Cardinals Intriguing Hurler Returns Shortly After Electing Free Agency
The St. Louis Cardinals will be looking to revive their pitching staff this offseason.
One way to jumpstart the process will be to retain in-house hurlers tabbed to contribute in 2024.
After electing to seek free agency last week, a promising relief prospect is returning to the Cardinals organization.
"We have re-signed right-handed pitcher Wilking Rodríguez to a minor league contract with a non-roster invite to spring training," the Cardinals announced Tuesday.
Shortly after being outrighted to a non-40-man roster spot with Triple-A Memphis, Rodríguez elected to test the waters of free agency before accepting a minor league deal. After a few days, Rodríguez realized his best shot was to return to St. Louis.
This move was most likely motivated by job security as he's bounced around various affiliated leagues for the last decade and has not had much time to prove himself in Major League Baseball.
The 34-year-old hurler was picked up by St. Louis from the New York Yankees last season in the 2023 Rule 5 Draft but was barely able to perform after undergoing surgery in May for a right shoulder injury.
Rodríguez posted a 0.00 ERA with six strikeouts, a pair of walks, a .238 batting average against and 1.24 WHIP in 5 2/3 innings for Triple-A Memphis.
The Venezuelan pitcher may not be listed as a high-leverage reliever at the moment but that could all change if he can perform up to his 2022 standard in Mexico -- posting a 1.78 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 50 2/3 innings pitched.
With the Cardinals' bullpen being as weak as it is, signing Rodríguez is a step in the right direction for preserving depth going into next season.
More MLB: Cardinals' John Mozeliak Hints Bigger Moves Could Be Coming For St. Louis
