Bruce Zimmermann will get an opportunity to make the roster.
The St. Louis Cardinals made a minor transaction recently, inking left-handed pitcher Bruce Zimmermann to a minor league deal with an invite to major league spring training.
It's conceivable that he will have a chance to compete for a spot in the major league rotation or in the bullpen.
Let's dive a little deeper.
About Zimmermann
About to turn 31 years old, Zimmermann was a fifth-round pick of the Atlanta Braves in the 2017 MLB Draft out of Towson. He was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in the 2018 deal that sent Kevin Gausman and Darren O'Day to Atlanta.
He made his major league debut with Baltimore in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season (60 games) and stayed with Baltimore through 2023. In that time, he went 8-11 with a disappointing 5.64 ERA, appearing in 39 games (28 starts).
He was with the O's minor league system in 2024, going 3-4 with a 4.16 ERA, and then he spent the 2025 season in the Milwaukee Brewers organization, going 10-7 with a 4.11 ERA at Triple-A Nashville. He made 28 starts there. Milwaukee brought him up for one major league start at the end of the season.
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About his situation with the Cardinals
Since St. Louis is rebuilding, they are clearly open to giving opportunities to reclamation projects and innings-eaters. Because of injury, the starting rotation is in flux, which could give Zimmermann an in there. Dustin May, Andre Pallante, Matthew Liberatore and Michael McGreevy seem to be locks for the rotation, with Hunter Dobbins and Richard Fitts also serving as options, if they are ready for the start of the season. Both are recovering from injuries.
If not, Zimmermann could find a role.
As for the bullpen, the Cardinals are open to opportunity as well, though it should be noted that JoJo Romero and Justin Bruihl are also left-handed, so it's doubtful the group would need three lefty relievers.
Why the situation is complex for Zimmermann
He's out of options, as noted by MLBTradeRumors.
Zimmermann is out of minor league options, so if he is selected to the Cards’ 26-man roster, they’d first have to expose him to waivers before outrighting him off the 40-man and sending him back to Triple-A. Since Zimmermann has previously been outrighted, he’d also have the right to elect free agency rather than accept another outright assignment
Essentially, if the Cardinals want to keep him on the 40-man roster, then great. If they still like him but want to stash him in Triple-A? That's much tougher to do.
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