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Cardinals Remove Rosenthal From Closers Role; Mets Officially Bring Back Reyes

The Cardinals started the frame up 3-1 on the Mariners, but closer Trevor Rosenthal's ninth went double, walk, walk-off homer. For the Cardinals and their rooters, this is a somewhat familiar refrain.

 

As such, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny met with Rosenthal on Saturday and let him know he'll be taking a break from closing, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

 

Rosenthal's 2016 ERA now stands at 5.63. In 24 innings he's walked 21 batters, all unintentionally, and opposing hitters have an OBP of .429. More to the point, he's a closer who this season has on average allowed more than two base-runners per inning.

 

It so happens that the Cardinals have two ready replacements. Kevin Siegrist has been quite good when healthy and has manageable platoon tendencies as lefty relievers go. The more intriguing option is, of course, 33-year-old rookie Seung Hwan Oh (who's nickname is 'The Final Boss') , has been exceptional in his first stateside season and had a long record of success as a closer in Korea and then Japan.

 

For Matheny's part, the Post-Dispatch reports that the Cardinals plan on rolling with three options in the ninth inning: Siegrist, Oh and experienced closer Jonathan Broxton. However, there's the opportunity for someone to emerge, and it wouldn't be surprising for that someone to be The Final Boss.

 

>>Mets Officiall Bring Back Reyes

 

After being linked to Jose Reyes for some time, the Mets on Saturday announced that they have signed the veteran infielder to a minor-league contract. He'll report to the Brooklyn Cyclones.

 

Reyes was recently released by the Rockies, who put him on waivers following his return from a 51-game suspension under the league's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. That suspension stemmed from an incident last October in which Reyes was charged with physically assaulting his wife in a Hawaii hotel room. Charges were eventually dropped because Reyes' wife declined to cooperate with the investigation.

 

When and if Reyes returns to the majors, he'll play for the prorated major-league minimum. That means the more than $40 million he's owed on his contract will remain on the Rockies' books.

 

Reyes, 33, batted just .274/.310/.378 for the Blue Jays and Rockies in 2015. He spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Mets before leaving to sign a free agent contract with the Marlins prior to the 2012 season. With the Mets, Reyes was a four-time All-Star.

 

The injury to David Wright and his uncertain timetable has left the Mets in need of infield depth, hence their signing of Reyes.

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