The St. Louis Cardinals are making their first big moves this offseason, and they’re bringing a familiar left-handed arm back into the fold. Josh Fleming, the 30-year-old reliever, just re-signed with the NL Central club on a minor-league deal, signaling their intent to beef up pitching depth. Fleming’s journey back to St. Louis has been a bit wild, especially when you look at his numbers.
The Numbers Tell A Story, But Which One?
Let’s be real, a career 4.86 ERA over 257.2 innings isn’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard. Fleming has been around the Majors for parts of six seasons, mostly with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2020-2023. This past year, 2026, he only made one appearance with the Toronto Blue Jays, and it wasn’t pretty: four earned runs in just three innings. Ouch. But here’s where it gets interesting: before he hit the Cardinals organization for the “final stretch of the season,” he was actually putting up a low-3.00s ERA at Triple-A with affiliates for both the Blue Jays and the Cubs. So, the talent is there, right? Maybe.
Then he landed in Memphis, the Cardinals’ Triple-A squad, and things went sideways fast. He was tagged for a whopping 21 earned runs over 29 2/3 innings, giving up nine homers in just six starts. That’s a brutal stretch, no two ways about it. So, what gives? Derrick Goold from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch summed it up: Fleming, a Webster University alum, is back on a minor-league deal to “provide depth for the rotation.” It’s all about that depth.
What This Means For The Cards’ Pitching Staff
So, with those kinds of numbers in Memphis, what’s the plan? Fleming is likely starting the next season right back at Triple-A Memphis. His main gig, as the Cardinals see it, is injury insurance for the big league rotation. When you look at their top four starters , Michael McGreevy, Kyle Leahy, Andre Pallante, and Matthew Liberatore , you can see why having another veteran arm ready to go is crucial. Even with the rough patches, Fleming has versatility, making 25 starts in his 81 career appearances. If he performs well and shows he’s ready, he could easily slide into a long relief role, eating up innings when the staff needs it most.
Fleming’s challenge is clear: bounce back from those Memphis struggles and prove he’s the low-3.00s ERA guy he was earlier in 2026, not the one who got shelled. The Cardinals are betting on that potential, and with pitching depth always at a premium, this minor-league signing could turn into a sneaky valuable move down the road. Keep an eye on Memphis early next season, because the Cards will be watching Fleming closely.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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