Cardinals Trade Chris Roycroft To Rays

The Cardinals have traded right-hander Chris Roycroft to the Rays in exchange for a player to be named later or cash, per announcements from both clubs. St. Louis had designated Roycroft for assignment a few days back. Tampa Bay announced that catcher Dom Keegan has been designated for assignment to open a spot on the 40-man roster and that Roycroft has been optioned to Triple-A Durham for now.

Roycroft, 29, has pitched in each of the past three seasons with the Cards. He was serviceable in 34 1/3 innings as a 27-year-old rookie back in 2024: 4.19 ERA, 21.3% strikeout rate, 11% walk rate, 53.5% ground-ball rate. However, Roycroft has pitched 26 MLB frames since and served up 27 earned runs on 39 hits with more walks (20) than strikeouts (19).

Roycroft has typically missed bats at solid levels and generated huge ground-ball rates in the upper minors, but he’s taken a step back in 2026. Through 24 2/3 innings in Memphis, he’s been tagged for an ugly 5.84 ERA with just a 16.8% strikeout rate. Roycroft’s 7.1% walk rate is sharp, and his 58.5% grounder rate in Triple-A is outstanding, but he’s allowing far more contact than usual — particularly within the strike zone.

The Rays are acquiring Roycroft in his final minor league option year. They’ll be able to shuffle him between Durham and St. Petersburg for the remainder of the season, but if he sticks on the 40-man roster for the rest of the year and into spring training 2027, he’ll need to make the club or else be designated for assignment.