St. Louis Cardinals Decide to Non-Tender Former Top Prospect

He was the No. 6 prospect in all of baseball just five years ago. But a series of injuries derailed his career, and now the St. Louis Cardinals have decided to non-tender right-hander Alex Reyes. 

#stlcards elect to not tender a contract to longtime top prospect and former All-Star closer Alex Reyes.

He is now a free agent.

— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) November 18, 2022

He came up to the big leagues with top prospect fanfare in 2016, and he lived up to the billing, posting a 1.57 ERA with 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings, showcasing his potential for being a top-of-the-rotation starter. But the injuries began in 2017, wiping out two full seasons after Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

In 2021, Reyes reinvented himself as an All-Star closer in the first half of the season, posting a 1.12 ERA in 40.1 innings with a 100% success rate on save opportunities. But after the All-Star break, he imploded with a 5.52 ERA in 31 innings and eventually lost the closer's role. 

In 2022, shoulder surgery kept him off the mound all season. 

Reyes was due to make $2.85 million in arbitration in 2023, but it's uncertain whether he'd even be able to pitch next season, so the non-tender was fully expected.

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