Cardinals Make Surprise DFA; Cutting Ties With Talented Young Hurler

The St. Louis Cardinals are preparing to shake up the roster at the upcoming Major League Baseball Trade Deadline and now have the first surprising move under their belt.

"The Cardinals are designating left-handed reliever Génesis Cabrera for assignment," The Athletic's Katie Woo tweeted Monday. "Cabrera has been with the team since 2019. A surprising move given his presumed trade interest, though he can still be traded within 7 days of being DFA’d.

"Cabrera appeared in 32 games for St. Louis this season. Numbers were high: 5.06 ERA, 1.563 WHIP. But given his stuff and velocity from the left side when he's right, a contending team is likely to take a chance on him."

Cabrera has been roughed up this season but has had success in seasons past and has yet to enter his prime. The 26-year-old entered the year with a career 3.95 ERA, 160-to-83 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .215 batting average against, 1.32 WHIP and 102 ERA+ in 157 1/3 innings across 142 games.

St. Louis is choosing to cut ties with a young southpaw whose fastball averages 95.8 mph to head an electric five-pitch mix. He has to put it all together but that is what lost seasons -- such as this one -- are for.

Instead, he'll likely head to a contender, ideally via trade, and he'll be under his new team's control through the 2025 season.

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