St. Louis Cardinals Activate Matt Adams from 60-Day DL, DFA Nick Greenwood
Though it’s unclear how much playing time they’ll give him over the remainder of the season, the St. Louis Cardinals will have one of their anticipated key offensive contributors back for the stretch run. First baseman Matt Adams was activated from the 60-day disabled list before Wednesday’s matinee against the Chicago Cubs. To make room for Adams on the 40-man roster, lefthanded pitcher Nick Greenwood was designated for assignment.
Adams has not played since May 26, at which point he suffered a torn quad which required surgery and threatened to sideline him for the rest of the season. Luckily for the Cardinals, Adams’ rehab, for the most part, went better than expected, and he’ll be able to finish the season with the team. Adams did not take part in a minor-league rehab assignment before returning to the big-league club; he had been working his way back at the Cardinals’ minor-league facility in Florida with the goal of getting some rehab games in before his return, but he suffered a setback shortly before rosters expanded on September 1 and had that opportunity taken away from him.
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Thus, Adams will likely be eased back into action; he’s not in the lineup for Wednesday’s game, and he may not play in the field too much with Mark Reynolds and Brandon Moss already having settled into the first base position. Though he’s had periods of dominance at the plate over his two full seasons with the Cardinals, Adams hadn’t done a whole lot to showcase himself as a legitimate offensive threat in 2015. Prior to his injury, Adams was hitting just .243/.281/.375 with four homers in 144 at-bats. He was batting a better-than-usual but still disappointing .208 against lefthanded pitchers.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals cut the cord with Greenwood after he spent roughly a year and a half on the 40-man roster. The lefty reliever, who specializes in long relief, picked the Cards up in some tough situations during the 2014 season, but he had a dreadful year at Triple-A Memphis, throwing for a 5.79 ERA, a .313 opponent batting average, and a 1.48 WHIP in 129 innings. In his only big-league appearance, Greenwood gave up a walkoff homer to Andrew McCutchen on July 11.
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Greenwood could likely read the writing on the wall after a strange series of events involving him unfolded last week. Greenwood was recalled to the big-league club on September 2, but after spot starter Tyler Lyons was able to get through the night without needing Greenwood to pick him up in long relief, Greenwood was optioned back to Memphis immediately following the game. He was one of seven players on the 40-man who were not brought back to St. Louis following the conclusion of the minor-league season, which considering his age and experience level made him a prime candidate to be designated.
Assuming that righthanded pitcher Matt Belisle (and possibly also Adam Wainwright) returns from the 60-day DL over the next few days, the Cardinals will have to clear more space on the 40-man. Catcher Ed Easley, first baseman Xavier Scruggs, and utility infielder Dean Anna loom as candidates to be victims of the roster crunch.