On Friday, the St. Louis Cardinals announced their first offseason roster move, claiming right-handed pitcher Roddery Munoz off waivers from the Miami Marlins and adding him to their 40-man roster.
While waiver claims typically don’t generate much fan excitement, this one has already drawn some criticism from fans frustrated with the front office. Munoz, who made his MLB debut this season, appeared in 18 games (17 as a starter) with a 6.53 ERA. His 2.83 home run rate per nine innings is particularly concerning and will need improvement if he’s to succeed in the majors.
Originally signed as an international free agent by the Braves in 2018, Munoz moved between the Nationals and Pirates on waivers last year before being traded to the Marlins in December 2023. Despite his raw talent, the Braves couldn’t spare a 40-man roster spot for him.
Munoz has a mid-90s fastball and athleticism, which many believe give him strong potential. His command issues could eventually place him in the bullpen, but the Marlins hoped he might develop as a starter. With the Cardinals in rebuild mode, they can afford to experiment with Munoz in both starting and relief roles.
Munoz’s low-90s slider, which behaves like a cutter, may be the key to his success. He has impressive raw ability, but without improved command, that won’t matter. However, if he can harness his control, his fastball-sinker and slider combo could be highly effective. His situation is reminiscent of Riley O’Brien, another player the Cardinals took a chance on for his raw skill set.
It’s also notable that Marlins GM Peter Bendix previously worked with Chaim Bloom in Tampa Bay. The Cardinals made several low-key moves last offseason with Bloom connections, such as adding O’Brien, Nick Robertson, and Ryan Fernandez, and trading for veteran Andrew Kittredge.
I’m not saying Munoz is a game-changing pickup, but it’s encouraging that the Cardinals are betting on raw talent. When it works, as it did with Fernandez, it’s a win; when it doesn’t, like with O’Brien, there’s little risk.
For instance, many doubted the Cardinals’ decision to keep Michael Siani on the 40-man roster last year. He’s not a star, but he’s become a valuable depth piece. Munoz may not turn out to be more than a marginal player, but the chance to pick him up now is worthwhile.
If the Cardinals face a roster crunch later, they could always put Munoz back on waivers. With Munoz, the Cardinals now have 36 players on their 40-man roster, but they will need to add Tink Hence, Tekoah Roby, and others soon to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft.
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