The Cardinals announced that they have recalled right-hander Riley O’Brien from Triple-A Memphis. Fellow righty Shawn Armstrong has been designated for assignment as the corresponding move. John Denton of MLB.com relayed the news on X prior to the official announcement.
Armstrong, 33, was just acquired prior to the trade deadline, with the Cards sending former top prospect Dylan Carlson the other way. Since switching jerseys, Armstrong’s results have actually been good. He has tossed 12 2/3 innings over 11 outings, allowing 2.84 earned runs per nine innings. He struck out 24.5% of batters faced and only gave out walks at a 4.1% clip.
Despite the good overall results, Armstrong may be a victim of circumstances. The club used four relievers on Sunday and four last night, with Armstrong being one of the four in both games. Perhaps he was going to be unavailable tonight, so the club has nudged him out of the way as they get a fresh arm into the mix of a fairly taxed relief group. Armstrong can’t be optioned as a player with more than five years of service time, so he’s been pushed off the 40-man roster.
Beyond that, it’s also possible that the club is hoping for a little bit of cost savings here for the final month of the season. Armstrong isn’t making a ton of money, as his $2.05MM salary is relatively light in MLB terms. But since he has been pitching well, it’s possible some club may be interested in claiming him off waivers, which would take the contract off the Cardinals’ hands. If he is claimed prior to September, he would be playoff eligible with his new club. That means his odds of getting claimed should be higher now than they will be in a few days’ time.
Perhaps it’s too strong to characterize this move as a waving of the white flag, but it does perhaps illustrate where the season is at for St. Louis. They are currently 65-66 and six games out of a playoff spot. They could make a late charge in September but would have to bypass at least four clubs in the standings while also fending off the clubs that are just behind them. The Playoff Odds at FanGraphs give the Cards just a 1.9% chance of sneaking in while the PECOTA Standings are only slightly more optimistic at 3%.
They could certainly play well down the stretch without Armstrong but they just made a notable sacrifice to get this guy less than a month ago. Carlson was a former first-round pick and spent many years as a prospect who figured to be a big part of the club’s future. The club gave up two and a half years of Carlson for a few months of Armstrong, but is now likely losing Armstrong after just 11 appearances, seemingly hoping to just put some extra money into the pockets of ownership.
For with better playoff odds, it seems likely one of them will claim Armstrong. For the 2022-24 seasons, he has pitched 173 innings with a 3.64 ERA, 24.6% strikeout rate and 6.6% walk rate. That includes 11 holds and three saves. There aren’t many ways to upgrade a roster now that the trade deadline has passed, so Armstrong is an interesting candidate given his good numbers and modest salary. He’s scheduled to hit free agency at the end of this season.
So they gave him up for about what he was worth? The guy is hitting .228 since going to Tampa. He, like a lot of the Cardinals prospects, are so overhyped internally.
To be fair Carlson also has an OPS+ of 111 in Tampa. Much better than under Marmol. He like a lot of players also thrived under Schildt. I don’t know the prospects are overrated as much as they are mismanaged
The Rays don’t play in Tampa nor are they called the “Tampa Rays.”
Let’s split some hairs even though the logo is still TB.
In your post, there should’ve been a comma between the words “Tampa” and “nor.”
I actually live in Tampa Bay and one side of the bay gets twisted in knots over this simple little boo boo. Shame, shame, shame for not saying Bay. Geesch!
There is no such city as Tampa Bay and you know it.
Your beef is with the team. No one else cares.
He’s been there for a handful of games. Did you want me to spout off with his WAR stat? I’m not even going to look it up because I’m sure it’s not a very high number, whether positive or negative. I’m sorry you weren’t able to decipher all of that on your own.
Ok. His fielding percentage is 1.000.
Counting the days until Oli and Mo are gone. They don’t deserve another season.
“They will have to pry him (Dylan Carlson) out of my cold dead hands” -Mo.
I think it’s time Mo goes. Oli can go too.
He has an ERA and an FIP both under 3 as a Cardinal.
I don’t get it.
I’m guessing they need a fresh arm for the pen and it’s costing Armstrong his roster spot.
It’s silly. I am sure there is someone on the 40 man that isn’t needed. You trade for the guy. He performs. You don’t DFA him.
You still haven’t make a spot on the active roster. I think Leahy has options but I’m not positive.
There is no way whatsoever the team has 8 better relievers on the active roster. No way no how no chance.
Neither do I, it’s incredible, he was doing well for the role that he was in
I don’t miss Carlson and I think the deal for Fedde and Pham was one of the best deadline deals any team made. But why DFA this guy? He’s been good.
But let’s say it again .
Gave up Carlson for nothing!
Why not just send him to Memphis at time like they have with Gorman and Walker. Maybe he figures it out and maybe helps in future. At least you have a chance to get something out of a draft pick and money invested in him
Armstrong can’t be optioned as a player with more than five years of service time, so he’s been pushed off the 40-man roster.
It’s in the article.
You should know that most clown on these threads only read the headline if that much.
He meant they should have sent Carlson down instead of trading him.
I provide factual information and you know. 1. The Rays are not called the Tampa Rays. 2. The Rays don’t play in Tampa. Because you insist on calling them the Tampa Rays most certainly you belive they play in Tampa. 3. The Rays don’t play in the same County nor are they play in the same area code. 4. I believe in factual information. You should try it once in awhile!
Charels, who are you talking to? Nobody in this entire comment section has referred to them as the “Tampa Rays”, except you, twice.
Nit NIT NIT PICK!
Why? Armstrong was pitching well and we didn’t even need a roster spot to bring O’Brien up… could’ve optioned Leahy or something
You ask why spits5. You answered your own question when you wrote Armstrong was pitching well. That is the answer, it is because he was pitching well. Don’t you see? By pitching well he doesn’t fit in, and is an odd ball for this clubhouse.
He’s a victim of soycumstance! Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. Pick out two. One, two! Ow!
Good to see Riley up. Armstrong looked solid to me. What a mess!
This team is SOOOOOO poorly run it angers me. I am one of those “long time season ticket holders” who simply is done after this year.
And considering “demand” (or lack thereof) for tickets, the actual VALUE of my tickets on a nightly basis is probably about HALF of what Im paying. I can buy the seats next to me for half the price of mine most nights.
It’s not that I’ll never go to Cardinals games again. But I’ll never be a season ticket holder again. The price is grossly disproportionate to the product.
Say it again and again and again. The money man needs to feel it so that real change takes place.
As always you have a right to speak with your wallet. But understand most teams don’t encounter lower ticket sales and decide to spend more money they spend less.
I live in Denver and am getting old so my time in the sun is done. I literally can’t do it I have skin cancer. But back in the day I went to over 300 games. To be fair though most of that was when we had the best player in baseball on our team and we were always a contender. It’s tough to support a team that doesn’t play well. I get the frustration for sure.
I am truly sorry to hear about your cancer. I hope modern medicine can actually do something useful and treat your condition.
On a separate note, I really don’t care if the Cardinals cut their payroll. I actually hope they do. This would have been a much more enjoyable and likely equally successful season if we had parted ways with the expensive vets and let the kids play. With Mo holding the checkbook, nothing good is going to come from additional spending.
Not dying just can’t sit out in the sun. My dad has it too and he’s 73 so no worries.
I hear you perhaps we can cut payroll and actually be a better team in the process. I agree completely that could happen. Gibson and Lynn were a waste of money this year that playing time could have gone to Liberatore and Pallante and some guys at Memphis and the team could have kept that money.
I was in Minneapolis this past weekend to catch the Cardinals-Twins. Twins have a $120m payroll–but a large part of that (~$46m) is tied up in Correa and Buxton, both of whom are hurt. Still, the Twins fielded an exciting young team of “minimum wage” no names–and the place was hopping. Unlike the mausoleum that is Busch III.
Crowds at Busch have always been loud and into it assuming the team is playing well. I went to a game against the Astros where the Cardinals lost I think it was 18 to 1. That was a joke. But Cardinals fans know how to cheer and support the team.
You are right! Never ever saw so many empty seats on TV against the Brewers!
Mo’s pretty spiteful. He might just be getting one last FU to Carlson before he gets forced out. I’ll bet the warm homecoming for Mike Shildt ate him up.
Lifetime K for MoTie.
More like Shawn Arm-not-so-strong, amirite!
I’ll show myself out.
And our Hero exits stage left.
So, the play-off
Try again. So the play-off Cardinals parted ways with Schildt over philosophical differences. Any chance we could hire someone who would revert back to the previous philosophy and return to the play-offs?
Are the Cardinal brass trying to get fired?
John Brebbia just became available, I’m sure Mo is just trying to make room to add another member to the washed-up former Cardinals reunion tour.
Should have traded him for a guy with a 6.00 ERA in Single-A. At least then you don’t have to admit defeat for another year or two.
I’ve said for a year now that my expectation is a true rebuild after Mozeliak is gone this off-season. I don’t WANT to see it happen, however, the Cardinals haven’t had a “tear it down to the studs” rebuild for a long time. It can’t be avoided forever. Chaim Bloom was brought in for this very reason. He did it in TB, in Boston, and the Cardinals are next.
YES!
Its time for a REAL CHANGE for the Cardinals , DeWitt needs to sell the team if hes not gonna spend the money to put a winning team on the field, he is the third or fourth wealthiest owner in the MLB , but does not spend it on the team, he got a bargain when he bought the Team , stadium and the parking garages for 150 Million , he has the nerve to say baseball teams are not money makers, the team is estimated at a worth of 2.5 Billion, I would love that return on my money, enough about the money. Now lets talk about management , MO is washed up and Marmol is an IDIOT, we have coaches that are statistic guys with no major league experience. I don’t know what to think anymore.
Hyde loved this guy for a time. Can’t be worse than Burch Smith