The Cardinals’ added to their bullpen by trading for right-hander Edward Mujica, whom the club acquired from the Marlins before the non-waiver Trade Deadline. In exchange, the Cardinals sent former first-round Draft pick Zack Cox to Miami.
Mujica, 28, has a 4.38 ERA in 41 appearances this year, his second with the Marlins. In seven big league seasons, Mujica has posted a 4.42 ERA. He has allowed 50 home runs in 348 1/3 innings and has a career 283 strikeouts. Mujica will be under team control for the rest of this season, as well as 2013. The Cardinals will be responsible for paying Mujica the rest of the $1.625 million he is owed this year.
The addition of Mujica is likely to signal a return to the Minors for one of the Cardinals’ two current bullpen rookies — Trevor Rosenthal and Barret Browning. Which one goes is likely to hinge on whether the Cardinals prefer to move forward with two or three left-handers in the pen.