The Cardinals could emerge as legitimate suitors for free-agent center fielder Shogo Akiyama, as Mark Saxon of The Athletic reports that they’ve “scouted him extensively.” The 31-year-old Akiyama, who is coming off a successful run in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball, would give the Cardinals a lefty-hitting option in the outfield. That’s the type of player president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has said he’d like to add.
The Cardinals have reunited with left-hander Rob Kaminsky on a minors pact, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch tweets. Kaminsky was the 28th overall pick of the Cardinals in the 2013 draft, but they traded him to the Indians two years later for slugger Brandon Moss. Now 25 years old, Kaminsky still hasn’t reached the majors, nor has he garnered much Triple-A experience. In his debut at the minors’ highest level last season, Kaminsky posted a 5.11 ERA with 11.31 K/9, 5.11 BB/9 and a 59.1 percent groundball rate in 24 2/3 relief innings.
I like this move. Cards fans would have to see it for what it is -- an add that's not much more than Jeremy Hazelbacker, Drew Robinson, or Jose Martinez. A depth player they've scouted who could provide something unexpected. I'm a fan of this player and what he could provide. The risk is virtually non-existent.
Radbird wrote:Does hello Shogo mean goodbye Cafecito?
More likely good bye to Adolis Garcia or Justin Williams and maybe Arozarena has a real fight on his hands to get playing time. With a 26-man roster, there's a place for Martinez on the roster. Akiyama would probably compete with the rest of the bunch for a starting spot, but not be guaranteed one.