Former Seattle Mariners pitcher Ricardo Sanchez on Thursday was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals, general manager Jerry Dipoto announced in a news release.
The lefty Sanchez, 22, had been designated for assignment on Jan. 30. He spent the 2019 season with Double-A Arkansas, where he went 8-12 with a 4.75 ERA with 135 strikeouts and 38 walks.
Sanchez’s career-high 135 punchouts were second best in the Texas League last year, trailing just Justin Dunn (158). Sanchez also set career highs in innings pitched (146.0) and starts (27) in 2019.
He had been acquired by Seattle in November 2018 from the Atlanta Braves.