The Cardinals have announced that left-hander Genesis Cabrera has been activated from the injured list. To make room for him on the active roster, right-hander James Naile has been optioned to Triple-A. Since Cabrera was on the COVID IL, he wasn’t occupying a spot on the 40-man roster. To make room for him there, righty Angel Rondon has been designated for assignment.
Rondon, 24, was an international signing of the Cardinals out of the Dominican Republic in 2016. He largely worked as a starter in the lower levels of the minors but has gradually transitioned into more of a relief role in the upper levels and in the majors. He has just seven MLB innings on his ledger so far, five of which came in a single appearance this year. After Steven Matz started the game against the Pirates on May 22, he departed after just four pitches. Rondon entered and threw five scoreless frames, but was optioned out for a fresh arm the next day.
Through 49 Triple-A innings on the year, he has a 4.04 ERA with a 24.2% strikeout rate but a concerning walk rate of 15.3%. Five of his 18 appearances have been starts, meaning he hasn’t fully crossed the threshold that separates the rotation from the bullpen. He still has youth on his side and is in his second option year, meaning he can be stashed in the minors for the rest of this season as well as another campaign. Given the mounting injuries around the league, it’s entirely plausible that some team is intrigued enough to take a shot on him. Baseball America has considered him to be one of the top 30 prospects in the Cardinals’ system in each of the past three years, highlighting his slider as the best offering in his four-pitch mix. The Cardinals will have a week to trade him, pass him through waivers or release him.
I thought this said Anthony Rendon for a second…
Me too haha. All I saw at first glance was Angel, Rendon, and designate for assignment.
Most eventfully split second in my mind
Hoping the Orioles sign Rondon.
Hope the Padres can scoop up Rondon.
Me too haha. Rendon better pull an Aaron Judge next year to justify that mega contract.
Hopefully, the Cardinals can work out a deal with another team before letting him go for nothing. Rondon is pretty good.
Zero chance they pass him through waivers, he’s got way too much potential.
Why would they send Naile down he was doing great!!
Excellent question.
Yeah, The bullpen hasn’t been good and needs more depth, but it could be better than it has been. If they would let guys like Naile and Woodford play over guys that aren’t productive, who they’re only sticking with because they spent money on, maybe the bullpen would be deeper than it has been.
wanna try again? they just said on the radio broadcast that over the last 28 something innings that bullpen has been used their ERA is .86
The top of the pen has been really good, but if those guys could of got some of the innings the new acquisitions McFarland, VerHagen and Wittgen got the birds might be in 1st place.
Genesis led to an Angel’s Exodus; he was a victim of the Numbers game.
The numbers Mason, what do they mean?
Disappointed Rondon ends up DFA… Especially with what’s going on with rotation and bullpen arms struggling mightly at times
They have wasted way to many good start’s from some old pitchers and by the end of the season it’s going to bite them in the butt!
DeJong and Rondon to the Angels for Syndergaard.
I like what you are thinking
So a guy that has been DFAd and a guy that has been sent down because he can’t hit……for Syndergaard. Was this a serious suggestion?