The St. Louis Cardinals have leaned heavily on their organizational depth at Triple-A Memphis throughout the season as they managed injuries and assessed players who could contribute at the major league level. Despite strong performances in the minors, not every player earns the chance to make the jump to St. Louis.
That was the case for one experienced first baseman, who put together an impressive offensive campaign but was never called up to the Cardinals. Instead of remaining in the organization and waiting for another opportunity, the veteran has decided to continue his career abroad by accepting a chance to play overseas.
St. Louis Cardinals Cut Veteran Infielder Despite Success
The Cardinals officially moved on from 28-year-old veteran outfielder, a decision that surprised many fans considering his previous major league experience and the solid offensive numbers he produced this season.
“The Cardinals released Madris on Saturday,” CBS Sports reported.
But shortly after the move was posted on the official transaction log, reports surfaced that Madris had sought the release so that he could pursue a return to international baseball.
“The (Cardinals) have transferred the contract of Memphis 1B Bligh Madris to a team in the KBO,” Cardinal Nation reporter Brian Walton posted on X. “The lefty hitter had a .908 OPS in 71 Triple-A games.”
St. Louis Cardinals Infielder Leaves MLB After Release
Madris’ offensive production throughout the season might have earned him a big-league return with the Cardinals if it weren’t for their roster makeup.
“The 30-year-old Madris signed a minor league contract with St. Louis last winter, and he has hit .277/.389/.519 with 14 home runs over 284 plate appearances with Triple-A Memphis,” Mark Polishuk noted for MLB Trade Rumors. “Without any injuries opening up roster space, Madris has instead parlayed his Triple-A success into a KBO contract. He’ll now make a larger guaranteed salary as he heads overseas for the second time in his pro career, following a brief stint in the Australian Baseball League during their 2020-21 season.”
The timing illustrates the difficult decisions that veteran minor leaguers players often face. While Madris had positioned himself as a legitimate depth option, the Cardinals did not seem likely to create the roster opening necessary to bring him to the majors.
Instead of remaining in Triple-A, he’ll now head to South Korea with the opportunity for everyday playing time and a guaranteed salary that exceeds what he likely would have earned remaining in the Cardinals’ farm system.
And for the Cardinals, the release closes the book on a productive organizational stint. If Madris is able to continue developing overseas and an infield spot on the Cardinals’ roster opens up, perhaps he would be interested in making a return to the organization in the future.
