The Cardinals have promoted catcher Carson Kelly to the majors, moved reliever Seth Maness to the 60-day disabled list (elbow) and designated shortstop Dean Anna for assignment, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link).
The 22-year-old Kelly joined the Cardinals organization as a second-round pick in 2012. Kelly was a third baseman until the end of the 2013 season, after which the Cardinals shifted him to catcher. From a defensive standpoint, the switch has gone well for Kelly, whom MLBPipeline.com ranks as the Redbirds’ 11th-best prospect and credits for his work behind the plate. Offensively, Kelly hit .287/.338/.403 in 236 Double-A plate appearances this year before advancing to Triple-A Memphis, where he batted .292/.352/.381.
Anna has been with St. Louis since signing a major league deal with the franchise in November 2014, but he has since made only one trip to the plate with the Cardinals. The 29-year-old has spent all of 2016 in Memphis, where he has hit .266/.344/.341 in 383 PAs. Anna owns a better line of .282/.375/.388 line in 1,740 Triple-A plate trips.
How many other Cardinals will need to be protected this off-season due to Rule 5 status?
I’m guessing Magneuris Sierra and Edmundo Sosa. Any others?
Neither Sosa or Sierra will need to be added. I’d gave to look closer, but I don’t think there’s any legitimate prospects at risk.
Sierra was signed in 2012.
He has played a season, them, in 2013, 4, 5, and 6.
So, he should be draft-eligible. If St. Louis doesn’t protect him, the Reds ought to select him in December.
‘if the rosters expand with the new CBA, I’d be good with the Cubs selecting him, and letting him sit the bench in 2017.
Dean Anna: worst signature in baseball. Nice guy, but horrible penmanship.
My little cousins get some autographs last year at a Memphis Redbirds games and some of his teammates noticed Dean’s signature. “Who wrote that?” The other player knew it was Dean and both of them starting laughing.
Thanks for the memory, Dean. Good luck going forward.