ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals continue tweaking their 40-man roster, most recently in adding infielder Breyvic Valera to it Monday in order to prevent Valera from becoming a Minor League free agent. With the addition, the Cardinals have 37 players listed on their 40-man roster.
Valera, 24, has been in the organization since signing out of Venezuela in 2010. He opened the 2016 season in Double-A Springfield before ascending to Triple-A for the first time. Valera hit a combined .304./.363/.362 in 125 games.
He has started at six positions during his Minor League climb, with most of his time spent at second base. However, Valera split time at second, short and left field this past season. That defensive versatility could help Valera compete for a big league roster spot next spring, depending upon what moves the Cardinals make over the next few months.
The club will be adding other Minor Leaguers to its 40-man roster in the coming days to protect those who are eligible for the December Rule 5 Draft. The deadline to add Rule 5 eligible players is Nov. 18. Players who were drafted out of college in 2013 or out of high school in '12, will be eligible for this year's Rule 5 Draft.