Cardinals Cut 26-Year-Old Pitcher During Phillies Series

The St. Louis Cardinals parted ways with right-handed pitcher Victor Santos on Monday, according to minor league transaction reports, as the club opened a home series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Santos, 26, was released by the Memphis Redbirds, the Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate. MLB.com reported the move with a straightforward note.

“Memphis Redbirds released RHP Victor Santos.”

The timing came as the Cardinals dropped a 6-5 decision to the Phillies in the series opener Monday night. The two clubs were set to continue their matchup Tuesday.

Santos never appeared in a major league game during his time in the organization. Born July 12, 2000, in Villa Tapia, Dominican Republic, he first signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an international free agent in November 2016.

He later moved to the Boston Red Sox organization before arriving in St. Louis as part of the December 2023 trade that sent outfielder Tyler O’Neill to Boston. Right-hander Nick Robertson also came over in that deal.Injuries slowed Santos’ progress at several points. He missed the entire 2023 season and later spent significant time on the injured list in subsequent years.

The Cardinals re-signed him to a two-year minor league contract in early 2025 even as he faced another lengthy recovery period.

In 2024 with Memphis, Santos worked mostly in relief and posted a 5.61 ERA over 77 innings across 33 appearances. He returned to action in 2026 after a lengthy stay on the 60-day injured list, getting activated in early July following a series of rehab assignments at lower levels.

Once back with Memphis this season, Santos logged innings in a relief role and showed improved results relative to prior campaigns. Across minor league stops in 2026 he compiled a 2-2 record with a 2.74 ERA in 23 innings, striking out 19 batters.

The release closes the chapter on Santos’ tenure with the Cardinals system and effectively ends the last remaining piece of the O’Neill trade still on the organizational depth chart. Robertson had already moved on earlier.

Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol has overseen a pitching staff that has dealt with various injuries and roster adjustments throughout the year. The club has shuffled arms between the majors and minors while trying to stabilize the bullpen and rotation depth.

Santos’ departure leaves Memphis looking for other options to fill out its pitching staff as the Triple-A season continues. The Redbirds remain focused on developing talent that can eventually contribute at the big-league level.

For Santos, the next step will likely involve seeking a new opportunity with another organization. At 26, he still has time to rebuild momentum after the series of setbacks that marked recent seasons.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, turn their attention back to the Phillies series and the remainder of their schedule. Monday’s close loss highlighted both the competitiveness of the club and the ongoing need for consistent pitching performances.

Fans following the farm system noted the move quickly on social media and minor league transaction trackers. Santos had worn No. 70 at times during his Cardinals stint, a number some supporters hoped might one day appear in a major league box score.

Whether he lands elsewhere remains to be seen, but his professional journey from the Dominican Republic through multiple organizations has already spanned nearly a decade.

The Cardinals’ decision to release him during the current Phillies series simply marks the latest turn in that path.