The Cardinals have released 38-year old righty reliever Ryan Franklin. Franklin pitched in 21 games (0 starts) for the Cardinals this year and he was 1-4 with 1 save, a 8.46 ERA and a 1.84 WHIP. He gave up 44 hits (9 homers) in only 27 2/3 innings this year for the Cardinals as opposing batters were running up to the plate against him. Franklin pitched in 285 games (0 starts) in his five years with the Cardinals and he was 21-19 with 84 saves, a 3.52 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Franklin finishes his career with the Cardinals #5 in team history in saves with 84 of them.

22-year old lefty swinging 1B Matt Adams is flat out destroying the baseball in AA this year. Adams has played in 53 games so far in AA-ball this year and he is 77 for 213 (.362 avg, 1.091 OPS) with 41 runs scored, 17 homers and 52 RBIs. He has also only whiffed 39 times which is impressive considering the other numbers he’s putting up. Adams has now played in 237 games in his first three years in the minors and he is 307 for 922 (.333 avg, .952 OPS) with 143 runs scored, 49 homers, 192 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Adams could be a big part of the future in St. Louis (if Albert Pujols leaves after this year) or one of the best trade chips they have to offer.

The Cardinals were expecting a little more out of 31-year old righty swinging shortstop Ryan Theriot this year. Theriot has played in 69 games for the Cardinals so far this year and he is 80 for 273 (.293 avg, .697 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 1 homer, 26 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Theriot averaged 23.3 stolen bases per year his previous four seasons, so his lack of speed has been puzzling. The Cardinals hope that Theriot picks up the pace a little bit in the second half of the year.

Righty starting pitcher Joaquin Andujar wasn’t with the Cardinals long (5 years) but he was outstanding for them. In 1984 and 1985, Andujar won 20 and 21 games for the Cardinals. In 1984, Andujar started 36 games in which he was 20-14 with a 3.34 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. He threw 12 complete games that year. He led the majors in wins (20) and the National League in both shutouts (4) and innings pitched (261 1/3 innings) as he was a horse for the Cardinals. He made the All-Star team, won a Gold Glove and he finished 4th in the Cy Young Award voting in 1984. He followed 1984 with a huge 1985 season. In 1985, Andujar started 38 games for the Cardinals in which he was 21-12 with a 3.40 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He had 10 complete games, 2 shutouts and he threw 269 2/3 innings for the Cardinals in 1985. Andujar made the All-Star team in 1985 and he finished 4th in the Cy Young Award voting that year. Andujar pitched in 162 games (153 starts) in his five years with the Cardinals and he was 68-53 with 1 save, a 3.33 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP.

The Cardinals have released 40-year old righty reliever Miguel Batista. Batista pitched in 26 games (1 start) for the Cardinals this year and he was 3-2 with a 4.60 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. His biggest issue was his control as Batista walked 19 batters in his first 29 1/3 innings for the Cardinals. The Cardinals have called up 24-year old righty starting pitcher Lance Lynn to replace Batista in the bullpen. Lynn pitched in 2 games (both starts) earlier this year for the Cardinals and he was 1-1 with a 5.23 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. This could be the end of Batista’s long major league career.