Today, the St. Louis Cardinals acquired left-hander Anthony Misiewicz in a trade with the Kansas City Royals.
Misiewicz came up to the Majors in 2020 with the Seattle Mariners.
He was dealt to the Royals last season.
In 32 games, the 28-year-old posted a 4.34 ERA in 29 innings of work.
To make room for Misiewicz on the 40-man roster, right-hander James Naile was designated for assignment.
The timing of this move is quite unfortunate for Naile.
The Southern Missouri native grew up a Cardinals fan and made his debut with the team last season.
Earlier today, the Cardinals wished him a happy 30th birthday, meaning he was ultimately released from the team he grew up cheering for on his special day.
7:30am – Happy Birthday, James Naile!
12:38pm – Designated for an assignment @Cardinals Twitter today 🫣 #STLCards pic.twitter.com/KFzKT4VkRe— Joshua Jacobs (@joshjacoMLB) February 8, 2023
It may be part of the business, but this is a rough birthday present for Naile, especially considering that Misiewicz owns a 6-9 career record and an ERA of 4.43.
Granted, it’s only a depth move for the Cardinals, and Misiewicz could possibly get a chance to compete for a spot in the bullpen.
But it’s hard not to feel sorry for Naile on his birthday.
The news of a release, trade, or designation for assignment is always tough news to hear for any player.
But to have it happen on a birthday just adds insult to injury.
It’s especially bad when considering that Naile grew up a Cardinals fan.
Sometimes, the business of baseball can be a brutal one, and such is the case today for Naile, who ultimately got the worst news possible at the worst possible time.
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