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Scott Blewett has put the Cardinals in a familiar roster squeeze.
According to Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the right-hander has triggered an opt-out in his minor league deal, leaving St. Louis with a choice: add him to the big league roster or let him go.
Blewett has spent the full season at Triple-A Memphis, where the results have been mixed. His 5.18 ERA over 48 2/3 innings doesn’t jump off the page, but the underlying numbers are more interesting.
The 30-year-old has struck out 28% of the hitters he’s faced while walking 8%, and the bloated ERA has been dragged up by a .425 batting average on balls in play. That number should settle down, especially if he’s backed by an MLB-level defense.
The catch is that the swing-and-miss profile may not translate cleanly against major league bats. Blewett owns a 19.3% strikeout rate in 43 MLB appearances across four seasons.
Last year, he punched out 18% of opponents in 44 1/3 innings while bouncing between Minnesota, Baltimore and Atlanta. After Baltimore waived him in the final week of the regular season, he was limited to minor league chances over the winter.
St. Louis has some room to think it over, but not much.
The Cardinals’ bullpen ranks 17th in the majors with a 4.22 ERA, and the unit has been short on punch, sitting in the bottom five in strikeout rate at 20%. Over the past month, the relief corps has allowed 4.40 earned runs per nine.
Health hasn’t been the issue. The Cardinals have kept their entire pitching staff remarkably intact for a second straight year, with rookie righty Max Rajcic the only pitcher currently on the major league injured list.
The bullpen picture is already crowded in certain spots. Riley O’Brien, Ryne Stanek, George Soriano and JoJo Romero have four roles spoken for.
Left-hander Justin Bruihl is out of options and has pitched well enough in middle relief to stay in the mix. If the Cardinals want to keep Blewett, they could move on from Matt Svanson, Luis Gastelum or Gordon Graceffo.
Even then, there’s the 40-man roster to sort out. St. Louis would have to clear a spot by designating someone for assignment or placing Richard Fitts or Tekoah Roby on the MLB injured list, which would pay them a big league salary for the reminder of the season.
In Other News…
Cardinals Pitcher Gets Pulled Into All-Star Game Injury Scare
The All-Star Game took an uneasy turn for the Cardinals when Riley OBriens pitch led to a scare involving Rays third baseman Junior Caminero. Caminero had to leave the game after being hit on the left hand, and Miguel Vargas stepped into the American League lineup as the inning and the night suddenly felt a lot less festive.
Even with the pitch appearing accidental, OBrien still found himself at the center of angry online reaction in the aftermath. For St. Louis, it was the kind of unwanted spotlight that follows a pitcher long after the exhibition stage has moved on, especially when a routine midsummer showcase briefly turns into a health concern for one of baseballs biggest young names. [ Read more 🡒 ]
Cardinals Just Moved On From Another Familiar Bat After The Draft
The Cardinals roster churn continued after the 2026 draft, with the club trimming several minor league names from the system as it clears space and resets the depth chart. Among the moves were shortstop Jeremy Rivas and right-hander Jason Savacool, while Bligh Madris was sent to the KBO League for cash considerations, another sign that St. Louis is not waiting around to sort out the edges of its organization.
For Matt Koperniak, the latest transaction closes a long run in the system for a player who once carried some real prospect value in the organization. Ranked as the Cardinals No. 22 prospect at one point, the Triple-A outfielder never got the call to the majors before his release, leaving another familiar name to fade out of the pipeline as the club keeps moving forward. [ Read more 🡒 ]
Cardinals Just Took Another Low-Risk Swing With Intriguing Power Upside
The Cardinals have added another low-risk name to the system, this time bringing in an undrafted outfielder from Ole Miss who flashed real pop in his final college season. Tristan Bissettas bat stood out at Ole Miss, where he paired a strong power profile with an overall line that suggested there is something to work with if the organization can help him carry it forward.
For St. Louis, it is the kind of move that fits the broader approach of stocking the lower levels with players who have a trait worth betting on. Bissettas production came with the usual questions that follow a power-first profile, but the Cardinals have been willing to keep adding these kinds of lottery tickets, including catcher John Lemm, as they look for depth and upside wherever they can find it. []