photo: Ryan Sherriff (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation)
St. Louis Cardinals press release
The St. Louis Cardinals announced today (Wednesday) that they have purchased the contract of left-handed relief pitcher Ryan Sherriff from triple-A Memphis. To make room for Sherriff on the team’s 40-man roster, the club moved RHP Trevor Rosenthal to the 60-day disabled list and optioned right-handed pitcher Josh Lucas to Memphis following last night’s game.
Sherriff, 27, the Cardinals 28th round pick out of West Los Angeles College in the 2011 draft, has appeared in a team-leading 48 games this season for the Redbirds, ranking T-4th in the Pacific Coast League. He’s 5-1 with a 3.19 ERA and has six saves in seven opportunities, covering 53.2 innings.
The southpaw has stranded 14-of-17 inherited runners this season and is holding left-handed batters to a .198 batting average while right-handers are hitting .215 with no home runs. Of his 48 appearances this season, 37 have been scoreless and he has not allowed a home run since June 9, a span of 24 games. Sherriff received an invitation to Major League Spring Training in 2017 and made eight relief appearances allowing one run in 8.2 innings. Sherriff will wear uniform No. 65.
Lucas was purchased on August 19 and made his Major League debut that night at Pittsburgh. He made two appearances for the Cardinals, and pitched a combined 4.0 innings, striking out five.
Rosenthal was placed on the 10-day disabled list on August 17 with right posterior elbow irritation. Rosenthal, who has 11 saves for St. Louis this year and is 3-4 with a 3.40 ERA, ranks 5th among National League relievers with 76 strikeouts.
Brian Walton’s take
Reliever roulette continues for the struggling Cardinals. Sherriff is worthy of a shot as a two-time Pacific Coast League All-Star and 2016 participant in the Arizona Fall League. He becomes St. Louis’ fourth left-handed reliever – at least until Kevin Siegrist would make it five when he comes off the disabled list.
Not surprisingly, Rosenthal’s move to the 60-day DL officially ends his 2017 season. His 2018 will be in jeopardy, as well. In a late afternoon meeting with media, Cardinals GM Michael Girsch confirmed that Tommy John surgery will be conducted next week.
Rosenthal will become free agent eligible following next season so may be motivated to return as soon as possible to demonstrate his health and effectiveness. Totally speculating here, but the most optimistic case of a nine-month recovery could have him back as soon as late May.
In the near term, as of yet, no clear replacement for Rosenthal as closer has emerged. A ninth-inning man will now be needed for next season as well. Prior closer Seung-hwan Oh is only under contract through 2017.
As the 40-man swells, the questions remain as to who will be removed and when. Will the club create openings for additional September call ups or wait until nearer to this fall’s Rule 5 selection decisions?
For more
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Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnationblog.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.
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