The Cardinals lost a depth arm on Wednesday night when left-hander Bruce Zimmermann chose free agency after being outrighted to Triple-A.
St. Louis had brought the six-year big league veteran up for one outing on July 7, and Zimmermann handled five innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. He gave up three earned runs and struck out two before the club designated him for assignment after the game.
Zimmermann cleared waivers and was initially sent outright to Triple-A, but that stay didn’t last long. The team later announced he had elected free agency.
“SHP Jurrangelo Cijntje and INF Brody Moore have been transferred from Springfield (AA) to Memphis (AAA),” the Cardinals announced. “OF Chase Davis (AA) has been activated from the 7-day IL and transferred to Memphis.
RHP Brandt Thompson has been transferred from Memphis to Springfield. C Rainiel Rodriguez & LHP Liam Doyle (AA) have been reinstated from the Temporarily Inactive List.
“OF Zach Levenson (AA) has been reinstated from the Development List. … LHP Bruce Zimmermann (AAA) has elected free agency.”
The 31-year-old now leaves St. Louis with a modest big league résumé but plenty of mileage in pro ball.
Since reaching the majors in 2020, he has appeared in 40 big league games for the Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers and Cardinals, posting a 5.63 ERA. Most of his work has come in the minors, where he has logged 170 games, 792 innings and a 3.73 ERA.
For the Cardinals, the move trims a veteran starter from the organizational depth chart, but it doesn’t leave them thin for long. Triple-A already has several arms in the mix, including Quinn Mathews, Brycen Mautz and Hunter Dobbins, with Jurrangelo Cijntje now moving up from Double-A as well.
Ixan Henderson is also working back into the picture, and Liam Doyle could be next in line for a move from Double-A to Triple-A before long.
There’s always a market for pitching, and Zimmermann should have a chance to catch on somewhere else soon, likely on a minor league deal. St.
Louis, meanwhile, has spent the offseason building pitching depth by moving veterans out, and it also added right-hander Tegan Kuhns with the No. 32 pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. The Cardinals may have lost a depth piece, but they’re positioned to keep moving forward.
In Other News…
Cardinals Pitcher Gets Pulled Into All-Star Game Injury Scare
The All-Star Game took an uneasy turn for the Cardinals when Riley OBriens pitch led to a scare involving Rays third baseman Junior Caminero. Caminero had to leave the game after being hit on the left hand, and Miguel Vargas stepped into the American League lineup as the inning and the night suddenly felt a lot less festive.
Even with the pitch appearing accidental, OBrien still found himself at the center of angry online reaction in the aftermath. For St. Louis, it was the kind of unwanted spotlight that follows a pitcher long after the exhibition stage has moved on, especially when a routine midsummer showcase briefly turns into a health concern for one of baseballs biggest young names.
Cardinals Just Moved On From Another Familiar Bat After The Draft
The Cardinals roster churn continued after the 2026 draft, with the club trimming several minor league names from the system as it clears space and resets the depth chart. Among the moves were shortstop Jeremy Rivas and right-hander Jason Savacool, while Bligh Madris was sent to the KBO League for cash considerations, another sign that St. Louis is not waiting around to sort out the edges of its organization.
For Matt Koperniak, the latest transaction closes a long run in the system for a player who once carried some real prospect value in the organization. Ranked as the Cardinals No. 22 prospect at one point, the Triple-A outfielder never got the call to the majors before his release, leaving another familiar name to fade out of the pipeline as the club keeps moving forward.
Cardinals Just Took Another Low-Risk Swing With Intriguing Power Upside
The Cardinals have added another low-risk name to the system, this time bringing in an undrafted outfielder from Ole Miss who flashed real pop in his final college season. Tristan Bissettas bat stood out at Ole Miss, where he paired a strong power profile with an overall line that suggested there is something to work with if the organization can help him carry it forward.
For St. Louis, it is the kind of move that fits the broader approach of stocking the lower levels with players who have a trait worth betting on. Bissettas production came with the usual questions that follow a power-first profile, but the Cardinals have been willing to keep adding these kinds of lottery tickets, including catcher John Lemm, as they look for depth and upside wherever they can find it.
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