The St. Louis Cardinals are finally reaping the benefits of a trade made back in 2023, as they’ve called up right-handed pitcher Matt Svanson from Triple-A Memphis to make his major league debut. Svanson was the lone piece acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for infielder Paul DeJong.
To make room on the roster, reliever Roddery Muñoz was optioned back to Memphis after a rough stretch in the big leagues.
While the Cardinals’ farm system has taken hits recently — including the news that top pitching prospect Cooper Hjerpe will need Tommy John surgery — Svanson’s promotion offers a glimmer of hope. Though the team failed to land a significant return in offseason talks involving Nolan Arenado, Svanson now gets the chance to prove the DeJong trade was a win.
The 26-year-old has operated solely as a reliever in the minors and features a mid-90s sinker paired with a solid slider — a combo that generates weak contact and plenty of groundballs. While he may not be a strikeout machine, his pitch-to-contact style fits well within the Cardinals’ bullpen philosophy.
St. Louis’ bullpen has been serviceable but unspectacular so far in 2025. If Svanson can deliver steady innings and help induce quick outs, he could be a quiet but important addition to help stabilize late-game situations.
Now all eyes turn to Svanson’s big league debut — and whether the Cardinals truly found value in trading away longtime shortstop Paul DeJong.
