The Cardinals announced Wednesday that they’ve designated outfielder Adolis Garcia for assignment. His spot on the 40-man roster goes to lefty Kwang-Hyun Kim, whose two-year contract with the club is now official.
Garcia, 27 in March, appeared in 21 games with the Cards in 2018 but went just 2-for-17 in a tiny sample of work at the plate. Garcia signed for a $2.5MM bonus with the Cards in 2017 after leaving his native Cuba and was ranked ninth among St. Louis farmhands by Baseball America that winter. However, his blend of raw power, speed and arm strength has yet to generate the offensive results the Cardinals had hoped in the upper minors.
This past season, Garcia spent the entire year with Triple-A Memphis, where he batted .253/.301/.517 with 32 home runs, 22 doubles, six triples and 14 steals. While the counting numbers may look solid, the juiced ball in Triple-A led to a leaguewide home run spike that makes Garcia’s power output worth raising an eyebrow toward. He hit 10 fewer home runs in 100 fewer plate appearances a year prior. Beyond that, Garcia was highly inefficient in terms of stealing bases (14-for-24), and he struck out in 30.1 percent of his plate appearances while walking at a lowly 4.2 percent clip.
It seems clear that there’s some raw and perhaps yet-untapped ability in Garcia, who does have minor league options remaining. As such, he could hold appeal to another club in a minor trade or via a waiver claim if he reaches that point. The Cardinals have a week to deal Garcia or run him through waivers in hopes that he’ll clear and be able to continue on as a depth piece in the minors.
Even with Garcia subtracted from the outfield mix, the Cardinals still have a deep reservoir of options from which to draw — although much of the group is largely untested in the Majors. Dexter Fowler, Harrison Bader, Tyler O’Neill and Randy Arozarena are all options in 2020, as are more versatile infielder/outfielder types Yairo Munoz and Tommy Edman. The Cards also have a pair of well-regarded prospects on the cusp of readiness for a prolonged look: Lane Thomas and Dylan Carlson.
That said, adding a veteran to supplement that unproven mix still seems plausible. The Cardinals stand to potentially lose Marcell Ozuna to free agency, and their aggression in replacing him will speak volumes about the level of confidence they have in that internal slate of options.
Hard to see Garcia getting through waivers this time of year, even with the understandable caveats that Steve offered about Garcia’s 2019 performance.
27 year old corner outfielder in the PCL. Garcia does nothing well but hit homeruns….Seems like those guys are a dime a dozen.
Only team I could maybe see is the Tigers.
Royals, Orioles, Mariners, Pirates come to mind. Garcia isn’t a bad fielder and has shown the ability to play center. Not great mind you, but good enough to keep him in the lineup if you’re a team like the Orioles.
Mariners are pretty well stocked with outfielders. This guy doesn’t look like an Elias claim to me either. OFers with no plate discipline and huge K problems in their 3rd season of AAA aren’t usually hot commodities.
I don’t know enough about the Royals current outfield group to say. He looks like a really broke mans Soler though. Don’t know if they’d want another one of those.
Wouldn’t rule out the Marlins offering a minor league deal either.
He should get claimed. He still has minor league options still so whatever team lands him could easily just throw him back in Triple-A and see if he can duplicate his strengths while working on his weaknesses. My guess is that he ends up getting traded for some lowly minor league prospect with upside who doesn’t have to take up a 40- man roster spot. It would have to be within the next week before waivers but I think that’s doable with his Triple-A numbers last season.
On a side note: How do these Cuban players (like this guy, Aroldis Chapman, Yunel Escobar, Jose Contreras, etc.) actually end up defecting typically? I know the Cuban government really hates that and tries to stop it at all cost. I think they basically tried to keep Jose Contreras’ entire family hostage for years while he was with the Yankees. Does anyone know how all that goes down?
Poor comparison to Soler. I’d check his numbers out again.
The Marlins just offered Matt Kemp a minor league deal so – yeah. That would happen if the Cards don’t trade him first
I don’t think some of you guys understand. He doesn’t have 6 years in the STL system. If he clears waivers; no one can sign him to a minor league deal. He’ll remain in STL’s org off the 40 man. The Matt Kemp deal is really irrelevant. If they want Garcia; they’d have to keep him on the 40 man. Or claim him and try to sneak him back through waivers. They can’t just offer him a minor league deal.
Garcia has four pretty good tools (plus arm, plus power). He’s just not all that great at getting on base (hitting). I hope he gets more of a shot somewhere else.
No one ever says anything about Jose Martinez he could be starting lf next year the bat needs to play
While it is true the Red Birds have a plethora of outfielders, you can add Justin Williams to the mix, I too see a role for Martinez. A platoon with Edman vs lefties, when Edman occupies third base.
But what I do question is the release of Garcia, who somebody will surely nab in favor of Urias. His spot on the 40-man is curious to me.
Should say designation not release.
Outside of Cecil, there was no other obvious candidate to remove from the roster.
Edman should be starting everyday he’s no platoon.
You did not read closely. Edman will start in right vs righties, third vs lefties.
I wouldn’t get too far ahead of yourself Edman hasn’t proven or established himself. If he puts up last years numbers over a full season then your comment has merit.
Yairo Munoz is/was certainly a candidate to be DFA’d.
His league average bat? You mean that one? He should be at minimum the 6th starting corner IF option. Honestly why TF is he still even on the roster. League has figured him out, and his hat meds to be about 20-30% above league average to get him to even replacement level production overall, given his truly one of a kind horrific defense. DFA is the only answer with him.
Martinez’s bat plays against lefties, and he has always posted above average pinch-hitting numbers. I say he is deserving of platoon play. If others show the ability to hit big league pitching he can always be moved to the AL near the deadline.
Agreed. Martinez didn’t have as good of a year batting last year, but with regular playing time he would most likely be back at where he should be. Having said that – I don’t want to see his fielding and bad routes to balls in the outfield. I don’t know why an American League team won’t pony up something for him as a DH. He would be a great DH. The Cards “braintrust” must want too much for him. Sigh…
And the pipe dream of Brett Cecil contributing continues.
Kinda hard to collect insurance due to injury on a contract after they cut him. He’s guaranteed the money either way.
Just so we are clear…. we are now saying the ball was juiced in both the majors and minors?
The ball used in AAA was the same ball used in the majors. None of the other minor league levels were affected, but AAA stats should be taken with a grain of salt the same way that MLB stats are.
Yep. Considering the juiced ball Garcia’s 2019 numbers are slightly worse than his 2018 numbers. The K rate went up and the walk rate went down. The marginal increase in slugging is probably due to the juiced ball.
Trade him to Baltimore for Mychal Givens.
Ha.
If he makes it through the NL unclaimed he can join the Chicago Cuban White Sox Grandal, Abreu, Moncada and Robert.
Garcia to the Giants.
yeah then you would have adolis garcia, aroldis garcia – maybe they could pull adonis garcia out of the garbage heap too.
It is why I would love to see corey dickerson to the giants too – having 2 dickersons in the OF would be funny
Oh Wolfy. Your foto looks sad. And mad. Not mean. Pouting.
The Dickerson thing would definitley be funny!
Saw this guy play in memphis, strikes out alot but man when he hits it, it is scorched. He is absolutely in great physical shape. Obviously not fleet of foot but guy has a canon. Threw out 2 guys the game I was at and would have had a third but Kramer Robertson dropped the ball. Hope he gets a shot somewhere, if he could just get alittle more disciplined at the plate, I think he would be valuable to someone with playing time.
Marlins he’s Cuban big culture there hope he gets a chance
There are a lot worse players and a couple completely useless players like Brett Cecil on the 40 man they could have released
He wasn’t released, he was designated. The Cards can work out a deal, which they most likely will be able to do. Cecil would have brought them nothing in return. It gives them time. If they were to add another piece they can always designate Cecil.
The Cardinals have so many all stars in the OF that this move means nothing.
It looks like this guy’s got some serious untapped potential — sure he’s yet to really put things together and I understand the AAA ball was “juiced” last season but still 31 HRs is nothing to scoff at – and his record shows he had some legit power even before the “juiced ball” and he’s young enough that there’s a chance he could put some things together and really emerge as a decent power threat. Looks like a guy that’ll get a shot somewhere next season especially considering he has ml options remaining. Could be a sleeper as someone who could find his way and capitalize on his raw skill – will be interesting to watch if he can do so.
Looks like a candidate for the Indians. Has all the qualifications.
Cleveland cleaning house Cleveland Indian’s Will probably claim him