The St. Louis Cardinals exceeded many expectations during the first half of the 2026 season, remaining competitive despite entering a new era under president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. As the club prepares for the second half, however, it has lost one of its veteran pitching depth options.
According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, right-handed reliever has exercised the opt-out clause in his minor league contract and will become a free agent, ending his stint in the Cardinals organization.
He signed with St. Louis on a minor league deal during the offseason with hopes of earning a spot in the major league bullpen. While he impressed at times, particularly with his ability to generate strikeouts, he was never promoted to the Cardinals’ active roster.
The 30-year-old spent the entire season with Triple-A Memphis, appearing in 37 games, including two starts. He posted a 4-1 record with a 5.18 ERA and a 1.66 WHIP across 48â…” innings.
Although his overall numbers were inconsistent, Blewett continued to display swing-and-miss stuff. He struck out 63 batters during his time with Memphis, demonstrating the power arsenal that has kept him on the radar of major league organizations.
Those strikeout totals may be enough to attract interest from clubs looking for experienced bullpen depth, even if command and run prevention limited his opportunities in St. Louis.
A Veteran Well-Traveled Through Professional Baseball
Blewett’s professional journey has been anything but conventional.
Originally selected by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the 2014 MLB Draft, he made his major league debut with Kansas City in 2020 before spending time overseas following the 2021 season.
He returned to affiliated baseball in 2024 with the Minnesota Twins organization before bouncing between the Twins, Atlanta Braves, and Baltimore Orioles during the 2025 campaign. Across those stops, he posted a 5.46 ERA while continuing to search for a permanent role at the major league level.
For his MLB career, Blewett owns a 4-1 record with a 4.21 ERA in 43 appearances.
Cardinals Have Plenty of Pitching Depth
Because Blewett exercised the opt-out clause in his contract, the Cardinals are not required to make a corresponding roster move. He simply becomes a free agent and is free to sign with any organization willing to offer him a better opportunity to reach the majors.
Fortunately for St. Louis, pitching depth has become one of the organization’s greatest strengths.
Over the past year, Bloom and the Cardinals’ front office have significantly strengthened the farm system by adding several promising young arms through the draft, trades, and player development. Recent promotions involving prospects such as Jurrangelo Cijntje and Mason Molina have further reinforced the organization’s growing pipeline of pitching talent.
Given that depth, Blewett’s departure is unlikely to create a major void, as the Cardinals have multiple internal candidates capable of filling innings at Triple-A or eventually contributing in St. Louis.
A Fresh Opportunity Awaits
Although Blewett never earned a call-up with the Cardinals, his ability to miss bats could make him an attractive option for another organization seeking experienced bullpen depth during the second half of the season.
For St. Louis, the move represents another example of the organization’s growing confidence in its younger pitchers. While Blewett’s time with the Cardinals comes to an end without a major league appearance, the club appears well-positioned to move forward with one of baseball’s deepest collections of emerging pitching talent.