Siegrist returns to Cards in flurry of roster moves

ST. LOUIS -- On the heels of a doubleheader and with roster expansion on the horizon, the Cardinals manipulated their 25-man roster in order to add a fresh arm to the bullpen and a body to the bench before additional reinforcements come later in the week.

The Cardinals optioned left-handers Tyler Lyons, Nick Greenwood and Marco Gonzales to Double-A Springfield on Sunday and used those roster spots to add lefty reliever Kevin Siegrist and infielder Pete Kozma.

The three optioned pitchers, none of whom would have been available on Sunday because of recent usage, will not actually report to Springfield, which has only two games remaining on its schedule. They are not, however, permitted to be at the ballpark until they are added back onto the Major League roster, which will happen on Tuesday.

Siegrist and Kozma were en route Sunday morning from New Orleans, where Triple-A Memphis was playing over the final week of its regular season. Manager Mike Matheny said both were expected to arrive at Busch Stadium around the start of the team's series finale against the Cubs.

Siegrist's stay in Memphis lasted two weeks, during which he addressed some of the command issues that had plagued him in St. Louis since returning from the disabled list in late July. In six games with Memphis, Siegrist allowed one run and three hits while striking out 11 in 6 2/3 innings.

"[Siegrist] is looking good against righties and lefties," Matheny said. "It just sounded like he was very fluid, very efficient and in the strike zone. The ball was jumping a little more. It was a good trip for him."