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Cardinals Designate Jared Shuster to Activate Matt Pushard

The decision highlights how MLB option rules push out-of-options pitchers into repeated DFA cycles.

Mar 29, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Matt Pushard (67) pitches in his major league debut in the eighth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images.
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Overview

  • The Cardinals announced Saturday that left-hander Jared Shuster was designated for assignment to clear a 26-man spot.
  • Right-hander Matt Pushard was reinstated from the 15-day injured list after recovering from right knee patellar tendinitis.
  • Shuster is out of minor-league options, so any move to Triple-A requires a DFA, and this is his second such designation this season after he previously cleared waivers and accepted an outright to Memphis.
  • His 2026 results are mixed, with a 2.35 ERA in 7 2/3 big-league innings for St. Louis and an 8.38 ERA over 9 2/3 innings at Triple-A, while his career MLB ERA sits at 5.12 across 149 1/3 innings.
  • Shuster now goes into the waiver process, where he could be claimed, traded, outrighted again, or choose free agency, and teams often look for left-handed bullpen depth as seen when Oakland claimed him last August.