The St. Louis Cardinals have claimed right-handed pitcher off waivers from the Miami Marlins, who had recently placed him on the wire. Muñoz, 24, made his MLB debut with the Marlins this season, stepping in as Miami dealt with numerous injuries to their pitching rotation. However, Muñoz’s first major league season was challenging, as he finished with a 6.53 ERA over 82 2/3 innings, along with a below-average strikeout rate of 18.5%, a high walk rate of 11.1%, and a ground ball rate of 34%.
Despite these numbers, Muñoz has a solid track record in the minors and some potential as a prospect. Since 2021, he’s maintained a 24.3% strikeout rate in the minor leagues, though his walk rate of 11.4% remains a concern, as does his overall 5.18 ERA.
That said, his high ERA could partly be due to a low 64.8% strand rate, as his 4.83 FIP offers a more favorable view of his underlying performance. His move to the Cardinals presents a new opportunity to develop his talent further as he works on refining his control and overall game.
This waiver claim aligns with the Cardinals’ approach to the upcoming season, as they plan to lower payroll and adjust their player development strategies. St. Louis recently declined the club options on veterans Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn and may explore trades involving high-salary pitchers like Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde, Miles Mikolas, or Steven Matz. This shift toward younger, more affordable players means that depth options like Muñoz could play a crucial role as the Cardinals shape their rotation for 2025 and beyond.
For St. Louis, this move is likely one of many aimed at finding promising but less-proven pitchers who can help fill out the rotation and provide flexibility. By adding Muñoz to their roster, the Cardinals may see him as a potential development project who could contribute in the longer term, especially as they pivot to a more cost-effective, growth-focused roster. The claim underscores the Cardinals’ emphasis on retooling with younger talent and underscores the importance of organizational depth as they prepare for a new era.
Leave a Reply