The Cardinals have turned a bullpen need into a roster shuffle, selecting the contract of right-hander Peter Strzelecki and sending Hunter Dobbins to Triple-A Memphis.
Strzelecki, 31, had only just joined the organization on a minor league deal a few days ago. He made one appearance for Single-A Palm Beach before getting the call to the majors, and the move gives St. Louis a fresh arm after Dobbins worked 5 1/3 innings of relief yesterday and was not going to be available for a few days.
The right-hander’s path to St. Louis has been anything but direct.
He opened the year on a minor league deal with the Brewers, reached Milwaukee’s roster in May, then was designated for assignment the next day without appearing in a game. After clearing waivers and electing free agency, he landed with the Yankees on another minor league deal, opted out of that arrangement last month, returned to the Brewers on yet another minors contract, and then triggered another opt-out last week that led him to the Cardinals.
The results have been solid through all that movement. Across 32 minor league innings this season, Strzelecki has posted a 3.94 ERA.
The underlying numbers are even more encouraging: a 28.6% strikeout rate, a 4.5% walk rate and a 44% ground ball rate. A .317 batting average on balls in play has also played a role in the runs that have crossed the plate against him.
He also brings a decent major league resume. Strzelecki has thrown 83 2/3 innings for the Brewers, Diamondbacks and Guardians with a 3.44 ERA, a 24% strikeout rate, an 8.4% walk rate and a 35.8% ground ball rate.
His stay on the roster may not be permanent. Strzelecki is out of options, and the Cardinals could be facing more roster movement soon.
St. Louis entered the season in rebuild mode but has stayed in the mix, sitting at 53-53 and 1.5 games out of a playoff spot.
Depending on whether the club decides to buy, sell, or do a little of both, names like Dustin May, Ryne Stanek or Riley O’Brien could factor into the picture and affect Strzelecki’s hold on a job.
In Other News...
Brewers Fans May Not Like Where Andrew Vaughn Is Entering Talks
The Phillies are shopping for help before the trade deadline, and their wish list is broad enough to touch starting pitching, the bullpen and a right-handed bat. One name that has surfaced in that search is Andrew Vaughn, who has quietly rebuilt some value since coming back from a left hamate fracture and is again drawing attention as a power option at first base.
For Milwaukee, the wrinkle is less about what Vaughn has done lately than what he represents in a market where controllable bats tend to carry extra weight. Philadelphia could also reshuffle its own lineup if it lands a first baseman with some thump, but Vaughns appeal comes with a cost, since he is not just a rental and would require more than a short-term rental price. That kind of conversation is exactly the sort that can complicate deadline talks fast. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Could Land An Elite Arm Without Touching Their Top Prospects
The Brewers are still in the pitching market as the trade deadline approaches, and the chatter around them has only intensified with Detroit starter Tarik Skubal already tied to their search. ESPNs Paul Hembekides added another layer by floating a speculative deal that would give Milwaukee a high-end arm without forcing the club to dip into its top five prospects, the kind of framework that naturally gets attention in a system the Brewers have worked hard to protect.
What makes the idea interesting is the balance it would strike: Milwaukee would be paying with prospect depth rather than its premium young talent, which is exactly the sort of move front offices love to explore when they want impact without emptying the cupboard. It is still just a proposal, not a confirmed path, but it does raise the question of how aggressive the Brewers want to be if they decide their deadline answer needs to come from outside the organization. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Are Closing In On A Pitching Decision Fans Saw Coming
Brandon Sproat has given the Brewers enough flashes this season to keep the conversation alive, but not enough consistency to quiet it. The right-hander has shown potential in several starts, yet the same issues keep surfacing: his velocity tends to fade as outings go on, and the swing-and-miss stuff that should play up his above-average pitches has not been there often enough to make him a reliable starter.
That is why the next move around the rotation matters so much for Milwaukee, especially with the trade deadline approaching and the club still looking for another starter to add depth. The Brewers have been trying to stabilize the front of the staff while sorting through the rest of the options behind it, and Sproats role is one of the more interesting decisions hanging over that process. [Read more 🡒]