With past lessons in mind as they made present decisions, the Cardinals elected Monday to add four minor-league players to the 40-man roster, choosing to protect a power pitcher but leave a power hitter available to other teams.
The Cardinals placed outfielders Tyler O’Neill and Oscar Mercado and lefty pitcher Austin Gomber on the major-league roster, as expected, and added 22-year-old righthanded hurler Derian Gonzalez.
The moves protect the four prospects from the Rule 5 draft, and Gonzalez’s addition shows how the Cardinals have adjusted after losing a young, lower-affiliate talent in each of the previous two Rule 5 drafts.