The St. Louis Cardinals have officially closed the book on Scott Blewett’s short-lived return to the major league roster, sending the veteran right-handed reliever to the Athletics in exchange for cash considerations. While the move may not generate the same headlines as blockbuster deadline deals, it represents another calculated roster decision for a Cardinals club looking to maximise every available spot as the season enters its most critical stretch.
The organisation confirmed the transaction through its official social media channels, announcing that Blewett had been dealt to the Athletics after being designated for assignment only days earlier.
The trade marks the end of an eventful and somewhat unpredictable stretch for the 29-year-old pitcher, whose second stint with St. Louis featured multiple roster moves in just over a week. Despite making only one appearance for the Cardinals this season, Blewett now receives another opportunity with a team desperately searching for bullpen stability.
A whirlwind finish in St. Louis
Blewett’s departure comes after what could only be described as a whirlwind sequence of events.
After spending most of the season with Triple-A Memphis, the veteran exercised an opt-out clause in his minor league contract on July 15. Rather than lose him immediately, the Cardinals responded by selecting his contract and adding him to the major league roster.
His promotion came at a time when St. Louis needed bullpen depth following left-hander JoJo Romero’s placement on the injured list. It appeared Blewett had finally earned another legitimate opportunity to prove he deserved a permanent place in the Cardinals’ relief corps.
However, that opportunity proved remarkably brief.
Just days after joining the active roster, the Cardinals designated him for assignment to create space for rookie right-hander Hunter Dobbins, who was preparing to make his major league start against the Los Angeles Angels.
The move effectively ended Blewett’s latest chapter in St. Louis before it ever had a chance to truly begin.
Making the most of a limited opportunity
Although his stay in the Cardinals’ bullpen lasted only one game, Blewett certainly made the most of his lone appearance.
On July 21 against the Angels, the right-hander delivered two scoreless innings in relief, giving the Cardinals valuable innings while allowing no runs. It was exactly the type of outing any pitcher hopes to deliver when trying to secure a roster spot.
Unfortunately for Blewett, performance wasn’t the only factor driving the Cardinals’ decision.
Roster flexibility becomes increasingly important during the second half of the season, especially as teams evaluate young talent and navigate injuries. Hunter Dobbins represented a more immediate need, and Blewett became the odd man out despite his effective showing.
Instead of remaining in organisational limbo for long, he quickly found another landing spot.
From minor league depth to another MLB opportunity
Blewett originally joined the Cardinals organisation last November after agreeing to a minor league contract. Throughout the 2026 campaign, he served primarily as experienced depth for Triple-A Memphis, where he appeared regularly out of the bullpen.
In 37 appearances for Memphis, Blewett logged 48⅔ innings while posting a 5.18 ERA.
Those numbers may not immediately jump off the page, but Triple-A can be an extremely challenging environment for pitchers, particularly in today’s offensive-heavy landscape. The Cardinals valued his experience enough to keep him in the organisation throughout the season and ultimately rewarded him with another trip to the majors after his contract opt-out.
Still, with younger arms emerging and the organisation focused on evaluating future contributors, Blewett ultimately became expendable.
Athletics searching desperately for bullpen help
For Blewett, the trade could not have come at a better time.
Few teams across Major League Baseball have struggled more with relief pitching this season than the Athletics. Their bullpen has consistently failed to protect leads and limit damage late in games, making reinforcements an obvious priority.
Statistically, the Athletics own the highest bullpen ERA in baseball at 5.53.
That figure isn’t simply below average—it ranks last in the majors, highlighting just how much instability has plagued their relief unit throughout the season.
Even the Kansas City Royals, who possess the second-highest bullpen ERA in the league, sit noticeably ahead at 5.24.
Those numbers illustrate the scale of the Athletics’ bullpen issues and explain why acquiring experienced relief arms, even through relatively low-risk trades, makes sense.
Blewett arrives without significant expectations but with an opportunity that simply did not exist in St. Louis.
Experience still matters
While Blewett has never established himself as a full-time late-inning reliever, he does bring valuable major league experience.
Across five big league seasons, he has appeared in 44 games while compiling a respectable 4.10 career ERA.
Although that sample size remains relatively small, it demonstrates that he has been capable of competing effectively against major league hitters when given opportunities.
For a rebuilding Athletics club looking for reliable innings, Blewett represents an affordable gamble with legitimate upside.
If he can replicate the efficiency he showed during his lone outing with St. Louis, he could quickly carve out a meaningful role in Oakland’s bullpen.
The Athletics have little to lose by giving him opportunities, especially considering their current relief struggles.
Smart asset management by the Cardinals
From the Cardinals’ perspective, this transaction should be viewed as solid organisational business rather than a major baseball move.
Once Blewett was designated for assignment, several outcomes were possible.
Another team could have submitted a waiver claim, allowing him to leave without St. Louis receiving any compensation. Alternatively, if he cleared waivers, Blewett would have retained the option to elect free agency under the terms of his contract.
Instead, Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom and the front office found a better solution.
By working out a trade with the Athletics, St. Louis managed to receive cash considerations for a player who no longer fit the club’s immediate plans.
While cash considerations rarely generate excitement among fans, every asset matters for front offices attempting to maximise organisational value.
Rather than risk losing Blewett for nothing, the Cardinals converted an expendable player into a tangible return.
Deadline season rewards creative moves
As Major League Baseball’s trade deadline approaches, not every transaction involves All-Stars or elite prospects.
Many successful organisations improve their long-term outlook through smaller, less-publicised moves like this one.
Depth players often become valuable trade chips for clubs facing roster crunches, while teams dealing with injuries or glaring weaknesses are willing to acquire experienced veterans capable of providing immediate help.
Blewett fits that description perfectly.
The Cardinals had surplus pitching depth and needed roster flexibility.
The Athletics desperately needed bullpen help.
The result was a straightforward deal benefiting both organisations.
Dobbins becomes the priority
Blewett’s departure also reflects the Cardinals’ growing commitment to evaluating younger talent.
Hunter Dobbins received the roster spot created by Blewett’s designation, signalling that the organisation views the young right-hander as someone worth giving an extended opportunity.
With the Cardinals balancing playoff aspirations alongside long-term roster development, innings for younger pitchers become increasingly valuable.
Veterans like Blewett can provide stability, but younger arms often receive priority when organisations believe they could become future contributors.
That reality ultimately left Blewett without a clear path to remaining on the active roster.
A fresh start with real opportunity
Although his latest Cardinals stint lasted only one appearance, Blewett leaves St. Louis having done everything within his control.
He waited patiently in Triple-A, accepted his opportunity when called upon, and delivered two scoreless innings during his lone outing.
Sometimes, however, timing matters just as much as performance.
With the Cardinals facing roster decisions and prioritising other pitchers, Blewett became available precisely when another club needed bullpen reinforcements.
Now, he’ll head to an Athletics organisation where meaningful innings are available and consistent performance could quickly earn him a regular role.
For Blewett, the trade represents another chance to re-establish himself at the major league level.
For the Athletics, it’s an inexpensive attempt to strengthen the weakest bullpen in baseball.
And for the Cardinals, it’s a textbook example of turning a player who no longer fit into a tangible return rather than watching him walk away for nothing.
As the trade deadline continues to reshape rosters across the league, this may not be the flashiest move of the summer, but it could prove beneficial for everyone involved. Sometimes the smartest transactions aren’t the biggest—they’re simply the ones that maximise value while opening new opportunities on both sides.
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