The Cardinals and utility man Jose Barrero are in settlement on a minor league deal, based on a report from Francys Romero. Per Romero, the deal additionally contains an invitation to massive 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 ascertain himself offensively on the massive 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. Specifically, 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 in the course of the 2023 marketing campaign.
That was Barrero’s closing season with the Reds, as he was designated for task 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 task within the run-up to Opening Day with a purpose to make room for Jared Walsh on the membership’s roster. This time, nonetheless, 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 Might and his closing sport performed on July 4.
Now that Barrero is presumably wholesome, nonetheless, 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 comparable to Nolan Arenado. Given the potential for trades from the membership’s positional corps this winter, including a flexible defender like Barrero may make sense as a possible bench choice ought to he carry out within the spring, and even as a non-roster depth piece to guard towards damage all year long ought to he stay within the minors.
Barrero’s path to enjoying time in St. Louis is considerably sophisticated, nonetheless. The 26-year-old has primarily performed shortstop and heart subject 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 heart subsequent 12 months. Even so, Barrero may discover use as a flexible utility choice, as he’s performed each place in addition to first base and catcher all through his profession. It’s even attainable that Barrero, ought to he make his means onto the St. Louis roster subsequent 12 months, finds some enjoying time as a platoon accomplice for both Siani or Scott in heart subject, as each are left-handed hitters with unimpressive offensive numbers towards southpaws.
