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Richie Palacios' postseason heroics with Rays might make the Cardinals regret their trade

Is this Randy Arozarena all over again?
ByThomas Gauvain
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Oct 19, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Richie Palacios (1) hits a two RBI double against the Cleveland Guardians during the second inning in game six of the ALCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
Oct 19, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Richie Palacios (1) hits a two RBI double against the Cleveland Guardians during the second inning in game six of the ALCS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Within six months of acquiring Richie Palacios, the St. Louis Cardinals swapped him for some relief help prior to the 2024 season. Palacios, 26 at the time of the trade, was essentially depth for the Cardinals. He wasn't a spectacular prospect, and while his brief stint in the majors was impressive in 2023, it wasn't enough to justify making him a regular. Palacios might start making the Cardinals regret that decision.

St. Louis traded the utility man for right-handed reliever Andrew Kittredge in early January 2024. Kittredge came for the Rays, and had a 3.09 ERA in 2023 with the Rays. He was a proven veteran reliever who was going to support a bullpen that also included Ryan Helsley and JoJo Romero late in games. At the time, it was a trade that made sense. Fans didn't think that Richie Palacios was going to become a star like Randy Arozarena, Zac Gallen, and Sandy Alcantara did.

Palacios's inaugural season in Tampa Bay was less than spectacular. He finished the year with a .223/.346/.318 slash line and a 1.8 bWAR total. Altogether, Palacios has a .237/.341/.356 slash line for a 98 OPS+ over the last three years with the Rays. Good, not great. Certainly replaceable.

However, Richie Palacios has managed to turn it on this postseason.

Richie Palacios's postseason showing for the Tampa Bay Rays may remind St. Louis Cardinals fans of Randy Arozarena.

In 2020, less than a year after being traded away, Randy Arozarena lit the postseason on fire for none other than the Tampa Bay Rays. Arozarena logged 21 hits in the American League Championship Series for the Rays. His seven home runs set a rookie record. He was voted the 2020 ALCS MVP that year.

“Ever since I got traded over, it’s felt like a family,” Arozarena said. “They welcomed me with open arms. They let me be myself. They let me have the freedom to be out there and be the player I want to be.”

It's important to note here that Arozarena received some flak for live-streaming a postgame locker room speech by then manager Mike Shildt in 2019.

While there is still a series that needs to be finalized, Richie Palacios is doing his best Arozarena impression this postseason.

Palacios has a .368/.368/.526 slash line for a .894 OPS this postseason. He has seven hits and four RBIs, including two key ones on Monday night to give the Rays an early lead in Game 7 against the Cleveland Guardians.

Again, Palacios was a role player for the Cardinals at the time of the trade. It was indeed a good trade for St. Louis, and the Cardinals benefited heavily from Kittredge's work in 2024. St. Louis didn't trade him that year, but he was a key piece in Ryan Helsley setting a new single-season franchise save record that year.

Richie Palacios is putting on a show this postseason, and Cardinals' fans can't help but have flashbacks of Randy Arozarena six years ago. Only time will tell if this situation ends up the same way the last one did.

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