Cardinals outfielder Anthony Garcia has cleared waivers and been outrighted off the 40-man roster, per the club’s transactions page at MLB.com. It doesn’t appear as if there will be an immediate corresponding move, as Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Garcia’s outright was more about keeping an open roster spot on the 40-man for the future than for accommodating a new addition.
The 25-year-old Garcia hit .280/.317/.473 in 31 games following a promotion from Double-A Springfield to Triple-A Memphis in 2016, which was apparently enough to secure his spot on the 40-man roster over the course of the offseason. However, a .162/.225/.270 start through his first 40 plate appearances of the 2017 campaign likely contributed to his departure from the 40-man roster.
While Garcia played some center field and even did some catching early in his career after being selected in the 18th round of the 2009 draft, he’s been almost exclusively a corner outfielder in each of the past two seasons (with the exception being one lone appearance at first base in 2015).
Any inkling as to who the Cards may be creating space for??
Christian Bethancourt. But he has to clear waivers first….
Bethancourt cleared waivers days ago and was outrighted to El Paso.
I was under the impression Bethancourt had already cleared waivers.
I won’t believe it until WCRyan confirms it….
Ryan? Pssh
Dude is in El Paso
To make a transformation into become a pitcher
None of these reasons… probably so they can keep one of the bullpen options on the 40 man after they unfortunately inevitably reactivate peralta. I would love it if I were wrong though.
There was no reason that Garcia should have taken a roster spot on the 40 man over the off season. Consequently we lost Córdoba in rule 5 draft to Padres.
Luis Robert….??
That was my first thought….and I hope we’re right!
Robert won’t be signing a Major League contract due to MLB’s signing rules, and therefore won’t command a 40-man roster spot.
Everything I have been reading Luis Robert coming the the White Sox to play with Moncada.