The St. Louis Cardinals have officially parted ways with another veteran arm, closing the book on a brief and eventful stint that ended almost as quickly as it restarted. After shuffling the roster ahead of last week’s series against the Los Angeles Angels, the organization has now found a trade partner, allowing the experienced reliever to continue his career with a club searching for bullpen help while St. Louis picks up a small return instead of risking losing him for nothing.
The move comes just days after he was designated for assignment to clear roster space, capping off a whirlwind stretch that included an opt-out decision, a return to the major league roster, and a lone appearance before being moved again. Rather than letting the situation play out through waivers, the Cardinals struck a deal that sends the right-hander to the American League West.
The Cardinals shared on X that the organization has traded Scott Blewett to the Athletics in exchange for cash.
“RHP Scott Blewett has been traded to the Athletics in exchange for cash considerations,” the Cardinals announced.
Blewett signed with the Cardinals on a minor league contract last November and spent most of his time with Triple-A Memphis. Across 37 appearances, he posted a 5.18 ERA over 48 2/3 innings.
The final weeks of his tenure in St. Louis were anything but ordinary. Blewett exercised the opt-out clause in his contract on July 15 before ultimately returning to the organization after being promoted to replace the injured JoJo Romero. His stay in the majors lasted only one appearance, but it was an effective one. On July 21, he tossed two scoreless innings against the Angels before the Cardinals designated him for assignment shortly afterward to create room on the roster for Hunter Dobbins.
Now, Blewett joins an organization where he could have a legitimate opportunity to earn meaningful innings. The Athletics currently own the highest bullpen ERA in Major League Baseball at 5.53, making them the league’s least effective relief unit. The Kansas City Royals rank next with a 5.24 bullpen ERA.
Although Blewett never established himself as a regular contributor in St. Louis, he brings five years of major league experience and a respectable 4.10 career ERA across 44 big league appearances. While that sample size is relatively small, his track record compares favorably to the production the Athletics have received from their bullpen this season.
For the Cardinals, turning the situation into a trade represents a positive outcome. After designating Blewett for assignment, the club risked losing him on waivers or watching him elect free agency if he cleared. Instead, St. Louis was able to receive cash considerations for a player who no longer fit into the team’s plans for the remainder of the season, making the transaction a worthwhile piece of business.