Joe Capozzi of the Palm Beach Post tweets that Renyel Pinto, who was released by the Marlins on Wednesday this week, will sign with the Cardinals. The deal is pending a physical. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch confirms the deal and says Pinto will report to Triple-A Memphis, assuming he passes his physical.
Pinto was designated for assignment back on June 16 prior to his release, in spite of pitching relatively well this season. While he's had his typical control issues (nine walks in 15.2 IP), he's also notched 16 Ks on the year. Pinto has two years of arbitration remaining, so St. Louis pitching coach Dave Duncan could have plenty of time to work with the southpaw and his career 5.9 BB/9.
Left-handed opponents have been a problem for Pinto throughout his career, despite being a lefty himself. He's allowed a .253 opponent batting average to lefties versus just a .209 average to right-handers, though he does strike out more left-handed hitters (11.7 career K/9) than right-handed (7.0 career K/9).
Patrick
Why didn’t the White Sox go after this guy. Randy Williams is garbage.
Nicolas_C
Scott Linebrink is also garbage, but that’s a story for another day.
whitesoxfan066
that’s what i said. Randy williams should not be in the MLB maybe even not it the Atlantic League
gogowhitesox14
its just thornton, the only lefty… i dont even think of randy williams as a part of our team. He has his “moments” but is mainly a situational guy… situations when we are ahead by 7 or behind. DFA him.
Matt Cool
Seriously everyone Pinto is absolutely horrrible! I know how awful he is since I am a Marlins fan and I attend and watch a lot of games. White Sox fans you guys would be going crazy if you signed this guy he is just outright pathetic! And Cardinal fans should be extremely unhappy about this signing. Just because he is a lefty doesn’t mean he is effective just ask Fredi Gonzalez he learned that lesson the hard way. Pinto has no business being on a Major League roster has far as I am concerned, not even at a discounted price! Yes I understand Dave Duncan is the best pitching coach in baseball but he better have a magic wand to turn this bum around. Good luck Cardinal fans
jimboslice9
Yes, he may be horrible, but Dave Duncan has saved a few careers in the past, so I think it was a smart move by the Cardinals. If he ever gets called up, I’m sure Duncan will be able to make him somewhat serviceable.
catch21_2
Well, this is a minor league signing, so why would Cardinals fans be unhappy with this? There are already two great lefties in the big league bullpen–he’s nothing but minor league depth.
tntdaddy
Typical Marlin fan. Yes, the guy who gives up less inherited runs then most of the relievers in the league. Yeah, He sucks. The Marlins cut Pinto after he gave up his FIRST home run of the year. And that 2.70 ERA. What a BUST! The Marlin fans are so freaking clueless about what they had in Pinto that they booed him on Opening Day when they were lining up BEFORE the game started! I have never seen a fanbase hate a player so much for no freaking reason. But that’s South Florida for ya. Nobody says a WORD about Taylor Tankersley despite having weaker stats than Pinto in nearly every category, including an ERA that’s 1.50 HIGHER.
Well, the Marlins screwed themselves because they thought Pinto would be traded or leave to be a free agent. And what happens? Pinto said “Screw you” and accepted the assignment to AAA forcing the Marlins to either buy out his contract or pay $1 million a year for a minor leaguer. And NO team in the MLB was willing to trade with Marlins and let them off the hook, so they bought him out. Good for Pinto. He deserved better.
tntdaddy
Typical Marlin fan. Yes, the guy who gives up less inherited runs then most of the relievers in the league. Yeah, He sucks. The Marlins cut Pinto after he gave up his FIRST home run of the year. And that 2.70 ERA. What a BUST! The Marlin fans are so freaking clueless about what they had in Pinto that they booed him on Opening Day when they were lining up BEFORE the game started! I have never seen a fanbase hate a player so much for no freaking reason. But that’s South Florida for ya. Nobody says a WORD about Taylor Tankersley despite having weaker stats than Pinto in nearly every category, including an ERA that’s 1.50 HIGHER.
Well, the Marlins screwed themselves because they thought Pinto would be traded or leave to be a free agent. And what happens? Pinto said “Screw you” and accepted the assignment to AAA forcing the Marlins to either buy out his contract or pay $1 million a year for a minor leaguer. And NO team in the MLB was willing to trade with Marlins and let them off the hook, so they bought him out. Good for Pinto. He deserved better.
MadzS
Rofl Pinto pitched “relatively well this season”. Where? For who? Sometimes I swear these writers just look up quick stats without actually knowing a player. Pinto has flashes of brilliance but most of the time he’s going to come in and walk/hit batters or do anything else he can think of to surrender the lead. His ERA looks nice because they run gets charged to the pitcher he’s relieving. Good luck Cardinals!
Cardinals06
He was doing fine for the Marlins this season, 2.70 era is good last I checked. The Marlins seemed to have let him go for no reason. When he hasn’t even cost them a game this season. sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7496/career;_ylt=AsCG… And I never said that he pitched relatively well. So, don’t put words in my mother that I never even said. He’d even be the best pitcher for the D’Backs in their bullpen, which is the worst bullpen in the league. That’s if the D’Backs had picked him up. And, Pinto is still young. If he has control problems …. Dave Duncan might be able to help him fix that. He’s helped lots of pitchers learn to pitch. Like Jeff Suppan, until he left the Cardinals and became a bid pitcher after he left.
marlinsdoit
Don’t get fooled by his #’s..trust me…he come in and allows the world of walks, then allows hits with men on base the reason his era is good Is that all runs are inherited runners. He is awfulllllll..!
tntdaddy
World of walks? Try 9. In 20 appearances, 9 walks. And again, Pinto’s stats with inherited runners was 5% better than the league average last year.
I’ve been a Marlins fan since I moved here 10 years ago. I think it’s funny that I wind up debating more Marlins fans than opposing fans when I’m there. They boo players and have no idea why. I seriously doubt all those boos for Pinto on opening day were people who knew WHY they were booing.
tntdaddy
World of walks? Try 9. In 20 appearances, 9 walks. And again, Pinto’s stats with inherited runners was 5% better than the league average last year.
I’ve been a Marlins fan since I moved here 10 years ago. I think it’s funny that I wind up debating more Marlins fans than opposing fans when I’m there. They boo players and have no idea why. I seriously doubt all those boos for Pinto on opening day were people who knew WHY they were booing.
damnitsderek
You’re using ERA to gauge how effective a pitcher is…are you on the Veterans Committee?
Cardinals06
who cares if I’m using era? at least with control issues, he’s put up era’s that are ok. and again he’s not a lefty specialist. He does better against right handed hitters. The Cardinals face the Marlins a lot, during spring training (since both share the same spring training site) and then some during the regular season. I’m sure the Cardinals have seen Pinto pitch, and feel like they can make him better and like his stuff. Didn’t Todd Wellemeyer even have control issues? And he had always been a starter in the minors, but was better as starter in the majors when the Cardinals letted him start in 07. And then had a winning record in 08. But, then he fell apart in 09. Pinto had always been a minor league starter until the majors, so maybe the Cardinals want to see if he does better starting. Plus, he’s an ex-Cub prospect. And the Cardinals like picking up ex-Cubs. You can even look at the past with ex-Cubs in Cardinal history, and one of them Rich Hill was recently cut from Memphis; because he can’t pitch.
Cardinals06
He was doing fine for the Marlins this season, 2.70 era is good last I checked. The Marlins seemed to have let him go for no reason. When he hasn’t even cost them a game this season. sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7496/career;_ylt=AsCG… And I never said that he pitched relatively well. So, don’t put words in my mother that I never even said. He’d even be the best pitcher for the D’Backs in their bullpen, which is the worst bullpen in the league. That’s if the D’Backs had picked him up. And, Pinto is still young. If he has control problems …. Dave Duncan might be able to help him fix that. He’s helped lots of pitchers learn to pitch. Like Jeff Suppan, until he left the Cardinals and became a bid pitcher after he left.
MadzS
Rofl Pinto pitched “relatively well this season”. Where? For who? Sometimes I swear these writers just look up quick stats without actually knowing a player. Pinto has flashes of brilliance but most of the time he’s going to come in and walk/hit batters or do anything else he can think of to surrender the lead. His ERA looks nice because they run gets charged to the pitcher he’s relieving. Good luck Cardinals!
yahoo-PNCWZSH7WHIBTM4B7G2VYGL5BE
That 2.70 ERA is a mirage considering that most of the runs scored on him are inherited. If he comes in with men on base, rest assured they will score. He always gets complicated in three ball counts immediately which is pretty since his out pitch, changeup, usually ends up in the dirt. And the fact that a lefty specialist gets shelled by lefty hitters should be a big red flag.
Cardinals06
He’s not really a lefty specialist though. He does better against right handed hitters.
Cardinals06
He’s not really a lefty specialist though. He does better against right handed hitters.
marlinsdoit
The guy is awful! Feel bad for Card fans…all he does is walk batters and loose leads. His era lies. They are all inherited runsss…trust us. The Marlins fans have been dealing with this clown for 3 years…