Cardinals Trim 8 From Spring Roster

CARDINALS TRIM EIGHT FROM SPRING ROSTER

58 PLAYERS REMAIN IN MAJOR LEAGUE CAMP

JUPITER, Fla., March 2, 2025 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced the team has reduced its Spring Training roster to 58 players today, with eight players moving to minor league camp.

The team optioned left-handed pitcher Bailey Horn to the Memphis (AAA) roster, and re-assigned non-roster pitchers Ian Bedell, Alex Cornwell, Cooper Hjerpe, Quinn Mathews and Edwin Nuñez and catchers Sammy Hernandez and Carlos Linárez to minor league camp.

The Cardinals currently have 39 major league roster players and 19 non-roster invitees in camp.

— STL —

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None of these are surprising.

Horn, Bedell, Hjerpe, and Mathew could all see MLB time this year when a pitcher gets injuried. Horn, as a waiver claim and already on the 40-man, would be the first one called up of these players; he’ll be a bullpen arm if/when that time comes. Mathews is the best of the 4, and most likely reserved for the rotation. I could see the team promoting Bedell and Hjerpe for a relief role late in the season; earlier if there is a rash of injuries.

Cornwell and Nunez as lower on the totem pole and less likely to be options this year, if at all. Cornwell split 2024 between Springfield and Memphis to OK results; he’ll probably spend the year with Memphis; if he sees time in St. Louis, things have gone really wrong. Nunez struggled badly at Springfield last year and is probably slated for a return visit there.

Hernandez and Linarez are both down as the back end catching options; as pitchers are sent down, a catcher or 2 normally joins them. Neither are elite prospects.

Expect more cuts by mid-week.