Cardinals Make Rare Move, Trade Hurler To Korean Baseball Team

The St. Louis Cardinals are searching far and wide to make all moves possible to improve the club, even if that includes making a trade with an organization almost 7,000 miles away.

Cardinal president of baseball operations John Mozeliak already has made some moves to revamp the starting rotation and is in the process of improving the bullpen.

The expectation is that St. Louis will add one more high-leverage arm before pitchers and catchers report to spring training. Prior to doing so, the Cardinals have opened up a roster spot in a unique way.

"Roster Move: We have transferred right-handed pitcher James Naile to the KIA Tigers of the Korean Baseball Organization in exchange for cash considerations," the team announced late Thursday night.

Naile posted a 7.40 ERA with a 12-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .330 batting average against and a 1.89 WHIP in 24 1/3 innings for the Cardinals in breif stints between 2022-2023 -- his only big-league action.

The move indicates an addition is on the way as St. Louis' 40-man roster has a vacancy. A reliever filling the role in short order is likely, though the caliber of said player is unknown.

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