The Cardinals announced a series of roster moves in advance of today’s 40-man roster deadline. Right-handers Adam Kloffenstein and Sem Robberse and catcher Pedro Pages had their contracts selected, while left-hander Connor Thomas was designated for assignment. (Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported earlier today that Pages’ contract was going to be selected.) Left-hander Packy Naughton was outrighted to Triple-A, and St. Louis officially confirmed the previously-reported news that Wilking Rodriguez elected free agency after the right-hander had also been outrighted to Triple-A.
It was essentially a set of chalk picks for the Cards in protecting three of the four Rule 5-eligible prospects on their MLB Pipeline top 30 list, with right-hander Ian Bedell the only eligible player now available to rival clubs in December’s R5 Draft. Bedell might be one of the more interesting names to watch heading into the Rule 5, but the Cardinals felt Kloffenstein, Robberse, and Pages were more worthy of 40-man roster spots.
Kloffenstein and Robberse only joined the organization at the trade deadline, acquired from the Blue Jays in the Jordan Hicks trade. Both pitchers made their Triple-A debuts after coming to the Cardinals, and they’ll likely start 2024 at Triple-A as well. Since St. Louis is aiming to add multiple new starting pitchers this winter, Robberse and Kloffenstein will be competing with the Cards’ other young arms to see who might be part of the first wave of depth starters. It also isn’t out of the question that either could be on the move if the Cardinals pursued some experienced pitching on the trade market.
Pages was a sixth-round pick for the Cardinals in the 2019 draft, and he hit .267/.362/.443 with 16 home runs over 497 plate appearances with Double-A Springfield last season. Speaking of trade depth, the Cards might also look to the catcher position, as they now have four backstops (Willson Contreras, Ivan Herrera, Andrew Knizner, and Pages) on the 40-man roster.
Thomas was a 40-man selection almost exactly a year ago, as St. Louis looked to protect the outfielder from the 2022 Rule 5 Draft. The southpaw was coming off a 5.47 ERA in 135 Triple-A innings in 2022, but couldn’t make much headway last year, delivering a 5.53 ERA, 15.7% strikeout rate, and 7.0% walk rate in 94 1/3 frames for Memphis. Thomas is a grounder specialist who has faced some heavy BABIP misfortune during his minor league career, but the Cardinals have seen enough to potentially move on from the 25-year-old.
Naughton has a 4.98 ERA over 59 2/3 Major League innings since the start of the 2021 season, with his first two big league campaigns spent shuttling back and forth from Triple-A with the Angels and Cardinals. His 2023 campaign was essentially lost to injury, as Naughton underwent flexor tendon surgery in late June and figures to miss probably the first half of the 2024 season, based on past timelines for similar procedures. Naughton will continue rehabbing and potentially also surface for at least some bullpen work at some point next year.
this has the wrong Connor Thomas linked…
Connor Thomas
Position: Starting Pitcher
Bats: Left • Throws: Left
5-11, 173lb (180cm, 78kg)
Team: St. Louis Cardinals (majors)
this is the one you want
You can always tell the fans that don’t understand how baseball works.
I would not have left Bedell unprotected.
Bedell had a really good season – his first full season – but it was still three levels below the Majors.
He’s one of those guys that got hurt and now that he’s healthy is going to move up very quickly. Yes talented and he could probably use at least another couple months in the minors some team might take a chance.
Worries me too.
Not sure how I feel about protecting a glove first catcher with all the catching depth they already have.
Pages will be a Major League backup one day. I didn’t think they’d protect him this year, but I assume that means one of the other catchers will be traded.
Sure they have bodies. But there isn’t much quality in that depth. Herrera has been bad at the major league level. Knizner is fine. But they need to keep playing the large numbers game and hope to get lucky.
Herrera made significant strides at the plate last year. Didn’t look overmatched like he had previously.
I like Knizner, but he’s not likely to ascend with Contreras having a good year and settling into the position/clubhouse.
Knizner had a good year last year and could start for a handful of teams. I think he should be packaged for a deal with someone.
Herrera was bad over 22 PAs in 2022. He was fine this year at the MLB level and has been above average at every stop in the minors. He will likely be better than Kniznwr in 2024.
I’m hoping for a Contreras/Herrera timeshare at C for the Cards this year.
He had 44 PAs in 2023. He had some home runs in AAA last year. I’ll give you he hasn’t had much of a run in the majors, but when he has, he had looked bad behind the plate and average on side of it. Not a great combo.
hbd, connor thomas. welcome to stl.
edit: well the connor thomas thats linked
trade away Knizner….
I could see TB asking for Knizner and Graceffo in exchange for Glasnow. If they prefer Herrera, then they should include at least a decent reliever with years of control. I think Ivan will be a quality starting catcher soon.
Hahahaha, it’s gonna take a lot more than that.