Cory

Spangenberg

Spangenberg was a replacement player for the team’s unvaccinated players for their series in Toronto. He didn’t get into a game.

Spangenberg joins the Cardinals for their two-game series in Toronto as a replacement player with a trio of unvaccinated position players unable to make the trip to Canada. The 31-year-old veteran hasn’t appeared in a contest at the major-league level since 2019.

Walsh was added to the Cardinals’ 40-man roster last November, but failed to make the team’s Opening Day roster in a relief role. Spangenberg is the other notable inclusion here as he’ll head to Triple-A Memphis to get some at-bats in before being an option at some point later this season.

Spangenberg, a six-year major league veteran, is aiming for a bench spot on the Cardinals after spending the last two years in Japan. It’s hard to see how he’d fit in St. Louis unless someone gets hurt, but perhaps another team will be interested in his left-handed bat.

Spangenberg last appeared in the majors back in 2019 with the Brewers. He spent last year with the Seibu Lions of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball. The versatile 31-year-old holds a .256/.315/.389 triple-slash line with 29 homers and 34 stolen bases across 1,380 plate appearances in the majors since 2014.

It’s a one-year contract worth around $1.4 million. Spangenberg, 29, delivered a strong .807 OPS with 15 home runs and 12 stolen bases over his first 111 games in Nippon Professional Baseball last season. The former first-round pick of the Padres had a career .704 OPS in 419 major league games before heading to Asia.

Spangenberg wasn’t likely to get any major league offers this winter after struggling in limited action with the Brewers last season. The 28-year-old former first-round pick is a .256/.315/.389 hitter in 1,380 plate appearances over six major league seasons, all but the last coming with the Padres.

The Brewers booted him from their 40-man roster and he’ll take his free agency option rather than accept an outright assignment. Spangenberg struggled to a .635 OPS over 35 games for Milwaukee and might have to settle for a minor league deal this winter.

It’s curious, as both times the Brewers have been facing right-handers. Cory Spangenberg is at third base.

The Brewers are loading up with left-handers against Dinelson Lamet on Wednesday, so Braun and Lorenzo Cain are both getting the night off. Corey Spangenberg will start in Braun’s place in left field.