The St. Louis Cardinals made a quick roster move Thursday just ahead of their series opener against the Kansas City Royals. Right-handed pitcher Chris Roycroft was designated for assignment, and the team promoted Max Rajcic from Triple-A to take his spot on the active roster.
Roycroft, 28, made his MLB debut in 2024 and has bounced between the majors and minors since. This season has been rough. Through seven relief appearances in 2026, he posted a 15.19 ERA. That kind of number usually means a change is coming, and for now, Roycroft is off the 40-man roster while the Cardinals see if another team claims him off waivers.
He’s still young enough that a club looking for bullpen help could take a flyer on him. Don’t be surprised if he gets another shot somewhere else in the big leagues before long.
Rajcic Gets the Call at 24
Max Rajcic, 24, is about to make his MLB debut. He came up as a starter in the minors but shifted to a bullpen role this year. The move seems to have worked. Across 26 appearances at Triple-A (only one start), he’s put up a 2.88 ERA. That’s the kind of production that gets you a phone call.
The Cardinals haven’t said yet how they’ll use him, but he’s clearly ready for a look. The team’s biggest need right now is pitching depth, and Rajcic gives them another arm out of the bullpen who could stick.
Cardinals Still Shopping for Starting Pitching
St. Louis is playing well and looking like a contender, but everybody around the league knows they want to add a starter or two before the trade deadline. The rotation has held up okay, but the front office is likely scanning the market.
The positive sign for the Cardinals is they have options in the pipeline. Rajcic is the latest example. If he can throw strikes and get outs, he might end up playing a real role down the stretch.
First pitch against the Royals is set for 7:40 PM EST Thursday night in Kansas City.
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