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Cardinals Designate Caleb Ferguson for Assignment, Recall Brycen Mautz from Triple-A
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- Cardinals Designate Caleb Ferguson for Assignment, Recall Brycen Mautz from Triple-A
The St. Louis Cardinals made a bullpen change Saturday, designating left-hander Caleb Ferguson for assignment and recalling rookie lefty Brycen Mautz from Triple-A Memphis.
The move came one day after the Cardinals' 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates and less than a month after Ferguson arrived from the Cincinnati Reds at the July 30 trade deadline. The Cardinals are now turning to a younger arm as they navigate the final stretch of the season.
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The club's decision was announced following Friday's win, with Mautz returning to the major league roster after spending much of the season developing as a starter at Memphis.
Ferguson's time in St. Louis lasted just nine appearances. The left-hander struggled to establish himself in the bullpen, finishing his Cardinals stint with an 8.64 ERA over 8.1 innings.
That difficult stretch ultimately led the Cardinals to move on from the veteran reliever. Ferguson was acquired from Cincinnati at the trade deadline, where he had posted a 4.01 ERA before joining St. Louis.
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Mautz now gets another chance to contribute at the major league level. The 24-year-old has spent the season with Triple-A Memphis, but the Cardinals have recently shifted his role to prepare him for relief work.
Manager Oliver Marmol and the organization have used Mautz in the bullpen for his last 15 minor league appearances, giving him experience in the role he will now fill in St. Louis.
St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol (37) Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
The promotion comes at an important time for the Cardinals, whose pitching depth has been tested by injuries. Andre Pallante and Hunter Dobbins are among the arms currently dealing with health issues, increasing the need for another available option.
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Mautz has already appeared once for St. Louis this season, throwing three innings. His return gives the Cardinals a fresh arm with recent bullpen experience as they look to stabilize their pitching staff.
For Ferguson, the DFA ends a brief and difficult chapter in St. Louis. For Mautz, it provides another opportunity to show he can help the Cardinals out of the bullpen down the stretch.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
