The Cardinals announced the signing of left-hander Wade LeBlanc. The deal is apparently a Major League contract, as LeBlanc will move directly onto the Cards’ active roster. In corresponding moves, right-hander Seth Elledge was optioned to Triple-A, and infielder Max Moroff was moved from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL.
LeBlanc is now lined up to pitch for the ninth different team of his 13-season MLB career. LeBlanc was also briefly a member of the Brewers and Rangers organizations within the last two months, signing minor league contracts with both clubs but not receiving a promotion to the majors.
This transactional carousel began after the Orioles outrighted LeBlanc in April, and the veteran southpaw decided to become a free agent. The move ended a tough two-year stint for LeBlanc in Baltimore that saw him post an 8.38 ERA over 29 innings, with LeBlanc starting seven of his 12 total appearances in the black-and-orange.
St. Louis manager Mike Shildt told reporters (including Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat and The Athletic’s Katie Woo) that the Cardinals will mostly use LeBlanc as a relief pitcher. While LeBlanc’s recent results don’t exactly indicate a quick fix for a struggling Cards bullpen, he can at least provide the team with some depth as a long man, and perhaps even as a spot starter in the event of more injuries within the rotation. LeBlanc’s splits against left-handed batters have still been generally good, so a more situational usage — within the boundaries of the three-batter rule — might be the more optimal way to deploy the southpaw at this stage of his career.
“He’s got versatility. He’s not overly splitty, throws strikes to both righties and lefties. But he’s built up, he’s got some length,” Shildt said.
RIP Steve Nebraska
Is this a thing now? And if so, why?
Maybe it’ll get him to stop saying the same stupid crap every time somebody gets hurt?
I’ve come to expect this from the Cardinals
Won’t be surprised if Arenado Opts out
Always have liked LeBlanc dating back to 2006. Will be fun to see him in my favorite team’s uniform now. Always like lefties like him. Detwiler, too.
Woot
This guy is 36 years old and hasn’t been productive since 2018. Maybe he is related to Carpenter.
Give him a chance. Let him start in St. Louis with LeBlanc slate.
He was recently cut by the AAA team in Round Rock. Yeah, let’s put him in there because he at least throws strikes?
Great thinking. Use him in games the Cards are up by 10 or down by 10. Geeze
It’s the reward you get for a pair of deuces at the penny ante table.
Ya ain’t coming with much you ain’t getting much
Well done Captain, well done.
I don’t speak French, what did he say?
Donne lui une chance
Nah John Mozeliak has single handedly ran this team straight into the ground. Whatever brain trust is there, its wrong, has been wrong, and will continue to be dead wrong everytime
Hey this is Hot Stuff!
The Cards might be better off with Mel Blanc.
I wish I was raised to be a lefty
I have liked him when he was pitching for Seattle. He was good. I think with cards defense behind him, he’d be a solid add
Seriously ? He was cut from a AAA team
the seasons saved boys, another lefty who cant pitch was just what the team needed!!
Lmao
I guess Brett Cecil isn’t available..
Redbirds are throwing a little gas on the fire, eh?
Love the sarcasm …
It’s grrrrrrrrrreat
xfip of 4.79? haha. His 2021 $700k salary from Baltimore continues to get transferred from team to team
passed around like a doobie.
Or a cheap hoe
Ugh
Yuck!
Exactly
Can’t be any worse than with what we already have…
Only 20 posts in and no ignorant low hanging fruit comment. Must be a slow day.
OK but he’s right .
Mo has a fetish to overpay for great ones in their decline .
Rarely goes into the FA auction opening with a high bid.
Often goes to the used up broken down section and pays too much for a brand name product because a great running BN product is beyond what he can spend.
Or willing to spend. Cubs did that crap for 107 yrs.
2015 – Offered Jason Heyward the most money of any team. Offered Price a huge contract which Boston crazily topped.
2016 – Dexter Fowler contract was the 2nd highest contract given that offseason and in line with other offers
2017 – Had a deal in place to acquire Giancarlo Stanton and his huge contract
2018 – Miller contract beat out several other suitors. Acquired Goldschmidt and signed him long term.
2019 – Not much in the 2019 offseason
2020 – Acquired some guy named Arenado
Yeah they haven’t been willing to spend money on big name free agents at all.
Right they haven’t. Exactly lol good call
Still a few more cities left to play on LeBlanc’s farewell tour. Almost like the Eagles. LeBlanc still needs to check into another Hotel (in) California.
Mo likes his low hanging fruit but I think this one was on the ground already
Bottom line, Leblanc signing represents a poor judgement of talent on the team that already lacks pitching quality,, inadequate bench players and still needs another outfielder.
DeWit should simply sell the team before DeWitt and Mozalik create the Cardinals of the 1970s.
Bullseye … we’re heading toward joining the Buccos in the basement .
Tommy Milone wasn’t available?
Cards playing the penny ante table as usual .
A 36 yr old HB to help a team with a .230 BA.
Hey Waino , ya better plan on throwing a No hitter tonight . Cards can’t score but 1.38 runs per game.
Must be nice all the job security Cardinal front office and C’ staff has .
Two decades of excellence tends to buy you that kind of job security.
Where was 2 decades of excellence?
If you are referring to the La Russa era uh that was Tony it was not Mozeliak . T L made the Cards look good. Well since then they decided to play only the low stakes table IE: Matheny & Shildt and every year the strikeout Champs make everyone portray Cy Young !
Not to mention all the great moves during TL were made by Walt Jocketty not Mo