Tigers Claim Cardinals Utility Man To Bolster Position Player Depth

The St. Louis Cardinals are less than a month away from Opening Day and will be looking to make last-second roster adjustments to increase their chances of bouncing back in 2024.

Not every player currently on the roster is going to survive spring training, which was the case on Thursday. 

A St. Louis Cardinals player who was recently designated for assignment to open up a roster spot has found a new landing spot.

"Roster News: infielder Buddy Kennedy has been claimed off of waivers by the Detroit Tigers" the club announced Thursday.

The Cardinals claimed Buddy Kennedy off waivers this winter from the Oakland Athletics but DFA'd him earlier this week to make room for the signing of four-time Gold Glove winner Brandon Crawford -- who is projected to aid rising star Masyn Winn as a backup shortstop and mentor.

Kennedy batted .307 with 37 extra-base hits including five home runs, 50 RBIs and a .887 OPS in 101 games played between Triple-A Reno and Las Vegas in 2023.

The 25-year-old played most of last season for the Arizona Diamondbacks' Triple-A Reno affiliate but was DFA'd towards the end of the season and claimed by Oakland -- where he played in 11 games for Triple-A Las Vegas.

The utility man predominately played third base but recorded a decent amount of innings at second base, left field and first base as well.

With little experience at the big league level -- having only logged 101 at-bats and a .206/.293/.299 slash line -- it's safe to say the Cardinals made the right move to swap Kennedy out for Crawford.

There is still a plethora of free agents available for the Cardinals to acquire before the first pitch is thrown. Will St. Louis continue to move players so they can open room for new talent?