Cardinals Claim Pitcher Roddery Munoz From Marlins
CARDINALS CLAIM PITCHER RODDERY MUÑOZ FROM MARLINS
ROOKIE RIGHT-HANDER MADE 17 STARTS FOR MIAMI IN 2024
ST. LOUIS, MO., November 1, 2024 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have claimed right-handed pitcher Roddery Muñoz off waivers from the Miami Marlins.
Muñoz, 24, who debuted in the majors this season, made 18 appearances (17 as a starter) compiling a 2-7 mark over his 82.0 innings pitched. The 6-2, 210-pound Muñoz also appeared in 12 games (8 starts) with Triple-A Jacksonville in 2024 where he went 4-4 with a 4.96 ERA.
Muñoz, a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was originally signed by the Atlanta Braves as an international free-agent in 2018. He was a waiver claim by the Washington Nationals in July of 2023 and by the Pittsburgh Pirates in December of 2023. Muñoz was traded to the Marlins on December 20, 2023 and made his Major League debut on April 20, 2024 in a start against the Chicago Cubs.
Muñoz worked 5.0 or more innings in nine of his 17 starts, and enjoyed his best outing on June 13 at the New York Mets when he tossed 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.
— STL —
Munoz represents the type of players the Cardinals will be on the prowl for: young guys with MLB experience that cost nothing.
He’s going to be a depth guy that bounces between the big league club and Memphis.
In 2024, he had a 6.53 ERA, 7.27 FIP, and 1.59 WHIP; none of those numbers are very good. Neither was a 7.6 K/9 or his 69 ERA+ (meaning he was 31% worse than the average pitcher).
What the Cardinals see is a fastballs near 100 MPH (sits between 94-96 in the rotation); that is both the 4-seam and the 2-seam at that velocity. The sinker has decent movement. He can pair those with a low-90s slider that has the movement of a cutter; it’s your traditional out pitch. He’s also got a 90 MPH change, but it’s not as sharp as his other pitches.
His control is spotty; he’ll offer too many walks, as has been the case at just about every level he’s pitched at.
Most teams would see Munoz as a reliever until he can get that change improved; the Cardinals will most likely give him a shot at the rotation. I’m just worried that the Cardinals will think they can “fix” him when the Braves, Pirates, Nationals, and Marlins have all removed him from the 40-man over the last 2 seasons.
