Arthur Rhodes Signs with Cardinals

A little over a week after being released by the Rangers, reliever Arthur Rhodes has agreed to a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Rhodes’ addition gives the Cardinals two left handed relievers and means that July addition Marc Rzepczynski can now be used outside of the lefty specialist role.

Texas released the 41 year old after he posted an ERA of 4.81 over his 32 appearances for them this season.

But even with those numbers the Cardinals saw a guy who’d held left handed hitters to a .216 batting average this season which is right in line with his career mark.  Rhodes also showed success as recent as last year within St. Louis’s division as a member of the Cincinnati Reds.

In 2010 Rhodes was selected to his first All-Star game and produced a season ERA and WHIP of 2.29 and 1.018.  The lefty struck out 8.2 batters per 9 over his 69 appearances.

St. Louis hasn’t announced how they are planning on making room for Rhodes on their roster, but it’s expected that they remove a fielder and return to a 12 man pitching staff.

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