The St. Louis Cardinals entered the 2026 season facing tempered expectations after signaling the beginning of a new organizational direction under incoming baseball operations leader Chaim Bloom. Rather than pursuing expensive short-term fixes, the franchise shifted its focus toward developing young talent, strengthening organizational depth, and creating a sustainable path toward long-term success. Despite those modest preseason expectations, the Cardinals exceeded many predictions during the first half of the campaign, remaining competitive while proving that their rebuilding process could still produce winning baseball.
One of the biggest reasons behind St. Louis’ surprising first-half success has been its improved pitching depth. Throughout the offseason and into the regular season, the Cardinals aggressively added experienced arms capable of providing insurance at both the major league and Triple-A levels. While not every acquisition was expected to become a permanent fixture on the major league roster, the organization valued experienced pitchers who could step in whenever injuries or roster changes created opportunities.
Among those additions was veteran right-handed pitcher Scott Blewett, who joined the Cardinals on a minor league contract with hopes of reviving his major league career. Like many experienced pitchers signing minor league deals, Blewett’s contract included an opt-out clause, allowing him to pursue opportunities elsewhere if the Cardinals did not promote him to the big leagues within a specified timeframe.
That clause has now officially brought Blewett’s time in the Cardinals organization to an end.
According to St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Derrick Goold, Blewett has exercised the opt-out provision in his contract and elected free agency. The decision allows the veteran right-hander to immediately begin searching for another organization that may offer him a clearer path back to the major leagues.
While the move may not significantly alter the Cardinals’ current pitching plans, it closes the chapter on a veteran depth option who spent the season waiting for an opportunity that ultimately never arrived.
Blewett’s departure does not require the Cardinals to make any immediate roster transaction. Because he voluntarily exercised his contractual opt-out, the organization can simply allow him to leave without designating another player for assignment or making adjustments to the active roster.
Instead, St. Louis will continue relying on the considerable pitching depth it has assembled throughout the organization.
Blewett’s professional baseball journey has been anything but conventional.
Originally selected by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the 2014 Major League Baseball Draft, Blewett entered professional baseball carrying significant expectations. As a high draft selection, he was viewed as a pitcher with the physical tools necessary to eventually become a reliable major league contributor.
However, the climb through the minor leagues proved much more difficult than anticipated.
After several seasons of development, Blewett finally made his major league debut with the Royals during the shortened 2020 season. Although reaching the majors represented a major milestone, he struggled to establish himself as a permanent member of Kansas City’s pitching staff.
Following the 2021 season, Blewett sought new opportunities overseas, hoping additional innings and experience would help him continue developing while keeping his major league aspirations alive.
His persistence eventually paid off.
Before the 2024 season, Blewett returned to affiliated baseball after signing with the Minnesota Twins organization. The comeback represented another opportunity to prove he still belonged in the major leagues despite taking an unconventional path back.
His baseball journey continued to take unexpected turns throughout 2025.
Rather than spending the year with one organization, Blewett moved between multiple clubs, appearing in different systems while attempting to secure a stable major league role. During that season, he spent time with the Minnesota Twins, Atlanta Braves, and Baltimore Orioles organizations.
Across those opportunities, Blewett posted a 5.46 ERA while continuing to demonstrate flashes of the swing-and-miss ability that has long intrigued evaluators.
Although the overall numbers were inconsistent, teams remained interested in his experience, versatility, and willingness to accept different assignments.
Over the course of his major league career, Blewett has appeared in 43 games while compiling a respectable 4-1 record alongside a 4.21 ERA. While those numbers do not necessarily reflect an established late-inning reliever, they do suggest that he has been capable of providing valuable innings whenever called upon.
That experience likely played a role in the Cardinals’ decision to bring him into the organization before the season began.
St. Louis believed Blewett could provide experienced depth at Triple-A Memphis while remaining available if injuries created openings at the major league level.
Instead, those opportunities never materialized.
Throughout his stint with Triple-A Memphis, Blewett remained an important part of the Redbirds’ pitching staff. He appeared in 37 games, making two starts while primarily working out of the bullpen.
His overall production reflected both encouraging signs and noticeable inconsistencies.
Blewett finished with a 4-1 record while posting a 5.18 ERA. He also recorded a 1.66 WHIP, illustrating that limiting baserunners proved to be one of his biggest challenges during the season.
Despite those struggles, there were still aspects of his performance that likely caught the attention of opposing organizations.
Perhaps most encouraging was his ability to generate strikeouts.
Throughout the season, Blewett consistently demonstrated the ability to miss bats, an increasingly valuable trait in today’s game where bullpen success often depends on preventing balls from being put into play.
However, while his strikeout numbers remained encouraging, other areas of his performance failed to reach the consistency necessary for a major league promotion.
Command issues, elevated traffic on the bases, and occasional struggles with run prevention likely influenced the Cardinals’ decision to keep him in Triple-A despite multiple opportunities to shuffle pitching personnel throughout the season.
For an organization emphasizing both player development and long-term roster flexibility, Blewett ultimately became a victim of numbers.
The Cardinals have spent months building one of the deepest collections of pitching talent in their farm system.
Several younger pitchers have continued developing rapidly, while experienced veterans remain available to provide emergency depth whenever necessary.
That combination made it increasingly difficult for Blewett to carve out a meaningful opportunity.
Even though he entered spring training hoping to compete for a bullpen role, he found himself battling against a crowded field that included established relievers, emerging prospects, and several offseason additions.
As the season progressed, younger pitchers generally received greater consideration whenever roster decisions arose, reflecting the organization’s commitment to evaluating long-term pieces during its ongoing transition.
Blewett remained prepared for a promotion, but the phone call never came.
Rather than continue waiting indefinitely, exercising his opt-out represented the logical next step.
At 30 years old, Blewett understands that opportunities to return to the major leagues can disappear quickly. Waiting behind multiple pitchers on the Cardinals’ organizational depth chart offered little certainty, especially as the trade deadline approaches and clubs begin reshaping their rosters.
Free agency now gives him the chance to identify another organization with a greater immediate need for bullpen reinforcements.
Several contenders could soon begin searching for experienced relief pitching as injuries accumulate during the second half of the season.
Likewise, rebuilding clubs frequently look for affordable veterans capable of providing innings while mentoring younger pitchers.
Blewett fits that profile well.
His ability to generate strikeouts, combined with his major league experience and willingness to embrace different roles, could make him an appealing low-risk addition for organizations seeking bullpen depth without making significant financial commitments.
Although he has yet to establish himself as a permanent major league reliever, his career demonstrates resilience and persistence.
Few players endure the number of organizational changes Blewett has experienced while continuing to fight for opportunities at the highest level.
That determination alone may convince another front office to offer him a fresh opportunity.
For the Cardinals, however, the decision changes very little.
The organization remains well-positioned entering the second half of the season thanks to its impressive collection of pitching options throughout the system.
Whether through internal promotions or future acquisitions, St. Louis possesses enough depth to replace Blewett’s organizational role without significant disruption.
The club continues prioritizing younger arms with long-term upside while maintaining flexibility for future roster decisions.
As the trade deadline approaches, additional pitching changes could still occur.
The Cardinals may acquire new arms, promote top prospects, or adjust their bullpen depending on their position in the National League playoff race.
Blewett simply became one of the first roster casualties of an increasingly competitive organizational depth chart.
His departure serves as another reminder of the difficult decisions organizations face when balancing veteran experience against player development.
While his stint in St. Louis ultimately proved brief and never included a major league appearance, Blewett leaves knowing he exhausted every opportunity available within the organization.
Now, his attention turns toward finding the next chance to continue a career defined by perseverance.
Whether another contender, rebuilding club, or injury-plagued pitching staff decides to take a chance remains to be seen, but his combination of experience and strikeout ability should ensure that he receives interest on the open market.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals continue marching into the second half of the season with confidence in their pitching depth, believing they possess enough internal options to sustain their surprising success as the playoff race intensifies.
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