Cardinals Declare Bailey Horn Off Waivers From Tigers

The Cardinals introduced they’ve claimed the left-handed reliever Billy Horn Off waivers from the Tigers. Detroit designated him for project final week. The Cardinals have already got a number of open 40-man spots, so a corresponding transfer is not needed.

The now 26-year-old Horn has ridden the waiver wagon from Boston to Detroit to St. Los in slightly over a month. He made his main league debut with the Pink Sox in 2024, pitching 18 innings and surrendering 13 runs on the energy of twenty-two hits and 10 walks with 13 strikeouts. The ensuing 6.50 ERA is not a lot to have a look at, however Horn is a 2020 fifth-round decide (White Sox) who had some success within the minor leagues and was concerned in a single commerce of some word — when the Sox despatched him throughout city to the Cubs in a 2021 commerce for Ryan Tepera.

Final yr with the Pink Sox, who acquired him in April after one other DFA, he threw 29 1/3 innings in Triple-A and posted a younger 2.15 ERA with a formidable 29.2% strikeout fee. Horn’s stroll fee of 11.7% was very excessive, however these fee statistics are typically consultant of how he carried out all through his minor league profession. He has struck out 29% of his opponents in 4 minor league seasons, however he has additionally struck out practically 13% of the batters he has confronted.

Horn nonetheless has a number of years of minor league possibility left, making him a versatile piece for the Cardinals within the brief or maybe long run. He is sitting at 95 mph on his heater and lacking bats at a excessive sufficient stage to offer some intrigue for the Playing cards’ group that highlights certainty (particularly in the event that they’re nearer Ryan Helsley is traded earlier than opening day or earlier than the summer time commerce deadline).

Nevertheless, one factor St. Louis does have a good quantity of is left-handed reduction depth. Horn will be part of the combination together with Jojo Romero, John King, Matthew Liberatore and Zach Thompson. Not all of them are confirmed within the majors, however it’s a stable group of southpaws nonetheless. Romero is barely managed by 2026, so if issues go south for the Playing cards within the first half of the season, he might find yourself getting a summer time commerce chip himself, which might additional open the door for an opportunity for the newly acquired Horn.