The St. Louis Cardinals made a difficult roster decision last week when they designated 29-year-old catcher for assignment, but his stay on the waiver wire did not last long.
He was designated for assignment as part of a wave of roster moves that came when St. Louis opened the second half of the regular season. The move was not entirely unexpected, as the veteran catcher had not appeared in a major league game since May 27 against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The 29-year-old played in just 18 games for the Cardinals in 2026 and 85 games total during his two seasons with the club. He hit .233/.259/.358 with five home runs and 24 RBIs. While his offensive production was limited, he provided valuable depth behind the plate and was far more productive at the Triple-A level.
Being designated for assignment did not automatically mean Pozo’s time with the organization was over, but that possibility is now off the table. According to Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat, the Baltimore Orioles claimed Pozo off waivers.
Baltimore has been searching for help at catcher after injuries sidelined both Adley Rutschman (left wrist inflammation) and Samuel Basallo (right shoulder inflammation). The two had shared catching duties for most of the season, but with both now on the injured list, the Orioles have been relying on Sam Huff and Chadwick Tromp.
Yohel Pozo gives Baltimore another experienced depth option, and because he still has minor league options remaining, the Orioles can choose whether to place him on the major league roster immediately or begin his stint in the organization at Triple-A.
Although Pozo was a popular figure in St. Louis, his departure could be one of several roster changes the Cardinals make as the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaches. The Cardinals have exceeded expectations for much of the season and remain just outside the playoff picture, but a sluggish start to the second half has created uncertainty about the club’s deadline strategy.
St. Louis entered the year expecting to be in more of a rebuilding phase, so a major buying spree would still come as a surprise. Given the team’s recent struggles, the more realistic outcome may be that the Cardinals once again become sellers before the deadline.