The St. Louis Cardinals designated right-handed reliever Peter Strzelecki for assignment on Wednesday, ending his short stay in the organization after first reinstating him from the 15-day injured list, via the MLB transaction log.
The move came as the club activated infielder JJ Wetherholt from the injured list and also designated infielder Ramón Urías for assignment.
Strzelecki, 31, was not on the active roster at the time of the announcement because of the IL stint. St. Louis chose not to add him back once he was healthy and instead placed him on waivers.
He had been on the 15-day injured list since late August with right forearm extensor inflammation.
The right-hander appeared in eight games for the Cardinals after they selected his contract on July 28. In 14 innings he went 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA, allowing 13 hits and nine earned runs while walking six and striking out eight. Those numbers marked a step back from the form that first got him to the majors.
Strzelecki has been in the majors since 2022. He debuted with the Milwaukee Brewers on June 2 of that year and posted a 2.83 ERA over 35 innings as a rookie, with a 27 percent strikeout rate.
He spent parts of 2023 with Milwaukee and the Arizona Diamondbacks before appearing in 10 games for the Cleveland Guardians in 2024. Career totals through this season stand at 85 games, a 6-7 record, 3.78 ERA, 97.2 innings and 94 strikeouts.
His path to St. Louis was typical of a veteran reliever fighting for a roster spot.
After bouncing among minor-league deals with Milwaukee and the New York Yankees earlier in 2026, Strzelecki signed with the Cardinals on July 25 and was quickly added to the big-league bullpen.
The club needed a fresh arm after Hunter Dobbins worked a long relief outing. Strzelecki’s previous big-league work (3.44 ERA in 83 2/3 innings from 2022-24) made him a low-cost depth option for a Cardinals relief corps that has been inconsistent.
Results in St. Louis never matched that earlier track record. Command issues and a low strikeout rate (13.1 percent with the Cardinals) limited his usefulness. He will now go through waivers.
If he clears, he can elect free agency. Given his age, recent injury, and the crowded market for middle-relief arms, another minor-league deal somewhere is the most likely next step.
For the Cardinals, the transaction is part of late-season roster management as they evaluate young players and veterans heading into the final weeks.
Strzelecki’s time in St. Louis was brief, but it added another chapter to a career that has now spanned four organizations since his 2022 debut.
