St. Louis Cardinals catcher has been released as announced on Wednesday night. Once a highly regarded prospect, he was selected in the second round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles. The 30-year-old played five seasons in the majors (2017–2021) with the Orioles and New York Mets, accumulating 608 career plate appearances. His career stats include 16 home runs, 54 RBIs, and a .197/.317/.337 slash line. The decision to cut ties follows a disappointing spring training, where he managed just nine at-bats, striking out six times without recording a hit.
With veteran Willson Contreras expected to start at first base, the Cardinals are likely to rely on Iván Herrera and Pedro Pagés for most of the catching duties. Herrera, 24, is entering his fourth season with the Cardinals’ big league squad. Last year, he appeared in 56 games behind the plate — a notable increase from 13 games in his sophomore season — and is expected to maintain a similar role in 2025. Pagés, 26, played 68 games in his rookie season last year. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 MLB Draft by St. Louis, the Venezuelan native spent four years progressing through the Cardinals’ minor league system. This shift reflects the organization’s focus on youth, aiming to create a dynamic catching duo.
For the starting role, the Cardinals may lean toward Herrera due to his stronger offensive performance. He finished last season with a .301 batting average, while Pagés ended his rookie campaign hitting .238. With the 2025 MLB season fast approaching, the Cardinals continue to fine-tune their roster.