Cardinals swap outfielder for All-Star relief pitcher
Without much success in the free agent relief market and seeking to clarify an outfield picture that has its own uncertainty, the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday turned to a familiar trade partner to solve multiple problems at once.
Outfielder Richie Palacios, a breakout success in the second half of the season, was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge, the teams announced.
Kittredge, who turns 34 in March, was an All-Star for Tampa in 2021, a rarity for a middle reliever. His 1.88 ERA that season came in a career-high 71 ⅔ innings; he’s pitched only 31 ⅔ innings since, having undergone Tommy John surgery in the middle of the 2022 season
“We are excited to add Andrew’s experience and proven abilities to our bullpen,” stated Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak. “Prior to his elbow injury, Andrew was an All-Star reliever, and we think his addition will benefit us greatly now that he is back to full health.”
Kittredge is eligible for free agency following this season, for which he is projected to earn $2.3 million in arbitration. While not in possession of an overpowering fastball or overwhelming strikeout numbers, Kittredge has had success as a sinkerballer in the mid-90s. He also, similar to other pitchers the team has acquired this winter, pairs that sinker with a slider which has somewhat diminished in sharpness since his injury.
Entering his first full season following recovery from surgery, that feel and shape may well recover, and the Cardinals will likely lean on Kittredge as a key part of their middle relief corps.
Palacios, 26, was perhaps the team’s strongest burst of energy as they languished down the stretch of the lost 2023 season. He performed admirably at all three outfield spots and capably at second base, and found surprising pop with six home runs in just 93 at bats.
With Tommy Edman seemingly set to open the season as the team’s centerfielder, Dylan Carlson as the fourth outfielder, and glove-first Michael Siani acting as depth which can be shuttled up and down from Triple-A Memphis, Palacios was facing a crunch for playing time. The ascendance of prospect Victor Scott II is also a factor; Scott figures to receive priority playing time at Memphis, limiting opportunities even there for veterans such as Palacios.
His brother, Josh, is an outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and the two were involved in memorable on-field exchanges in games between the two teams down the stretch. Palacios was a strong clubhouse presence, especially for a player acquired just last June, and forced his way into the team’s consideration in ways they themselves did not expect.
Now, having been flipped for seemingly a solid contributor to this season’s bullpen, Palacios will have an opportunity to flourish in Tampa’s outfield alongside former Cardinal Randy Arozarena, assuming he himself is not traded by the perpetually cash-shy Rays.
This story was originally published January 5, 2024 at 4:42 PM.
