Copyright Newsweek
A veteran utilityman will be suiting up for his third MLB team next season. According to the CBS Sports transaction wire, former St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays and Baltimore Orioles infielder Dylan Carlson has refused a minor league assignment, making him a free agent for the second time in his career. Carlson spent the first 4 1/2 seasons of his MLB career with the Cardinals, posting a slash line of .239/.318/381 with 34 home runs and an OPS+ of 95. His best season came in 2021 when he hit .266 with a career high 18 home runs, earning him a third-place finish in National League Rookie of the Year voting. He was traded to Tampa Bay midway through the 2024 season and he struggled there, hitting just .219 with three home runs in 114 at-bats. After spending that season with two teams, Carlson inked a one-year, $975,000 contract with Baltimore for the 2025 season. Last year wasn't much better, as Carlson posted a slash line of .203/278/.336 with just six home runs in only 83 games. His inability to stay in the lineup combined with his lack of production when on the field made for a forgetful season for the six-year veteran. Carlson will now be free to sign with any team and despite his recent struggles, a switch-hitting utilityman like himself will always have a spot on an MLB roster.
