Jared

Shuster

It’s the second time this season already that Shuster cleared waivers and remains with the Cardinals as emergency relief depth. The 27-year-old lefty has posted a respectable 2.35 ERA across 7 2/3 innings over four appearances in the big leagues this season.

Shuster has been removed from St. Louis’ bullpen mix after posting a solid 2.35 ERA across 7 2/3 innings over four appearances since being called up back on May 1. The 27-year-old lefty figures to pass through waivers unclaimed and head to Triple-A Memphis.

He was outrighted off St. Louis’ 40-man roster on April 16 and returns after a stint in the minors. The 27-year-old is back in a low leverage role for the Cardinals as the calendar flips to May.

Shuster does not have to report and can elect free agency if he chooses. He’d allowed two runs in 3 2/3 innings with the Cardinals. The 27-year-old was released by the Athletics this offseason and probably will need to earn another major league chance, be it with the Cardinals or someone else.

Shuster had allowed two runs on two hits in 3 2/3 innings with a 1/2 K/BB ratio for the Cardinals this season. They needed a spot on the 40-man roster for Ryan Fernandez, so Shuster was let go.

Shuster really struggled during his time with the Cardinals during Grapefruit League action, posting a 9.00 ERA and 1.80 WHIP across five innings. He’ll take the place of Chris Roycroft in the Cardinals’ bullpen while Nick Raquet was designated for assignment in a corresponding move to clear a spot on their 40-man roster.

The first batch of cuts from Cardinals camp includes one of the more unique talents in Cijnte, a switch-pitching prospect acquired from the Mariners in the Brendan Donovan trade over the offseason. The 22-year-old ambidextrous phenom is significantly better from the right side where his fastball sits in the mid-to-upper 90’s with a plus sider. The fact that he can still operate from the left side is a nice wrinkle to have at his disposal but he’s probably going to wind up pitching exclusively from the right side at the highest level.

The former Braves prospect moved to the bullpen midway through the 2024 season and has pitched there for the last two years with the White Sox and Athletics. The results have not been great with Shuster combining for a 6.94 ERA, 1.80 WHIP, and 28/14 K/BB ratio in 35 innings at Triple-A last year.

Shuster has presumably been cut loose to pursue an opportunity to pitch overseas after being jettisoned from the Athletics’ 40-man roster last month. The 27-year-old southpaw has posted a recorded an underwhelming 5.27 ERA — 4.70 FIP — and 15.5 percent strikeout rate across 141 2/3 innings over 62 appearances (17 starts) between the White Sox and Braves dating back to 2023.

Bowden and Maldonado will become free agents. Shuster, who was claimed off waivers from the White Sox in August and went on to finish the season in the minors, doesn’t have that right, so he’ll stay in the organization for now.