The Cardinals have released 28-year old lefty reliever Reynel Pinto. Pinto pitched in 18 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Cardinals this year and he was 0-0 with a 4.78 ERA and a 1.75 WHIP. Pinto walked 22 batters in only 26 1/3 innings which is what likely earned him his release. Pinto did strike out 31 batters so all was not bad in the minors for him. I’m sure some other team will give Pinto another chance before the year is out but the Cardinals did the right thing as he wasn’t going to help them any time soon.

The Cardinals have acquired 35-year old righty swinging 3B Pedro Feliz and cash from the Astros for 25-year old righty reliever David Carpenter. Feliz has played in 97 games for the Astros this year and he was 64 of 289 (.221 avg, .555 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 4 homers and 31 RBIs. He has now played in 1,262 games in 11 years in the majors and he is 1,040 of 4,134 (.252 avg, .704 OPS) with 473 runs scored, 139 homers, 589 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. Carpenter was pitching well in A-ball for the Cardinals. He pitched in 49 games (0 starts) in A-ball this year and he was 5-3 with 20 saves, a 2.36 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. Despite his success in the minors this year Carpenter was not one of the better prospects in the Cardinals’ minor league system. Feliz will likely immediately step into the starting lineup for the Cardinals at 3B with Felipe Lopez bumping Brendan Ryan to the bench at SS.

The Cardinals have signed 32-year old lefty starting pitcher Nate Robertson to a minor league deal. Robertson pitched in 19 games (18 starts) for the Marlins earlier this season and he was 6-8 with a 5.47 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He has now pitched in 221 games (187 starts) in his nine years in the majors and he is 57-77 with 1 save, a 4.97 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. Robertson could help the Cardinals at some point this year if they need another starting pitcher.

The Cardinals have acquired 32-year old righty starting pitcher Jake Westbrook (from the Indians) and 22-year old lefty starting pitcher Nicolas Greenwood (from the Padres) for 32-year old righty swinging RF Ryan Ludwick (going to the Padres). The Padres have also sent 24-year old righty starting pitcher Corey Kluber to the Indians to complete this trade. Westbrook will step right into the #4 spot in the Cardinals starting rotation. He started 21 games for the Indians this year and he was 6-7 with a 4.65 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He has now pitched in 221 games (181 starts) in his 10 years in the majors and he is 69-71 with a 4.34 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. Nicolas Greenwood has pitched in 21 games (17 starts) in A-ball this season for the Padres and he is 4-4 with 1 save, a 4.15 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. He has now pitched in 41 games (26 starts) in his minor league career and he is 8-5 with 6 saves, a 3.12 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.

32-year old Ryan Ludwick is off to S.D. He played in 77 games for the Cardinals this year and he was 79 of 281 (.281 avg, .827 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 11 homers and 43 RBIs. Ludwick played in 488 games in his four years for the Cardinals and he was 450 of 1,608 (.280 avg, .857 OPS) with 253 runs scored, 84 homers, 305 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. Ludwick was a solid player for the Cardinals but rookie Jon Jay was stealing at bats from him. Jay has played in 48 games for the Cardinals this season and he is 44 of 111 (.396 avg, 1.051 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 3 homers and 12 RBIs.

It will be up to Jake Westbrook and Jon Jay to make this trade a good one for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals have signed 33-year old righty reliever Mike MacDougal to a minor league deal. MacDougal has pitched in 19 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this season and he is 4-1 with 2 saves, a 5.32 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP. MacDougal has pitched in 314 games (3 starts) in his nine years in the majors and he is 14-21 with 70 saves, a 4.09 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. MacDougal’s biggest problem to date in his career has been his control as he has walked 165 hitters in 312 2/3 innings. Maybe he can get his career back on the right path under Dave Duncan’s supervision if he pitches good enough to earn a promotion to St. Louis.