Fresh off a recent series victory over the Cincinnati Reds, the St. Louis Cardinals have given fans something else to talk about with a pair of unexpected organizational moves.
While much of the attention remains on the major league club and its push to build momentum, St. Louis quietly made two roster decisions involving players much further down the farm system. The Cardinals have officially parted ways with two young players from their rookie-level affiliate, bringing their time with the organization to an abrupt end.
Cardinals Release 2 Players from Organization
The Cardinals released two players from the DSL Cardinals, according to the organization’s transaction tracker.
“DSL Cardinals released 1B Christian Sáez.”
“DSL Cardinals released RHP Ryan Rodríguez.”
Here’s a closer look at their professional careers and what led to their departures from the organization.
Christian Sáez, a 19-year-old first baseman, spent three seasons in the Cardinals organization but never progressed beyond the rookie-ball level.
Across 72 games and 228 at-bats, Sáez hit just .184 while recording three home runs and seven doubles. He finished his time in the organization with a .596 OPS, as his offensive struggles ultimately prevented him from taking the next step in his development.
Meanwhile, Ryan Rodríguez is an 18-year-old right-handed pitcher from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
Rodríguez appeared in two seasons with the organization and threw 17 innings, allowing 33 earned runs while striking out 13 batters. He also posted a 3.53 WHIP, numbers that highlighted the significant struggles he faced on the mound.
The two releases represent another reminder of how quickly opportunities can disappear in professional baseball. As the Cardinals continue evaluating talent throughout their farm system, Sáez and Rodríguez are now looking for their next opportunity to continue their professional careers.
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The St. Louis Cardinals Right Now
The St. Louis Cardinals are suddenly making the National League Wild Card race far more interesting than it appeared just a few days ago.
After pulling off a dramatic 10-9 comeback win over the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis improved to 66-63 and has now won seven of its last 10 games. The Cardinals currently sit just 2.5 games behind the final NL Wild Card position, with the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks directly ahead of them.
That leaves the Cardinals firmly alive in the postseason race as they begin a crucial matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies. While they still have ground to make up, their recent surge has given them a much better opportunity than they had earlier in the month.
The biggest question now is whether St. Louis can finally find the consistency that has been missing for much of the season. The Cardinals have shown they are capable of putting together strong offensive performances, scoring 10 runs in Thursday’s win after previously shutting out Cincinnati and taking six of their last eight games.
If the offense can continue producing and the Cardinals maintain their recent momentum, the Wild Card race could become extremely interesting down the stretch. With the team only 2.5 games out entering Friday, St. Louis is no longer simply hoping for help — it has a legitimate opportunity to put pressure on the teams currently standing in its way.
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St. Louis Cardinals 2X MLB All-Star Pitcher Released by Current Team
News recently broke that former two-time All-Star pitcher Miles Mikolas has been released by the Washington Nationals after reaching 10 years of MLB service time.
A couple of days ago, the Nationals decided to part ways with Mikolas after his latest season with the club.
Then, on Friday, reports surfaced confirming that Mikolas had officially been released and is now a free agent.
MLBTR.com’s Anthony Franco wrote: “The Nationals have requested unconditional release waivers on Mikolas, per a club announcement. He’ll be a free agent once he clears.”
Miles Mikolas’s Tenure with the Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals fans will certainly remember Miles Mikolas, who spent parts of seven seasons with the organization and earned selections to two MLB All-Star teams.
Across 203 starts with the Cards (1,161 innings), Mikolas posted a 4.16 ERA with 833 strikeouts and a 98 ERA+. He was never considered a major strikeout pitcher, but during several seasons in the middle of his career, Mikolas was particularly effective at limiting hard contact. Unfortunately, later in his career, he began leaving the ball over the plate too frequently.
Mikolas was an All-Star in 2018 and 2022.
In 2022, he posted a 3.29 ERA over 32 starts and more than 200 innings.
In 2018, he recorded a 2.83 ERA over 32 starts while leading the National League with 18 pitching wins.
Although Mikolas dealt with injuries at various points in his career, as most pitchers do, he proved to be a durable arm and made 30-plus starts in multiple seasons, particularly during his time with the Cardinals.
Taking a Glance at Mikolas’s Full Career
Miles Mikolas pitched 11 total seasons in MLB.
Outside of the Cardinals, he spent one season (2026) with the Washington Nationals, one year with the Rangers, and two seasons with the Padres.
With the Nationals this season, Mikolas recorded a 5.82 ERA across 116 innings. So, the bottom line is that he was not particularly effective this year, but he still provided the Nats with innings throughout the season, which carries some value.
Over his full career, Mikolas made 224 total starts and owns a 4.37 ERA with 953 strikeouts.
If he ultimately decides to hang up the cleats after securing a lifetime MLB pension for reaching 10-plus years of service time, it would still represent a solid career for the 37-year-old from Jupiter, Florida.