ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals began the process of trimming their 40-man roster by outrighting catchers Michael Ohlman and Alberto Rosario, as well as reliever Mitch Harris, on Thursday.
The moves will help clear roster space in advance of Major League Baseball's free-agency period. The Cardinals also opened spots for players who need to be reinstated from the 60-day disabled list and any Minor League players the organization wants to protect ahead of the December Rule 5 Draft.
Harris, a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, missed the 2016 season due to a right arm injury that ultimately required midseason elbow surgery. The setback came a year after Harris became the first Naval Academy graduate to reach the Majors since 1921. As a rookie in 2015, Harris posted a 3.67 ERA over 26 appearances.
Rosario debuted for the Cardinals on July 9 and remained on the big league team as a backup catcher for the rest of the 2016 season. He went 7-for-38 and made eight starts as Yadier Molina's backup.
Ohlman, who was traded to the Cardinals in February 2015, never pushed past Triple-A during his two seasons in the system. This year, he split time between Double-A and Triple-A and combined to hit .287/.344/.434 in 78 games.