The Cardinals have sent 24 year old righty Chris Lambert to the Tigers to complete the Mike Maroth trade.  Lucky the Cardinals didn’t have to trade a real prospect for Maroth as poorly as he pitched for them.  He has pitched in 33 games (9 starts) in AA+AAA ball this season and he is 1-6 with a 6.21 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP.  He has worked 84 innings in the minors this season and he has allowed 98 hits, 15 homers, walked 37 batters and whiffed 67.

Albert Pujols got off to a slow start for him before the All-Star Break but that is no longer a problem as he has carried the Cardinals back into the playoff race.  Pujols has played in 37 games since the All-Star Break and he is 48 for 137 (.350 avg, 1.174 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 14 homers and 31 RBIs.  The Cardinals need for him to keep swinging a hot stick if they want to make the playoffs this season.  He has now played in 122 games this season and he is 144 for 447 (.322 avg, 1.003 OPS) with 81 runs scored, 30 homers and 83 RBIs.

The Cardinals have signed lefty reliever Mike Venafro and infielder Miguel Cairo to minor league contracts.  Both players will be recalled when rosters expand if not before to help the Cardinals try to make the playoffs again this season.  Venafro pitched in 7 games this season for the Rockies and he was 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA.  In his major league career Venafro is 15-10 with 5 saves and a 4.09 ERA.  Cairo was just caught in a numbers game in New York and that’s why they let him go.  He played in 54 games this season for the Yankees and he was 27 for 107 (.252 avg, .626 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 10 RBIs and 8 stolen bases.  Don’t look for Cairo to stay in the minors long as he could help the Cardinals right now off the bench.  He has played in 1,064 career games in the majors and he is a .267 hitter with a .674 OPS.  He has scored 384 runs, whacked 27 homers, driven in 290 runs and he has stolen 121 passes.  These guys will both help the Cardinals in September and were good signings.

The Cardinals have claimed 3B Brian Braden off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Braden played in 8 games for the D-Backs this season and he was 1 for 12 (.083 avg).  He was never going to get a legit chance to play in Arizona as he was behind Chad Tracy and Mark Reynolds at 3B.

The Cardinals have placed starting second baseman Adam Kennedy on the 15-day disabled list with a torn medial meniscus which will keep him out the next 4-6 weeks.  Kennedy has been a gigantic diasppointment this season for the Cardinals.  He has played in 87 games this season and he is 61 for 279 (.219 avg, .572 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 3 homers, 18 RBIs and 6 stolen bases.  The Cardinals have recalled Brendan Ryan from AAA and he will get his big chance as they will go with him as the starter.  Ryan has played in 26 games this season for the Cardinals and he is 23 for 67 (.343 avg, .904 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 3 homers, 8 RBIs and a stolen base.  Aaron Miles will stay as the utility infielder and it’s a good role for him.  He is having a good season for the Cardinals as he has played in 92 games and he is 85 for 288 (.295 avg, .686 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 1 homer and 22 RBIs.