Shane Robinson Released By St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals released a fan favorite in back-up outfielder Shane Robinson.

The move was among several made by the organization Tuesday night.

More from St Louis Cardinals News

• Cardinals Rumors: 3 pros and cons of signing Carlos Rodon
• Cardinals: Here is Willson Contreras’ first message for St. Louis fans
• How do the St. Louis Cardinals stack up with Willson Contreras?
• Cardinals: The insane asking price the Athletics had for Sean Murphy
• St. Louis Cardinals: Ask me anything with Josh Jacobs – 12/8

According to MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch:

"Choosing not to advance into arbitration with Robinson, the Cardinals have released the 30-year-old outfielder. In other roster tweaks, the team also added catcher Cody Stanley to the 40-man roster by selecting his contract and removed right-hander Keith Butler. Butler cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Memphis."

Robinson spent part of the 2014 season in Triple-A Memphis and his year subsequently ended due to a shoulder injury he suffered in late August. Robinson has been rehabbing from shoulder surgery in St. Louis this offseason.

Langosch said Robinson was due a salary hike this offseason as he became arbitration eligible for the first time. “By choosing to release Robinson now, the Cardinals are no longer required to go through that process with him. Robinson instead enters the free-agent pool after spending nine years with the organization.”

Basically, Robinson was no longer a fit for a team loaded with talented outfielders. The addition of Jason Heyward this week via trade pretty much sealed the deal that Robinson would be gone. It stinks. That’s business though. I do hope that Robinson lands with a good team and has some success. He deserves it.

Stanley, a member of the Double-A Springfield squad in 2014, is among a group of minor leaguers eligible for December’s Rule 5 Draft. Had Stanley been left unprotected, he would have been available to other teams. Langosch said by moving him to the 40-man roster, the Cardinals start the clock on Stanley’s option years, but also ensure that they retain him.

Stanley hit .283/.340/.429 with 16 doubles, 12 homers and 43 RBIs with Springfield. He wrapped up an Arizona Fall League stint during which he batted .292/.363/.375 with nine runs, four doubles and 12 RBIs over 21 games.

Those are good numbers. The club should try to keep him around as long as possible!

As for the Rule 5 Draft, if the Cardinals want to protect any of their other players eligible for the draft, they must do so by 11 p.m. CT on Thursday. They still have four openings on their 40-man roster.

Additionally, Langosch said Butler underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this year and will not be able to contribute until at least midway through the 2015 season. She said he will continue that rehab process with the Cardinals, though, and would give the Cardinals additional bullpen depth if he can fully recover.

It would be nice to see Butler recover to a point where he can be a big contribution to the team from the bullpen down the stretch!