Brian Fuentes is back in the majors two weeks after being released by the A’s, as the Cardinals have called up the veteran left-hander.
Fuentes was designated for assignment by Oakland after posting a 6.84 ERA in 25 innings and predictably no teams were willing to take on his $5 million contract via waivers.
However, once he was available for a prorated share of the minimum salary the Cardinals signed him to a minor-league contract and will give the 36-year-old former closer a look in a middle relief role. At the very least Fuentes still seems capable of being useful in a left-handed specialist role and he was effective enough last season to potentially still be a decent setup man.
