The St. Louis Cardinals Make Surprising Move, Designate Shawn Armstrong for Assignment
In a shocking turn of events, the St. Louis Cardinals have made a surprising move just days after the trade deadline. The team, who had upgraded their bullpen with the acquisition of reliever Shawn Armstrong, has now designated him for assignment. This move comes as a surprise to many, especially considering the Cardinals were buyers at the deadline in hopes of making a playoff push.
According to reports from The Athletic’s Katie Woo, the Cardinals have decided to replace Armstrong with right-handed reliever Riley O’Brien. This decision has left many fans and analysts scratching their heads, as Armstrong is a 10-year veteran with a solid track record.
The trade deadline was a busy time for the Cardinals, who were looking to strengthen their bullpen for the second half of the season. They made a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, sending promising young player Dylan Carlson in exchange for Armstrong. This move was seen as a smart and strategic move by the Cardinals, but now it seems they have had a change of heart.
It remains to be seen how this move will affect the Cardinals’ playoff hopes, but one thing is for sure – it has certainly caught the attention of the baseball world. With the addition of O’Brien and the departure of Armstrong, the Cardinals’ bullpen will look very different moving forward. Only time will tell if this was a wise decision by the team.
The St. Louis Cardinals Make Surprising Move, Designate Reliever Shawn Armstrong for Assignment
The St. Louis Cardinals made a bold move at the trade deadline, acquiring reliever Shawn Armstrong in exchange for top prospect Dylan Carlson. The team hoped this move would bolster their bullpen and help them make a push for the playoffs in the second half of the season.
However, in a surprising turn of events, the Cardinals designated Armstrong for assignment on Tuesday, according to The Athletic’s Katie Woo. The team has decided to replace the 10-year veteran with right-handed reliever Riley O’Brien.
Armstrong, a journeyman relief pitcher, had been performing well since joining the Cardinals in early August. In 12.2 innings, he had a 2.84 ERA, 1.026 WHIP, and 12 strikeouts. He also had an impressive 153 ERA+ in a small sample size.
The 32-year-old righty made his debut for St. Louis on August 2, and while he struggled in his first few appearances, he bounced back and had a string of seven scoreless outings. He even pitched in back-to-back games on Sunday and Monday, delivering two scoreless frames.
The Cardinals’ bullpen has been inconsistent this season, ranking in the top 13 in some categories but falling short in others. Losing Armstrong only weakens the bullpen further, especially considering the team gave up a top prospect in Carlson to acquire him.
Carlson, a first-round draft pick in 2016, was one of the top prospects in the minors and made his debut for the Cardinals in 2020. He finished third in Rookie of the Year voting the following season.
Despite being 10.5 games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central and having a 1.3 percent chance of making the postseason, the Cardinals have not given up on their playoff hopes. Starting pitcher Miles Mikolas even stated that the team could win 17 straight games if necessary. However, the team has struggled since the All-Star break, going just 15-20.
The Cardinals may have impressed Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy with their scrappy play, but they have a tough road ahead if they want to secure a playoff spot. With just a 1.3 percent chance of making the postseason, the team’s decision to designate Armstrong for assignment seems like a puzzling move.
