Cardinals’ Malaise: The Inertia That Has Defined the Last Five Years
In the past five years, the Cardinals have been plagued by a central theme: inertia. This stagnant state has hindered their progress and left fans feeling disheartened. But now, it’s time for a change. It’s time for the Cardinals to get back in the game.
-hander Mitch White was designated for assignment and then outrighted to Triple-A.
Kansas City Royals Release Struggling Reliever Chris Stratton During Home Series Against St. Louis Cardinals
On May 18, the Kansas City Royals made a bold move by designating struggling reliever Chris Stratton for assignment during a home series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Just four days later, he was released from the team. However, his journey was far from over as the Los Angeles Dodgers signed him just three days after his release.
Dodgers Designate Stratton for Assignment Again After Just One Week
Unfortunately for Stratton, his time with the Dodgers was short-lived. On June 2, the team designated him for assignment once again. He was then sent outright to Triple-A on June 5, but he rejected the assignment in favor of becoming a free agent. However, his luck turned around as he signed another major league deal with the Dodgers the very next day, June 6, while in St. Louis. Despite his quick turnaround, he allowed a solo home run in one inning of work that night and was designated for assignment again on June 7.
The Importance of Roster Flexibility and Strategic Moves in Baseball
While these transactions may seem like just a jumble of moves for a veteran pitcher, they actually hold significant importance in the world of baseball. The constant churn of players and roster changes is a crucial aspect of the game, and the Dodgers have mastered this strategy to their benefit. The Cardinals, under the guidance of Chaim Bloom, seem to be following suit and preparing to operate in a similar manner.
Top Prospect JJ Wetherholt’s Lack of Call-Up Highlights Importance of Roster Management
Many fans have expressed frustration over the lack of a call-up for top prospect JJ Wetherholt this season. However, this decision is not solely based on baseball reasons. The Cardinals have administrative and roster-based reasons for keeping Wetherholt in Triple-A, including the opportunity cost of losing him to the Rule 5 draft. The Dodgers have also shown the value of roster flexibility and not hesitating to move players off the bottom of the depth chart.
Cardinals Follow Dodgers’ Lead in Maximizing Roster Flexibility
The recent acquisition of Jorge Alcala off waivers from Boston by the Cardinals is a prime example of their efforts to maximize roster flexibility. Not only does Alcala provide much-needed innings for the remainder of the season, but he also comes with an additional year of team control. This allows the team to evaluate him firsthand and potentially keep him for future seasons.
In contrast, the Dodgers have consistently shown their ability to make strategic moves and utilize their roster depth to their advantage. For example, when they needed an emergency catcher, they designated right-hander Mitch White for assignment and then outrighted him to Triple-A. This type of flexibility and willingness to make moves off the bottom of the depth chart is something the Cardinals can learn from and implement in their own roster management.
