and Hudson. That is between seven (currently) and 10 starters (potentially later) for five spots, with all seven now on the active St. Louis roster. Obviously several will work long relief and perhaps later join the ongoing “reliever roulette” between St. Louis and Memphis.
Update on the above questions from later Friday afternoon:
Mo says none of the pitchers recalled today are going into the rotation. Ponce and Hudson in the bullpen. #STLcards
— Jeff Jones (@jmjones) July 27, 2018
For more
For additional information on today’s newcomer Elledge and recent newcomer Webb, check out Derek Shore’s in-depth article breaking down all of Friday’s many minor league transactions across the Cardinals system – from Memphis to the Dominican Summer League.
Derek’s article also reviews the major changes to the minor league rotations across multiple levels of the organization.
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