Cardinals and Rays Finalize Trade Involving Chris Roycroft
The St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays completed a trade on Tuesday involving right-handed pitcher Chris Roycroft, just days after St. Louis removed him from its 40-man roster picture by designating him for assignment.
Roycroft had recently been DFA’d by the Cardinals following a difficult stretch both in the majors and at Triple-A Memphis. Once that move was made, there was a chance St. Louis could lose him without receiving anything in return. Instead, the Cardinals were able to work out a deal with Tampa Bay, sending Roycroft to the Rays in exchange for either future cash considerations or a player to be named later.
The transaction was announced by the Cardinals on June 23, 2026. While it is not a blockbuster move, it is still a useful outcome for St. Louis. Rather than watching Roycroft leave through waivers for nothing, the organization managed to get some form of compensation back.
Roycroft’s 2026 season had not gone the way the Cardinals hoped. At the major league level, he appeared in seven games for St. Louis and struggled badly, posting a 15.19 ERA over 5 1/3 innings. During that span, he struck out four batters but walked eight, showing serious command issues.
Things were not much smoother in the minors. With Triple-A Memphis, Roycroft pitched in 23 games and recorded a 5.84 ERA across 24 2/3 innings. He struck out 19 hitters and issued eight walks, but his overall results were not strong enough to keep him in the organization’s immediate plans.
On June 18, the Cardinals officially designated Roycroft for assignment to clear a roster spot for right-handed pitcher Max Rajcic. That decision opened the door for other teams to either claim Roycroft or attempt to trade for him. The Rays ultimately became the club willing to take a chance on the 6-foot-8 reliever.
Roycroft’s journey in professional baseball has been far from ordinary. He originally signed with the Cardinals on a minor league contract in June 2022 after going undrafted and spending time in independent baseball. He made his organizational debut later that year with High-A Peoria, where he pitched in 19 games and posted a 4.50 ERA over 32 innings.
In 2023, Roycroft climbed through the Cardinals’ farm system, pitching at High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. The following year, he enjoyed one of the best stretches of his career, recording a 2.17 ERA in 36 appearances for Triple-A Memphis. That performance helped him earn his major league debut in 2024, when he finished with a 4.19 ERA over 27 outings for St. Louis.
His results dipped again in 2025, as he posted a 4.82 ERA in Triple-A and a 7.84 ERA in 20 major league appearances. His struggles continued into 2026, leading to his eventual exit from the Cardinals.
Still, Roycroft’s story remains impressive. From undrafted pitcher to independent ball to the big leagues, he has already overcome long odds. Now, with the Rays, he gets a fresh opportunity to continue his career.
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