Zuñiga, who was designated for assignment last week due to the signing of free-agent reliever Keynan Middleton, was moved to the Angels for monetary considerations on Wednesday, the club announced.
Zuñiga, signed by the Cardinals in December, had previously spent time in the Minor League systems of the Braves and Dodgers. During the World Baseball Classic last spring, he threw pitches that reached triple digits while playing for Colombia. He struck out future Cardinals teammates Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado during a WBC game against Team USA. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Zuñiga briefly gave the Cardinals hope that he may be a late-inning stopper out of their bullpen in 2023.
However, he only pitched twice in the major leagues in 2023, striking out four hitters and recording six outs. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on August 27 due to right elbow soreness, although he was later transferred to the 60-day IL, where he would finish the season.
Middleton, who divided the 2023 season between the White Sox and the Yankees, is the Cardinals’ tenth outside pitcher signed this offseason. Learn more about his signing here.
The Cardinals claimed first baseman/outfielder Rivas off waivers from the Angels on Monday, hoping to provide depth to their designated hitter, pinch hitter, and corner infield positions.
To make place on the 40-man roster for Rivas, the Cardinals designated Gómez for assignment. If the 25-year-old Minor League slugger clears waivers, he will have the opportunity to rejoin the Cardinals.
Rivas, 27, hits and fields left-handed, and the Cardinals have been looking for more left-handed batters after Nolan Gorman, Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, Alec Burleson, and switch-hitters Tommy Edman and Dylan Carlson. Rivas spent portions of two seasons with the Cubs before appearing in 48 games for the Padres and Pirates last year. He’s played 167 MLB games and has a batting line of.243/.324/.349/.673 with seven home runs and 43 RBIs. Rivas’ appeal to the Cardinals is likely enhanced by the fact that he still has one Minor League option available.
Rivas and Edman were both baseball players at La Jolla Country Day High School in La Jolla, California. Edman, 28, went on to play baseball at Stanford, while Rivas attended the University of Arizona in the Pac-12.
Gómez, who hit 39 home runs and drove in 94 runs in Double-A and Triple-A in 2022, was added to the Cards’ 40-player roster in the offseason of 2022, but he was frequently passed over for an MLB promotion last season as the team struggled and was plagued by injuries. Gómez hit.232 last season at Triple-A Memphis, totaling 30 home runs and 79 RBIs. At issue was his 180 strikeouts, 52 walks, and.293 on-base percentage. He was left off St. Louis’ Arizona Fall League team last year.
