Reliever Keynan Middleton is set to join the St. Louis Cardinals pending a physical, according to multiple reports on Thursday. The 30-year-old right-hander started the 2023 season with the Chicago White Sox but was later traded to the New York Yankees on August 1 in exchange for minor league right-hander Juan Carela.
In his stint with the Yankees, Middleton posted a 1.88 ERA in 12 appearances, contributing to his overall season stats of a 2-2 record with two saves and a 3.38 ERA in 51 outings.
Middleton is no stranger to changing teams, as he’ll be suiting up for his sixth MLB team in his eighth major league season. He made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Angels in 2017, where he recorded a career-high six saves the following year. Middleton then had single-season stints with the Seattle Mariners (2021) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (2022) before signing a minor league contract with the White Sox in January last year.
The Cardinals’ bullpen options for the ninth inning, Ryan Helsley (14 saves) and Giovanny Gallegos (10 saves), are expected to remain with the team. The news of Middleton’s agreement with the Cardinals was initially reported by The Athletic.