The Cardinals purchased the contract of catcher Austin Romine from Triple-A Memphis, the team announced today. In a corresponding move, the club optioned catcher Ivan Herrera to Memphis. Romine is in the starting lineup for the Cardinals tonight in the opener of a four-game series against the Braves.
The Cardinals will be the fifth team in the last four years for the longtime-Yankee-turned-journeyman. Since leaving New York following the 2019 season, Romine suited up for the Tigers in 2020, the Cubs in 2021, and the Angels for a three-game stint earlier this season. He opted out of his minor-league pact with the Angels on June 1st and signed with the Cardinals a few weeks later. He’s a career .238/.276/.357 hitter but has generally graded out as an above-average backstop.
Herrera struggled in his first taste of the big leagues, notching a .111/.190/.111 batting line in limited action behind Andrew Knizner, but remains a consensus top-five prospect in the St. Louis system. He’ll return to Memphis, where he’d hit a robust .291/.388/.436 in 129 plate appearances before an injury to Yadier Molina forced him to the majors. The timeline on Molina’s return remains very much unclear, so he could be back in St. Louis in short order if Romine fails to produce or either he or Knizner suffer an injury.
Welcome to the Cardinals Ro. Hopefully Ivan can work on his game in Memphis and be ready when we need him again.
Molina’s knee injury?????
His injury must be extremely worse than the Cardinals are indicating.
Out indefinitely??
Just swelling in his knee would put him on the injured List —Indefinitely???
It’s Bad enough he headed home to Puerto Rico, instead of medical attention through the Cardinals in the USA.
What’s the big secret??
Is Yadi even coming back this season??
Personal problems? Family? Knee’s are finally destroyed?? Marmol’s comments???
What’s the real deal??
Dizzy I been wondering this myself. Yadier Molina is the captain of this team, it’s been struggling in his absence. Several times this year I witness yadier looking like me getting up. His knees might be lost finished feel like mine are. If so I hope they are saving the last of the great Yadier Molina for October, maybe he’ll give us a kirk Gibson impersonation?:
Austin Romine, Ivan Herrera, and Andrew Kizner have left much to be desired
We need a catcher. Plain and simple. Now and for the future
Call the Jays
Was really hoping to see Herrera step up and show us a glimpse of the future. Let’s just hope it wasn’t a glimpse of the future just yet.
Stan, he had only 18 at-bats. Not to worry. Johnny Bench batted .163 with a 26 OPS+ in his 86-AB debut. He turned out all right.
Aaron Judge batted .179 with a 61 OPS+ in his 84-AB debut. He’s also doing well.
He’s still super young, but, yeah, those at-bats showed how overmatched Herrera is right now.
Looking forward to seeing him in spring and hopefully having a catcher’s dual between Knizner and Herrera next year. Should be fun.
I would like to see the Cards sign Contreras in the off season. It would be nice to have some power behind the plate.
18 at bats wasn’t much of a glimpse. He is the Cards #4 prospect and only 22 yrs old. His experience can only help him next time he is called up.
Ivan Herrera will be back, he just needs more time to refine his game in AAA. This happens to many prospects, we could even see him before the end of the year again. He did drive a few flyballs deep, amounting to at least one sacrifice fly. He has potential
And there’s Mo’s big move to help the team
Yelp!!!