The St. Louis Cardinals have purchased the contract of left-handed reliever Brian Fuentes from Class AAA Memphis, and optioned right-hander Victor Marte to the minor-league club.
Fuentes, 36, is a four-time All-Star who was released by Oakland on July 11. He was signed to a minor-league deal by the Cardinals on July 15, and appeared twice for Memphis before getting the callup Wednesday.
Fuentes is the Colorado Rockies' all-time saves leader with 115, and led the majors with 48 saves in 2009 for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He was 2-2 with a 6.84 ERA and five saves in 26 appearances for Oakland before his release earlier this month.
To make room for Fuentes on the club's 40-man roster, the team designated minor-league pitcher Chuckie Fick for assignment.
Fuentes has a career record of 26-43, with a 3.58 ERA and 204 saves. He will wear No. 40 for the Cardinals.
Marte was 2-2 with a 4.46 ERA in 43 games, but has a 9.00 ERA in his last 10 outings, including a stretch where he gave up four runs in a span of three innings pitched in three games at the end of June and early July.
