The Cardinals have added some veteran left-handed depth to their pitching ranks, signing Bruce Zimmermann to a minor league deal. It’s a low-risk move for a team still sorting out its rotation picture, and while Zimmermann isn’t likely to headline any future plans in St. Louis, he could be a useful piece in the right situation.
Zimmermann, 29, is coming off a 2025 season where he spent nearly the entire year at Triple-A with the Brewers’ affiliate in Nashville. He got the call to the big leagues in the final week of the regular season, making a single start on September 23.
In that outing, he gave Milwaukee six innings-valuable innings, considering the Brewers were trying to preserve their arms ahead of the postseason-but he also gave up five earned runs. It was a reminder of the kind of pitcher Zimmermann has been in the majors: someone who can eat innings, but not without risk.
His big league track record spans parts of four seasons with the Orioles from 2020 to 2023, totaling 158 1/3 innings. He started 27 of his 38 appearances, posting a 5.57 ERA with an 18.1% strikeout rate and a 5.2% walk rate. The long ball has been a persistent issue-Zimmermann gave up 40 home runs during his time in Baltimore, and he hasn’t shown a consistent ability to neutralize either left-handed or right-handed hitters at the highest level.
Still, there’s something to be said for experience and versatility. With Milwaukee last year, Zimmermann was quietly solid in Triple-A, working in both starting and relief roles.
But the Brewers had enough rotation depth that he never factored prominently into their plans. Now in St.
Louis, he finds himself in a somewhat similar situation: a team with a youth movement underway, especially on the pitching side, where the focus is on developing the next wave of arms.
That said, Zimmermann could carve out a role as a steady hand in Triple-A Memphis, ready to step in if one of the younger pitchers falters or if injuries hit. He’s the kind of pitcher who can give you five innings when you need them, keep the bullpen fresh, and hold things together in a pinch.
There’s a bit of roster maneuvering to consider, too. Zimmermann is out of minor league options, which means if the Cardinals add him to the 26-man roster at any point, they’d have to pass him through waivers to send him back down.
And since he’s already been outrighted once in his career, he’d have the right to reject another outright assignment and elect free agency instead. That could make for a bit of a transactional dance if the Cardinals do decide to bring him up.
In the end, this is a depth signing with a clear purpose. Zimmermann isn’t coming in to compete for a rotation spot out of spring training, but he’s now part of the organizational mix-a veteran lefty who knows the grind and can step in when needed. For a Cardinals team trying to rebuild while staying competitive, having arms like Zimmermann in the system can be the difference between weathering a storm and getting swept away by it.
