Cardinals' Johan Quezada: Removed from 40-man roster

The Cardinals designated Quezada for assignment Tuesday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

The transaction clears a spot on the 40-man roster for designated hitter/first baseman Albert Pujols, who returns to St. Louis on a one-year deal for what will likely be the final season of his prolific career. Quezada made his big-league debut out of the Miami bullpen in 2020, but after being acquired by the Cardinals last February, he pitched exclusively in the minors in 2021. The Cardinals will hope to pass him through waivers and stash him in the Triple-A Memphis bullpen for the upcoming season.