The Cardinals and utility man Jose Barrero are in settlement on a minor league deal, in response to a report from Francys Romero. Per Romero, the deal additionally contains an invitation to huge league Spring Coaching.
Barrero, 27 in April, got here up within the Reds group and obtained some top-100 prospect buzz following his debut within the shortened 2020 season regardless of hitting simply .194/.206/.194 in 24 video games that 12 months. He by no means fairly lived as much as that promise as he struggled to determine himself offensively on the huge league stage, slashing simply .184/.248/.267 within the majors from 2021 to 2023 with Cincinnati. Regardless of that lackluster offensive manufacturing within the majors, he has proven some indicators of life on the Triple-A stage all through his profession. Particularly, Barrero hit a formidable .258/.333/.540 with 19 homers, 17 doubles, and 20 stolen bases in simply 334 journeys to the plate at Triple-A Louisville throughout the 2023 marketing campaign.
That was Barrero’s closing season with the Reds, as he was designated for project in March of 2024 when Cincinnati determined he wouldn’t make the membership’s energetic roster regardless of having no minor league choices remaining. That led him to be plucked off waivers by the Rangers, though he was as soon as once more designated for project within the run-up to Opening Day so as to make room for Jared Walsh on the membership’s roster. This time, nevertheless, he went unclaimed on waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A. Sadly for Barrero, he wouldn’t crack the majors with the Rangers as he hit simply .188/.277/.346 in 49 video games with the membership’s Spherical Rock affiliate in an damage plagued season that noticed his season debut delayed till Could and his closing recreation performed on July 4.
Now that Barrero is presumably wholesome, nevertheless, he elected free company earlier this month and hit the open marketplace for the primary time in his profession. That opened the door for him to signal on with the Cardinals, who enter the winter going through loads of uncertainty as commerce rumors swirl round veteran gamers reminiscent of Nolan Arenado. Given the opportunity of trades from the membership’s positional corps this winter, including a flexible defender like Barrero may make sense as a possible bench possibility ought to he carry out within the spring, and even as a non-roster depth piece to guard in opposition to damage all year long ought to he stay within the minors.
Barrero’s path to enjoying time in St. Louis is considerably sophisticated, nevertheless. The 26-year-old has primarily performed shortstop and middle discipline up to now in his profession, however the Playing cards have rookie Masyn Winn locking down shortstop whereas defensively-gifted kids Michael Siani and Victor Scott II determine to vie for normal enjoying time in middle subsequent 12 months. Even so, Barrero may discover use as a flexible utility possibility, as he’s performed each place moreover first base and catcher all through his profession. It’s even attainable that Barrero, ought to he make his approach onto the St. Louis roster subsequent 12 months, finds some enjoying time as a platoon accomplice for both Siani or Scott in middle discipline, as each are left-handed hitters with unimpressive offensive numbers in opposition to southpaws.
