St. Louis Cardinals Sign Arthur Rhodes For Prorated Minimum

The St. Louis Cardinals moved Thursday to add a reliever to their bullpen after losing rookie Lance Lynn to an oblique injury, signing 41-year-old Arthur Rhodes to a deal for the prorated minimum after the veteran left-hander cleared waivers following his release from the Texas Rangers. Rhodes, a dominant bullpen piece for the 116-win Seattle Mariners of 2001, had a 4.81 ERA with the Rangers after allowing six home runs in 24 innings with the club. 

The Cardinals will hope to see the Arthur Rhodes who'd experienced a career renaissance as a specialist with the Cincinnati Reds—an All-Star in 2010, he had an ERA of 2.41 and struck out 8.1 batters per nine innings as a Red. The move gives the Cardinals a second left-handed reliever, something they've lacked since dealing Brian Tallet and Trever Miller and receiving Marc Rzepczynski as a sideline to the Colby Rasmus trade.  

Rhodes was not in uniform for Thursday's series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers, but will be activated over the weekend. No word yet as to who he'll replace, although the Cardinals are currently carrying 11 pitchers and three catchers—both veteran Gerald Laird and rookie Tony Cruz.