Former Guardians Player Richie Palacios Traded From Cardinals To Rays

Originally posted on FanNation Cleveland Baseball Insider
By Logan Potosky | Last updated 1/5/24

This past June, the Cleveland Guardians traded outfielder Richie Palacios to the St. Louis Cardinals for cash considerations.

Now, the 26-year-old has been traded once again.

On Friday, the Tampa Bay Rays announced in an official release that they acquired Palacios from St. Louis in exchange for relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge.

Palacios was originally a third-round pick in the 2018 MLB Draft by Cleveland as a middle infielder out of Towson University.

After being named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star for Cleveland in 2021, he eventually made his Major League debut with the Guardians during the 2022 season.

Palacios played 54 games for Cleveland that year, hitting .232 with 26 hits, six doubles, 10 RBI, two stolen bases, and a .579 OPS. Defensively, he played 25 games in left field and two games at second base.

However, Palacios began the 2023 campaign with Triple-A Columbus. In 56 games, he hit .217 with 47 hits, three home runs, 30 RBI, six stolen bases, and a .669 OPS. Cleveland then designated him for assignment this past June before trading him to the Cardinals.

Palacios was assigned to Triple-A Memphis following the trade, hitting .299 with 47 hits, 10 doubles, five home runs, 29 RBI, three stolen bases, and an .877 OPS in 40 games before being promoted to St. Louis for the remainder of the season.

In 32 games with the Cardinals, he hit .258 with 24 hits, six doubles, six home runs, 16 RBI, two stolen bases, and an .823 OPS. Palacios also expanded his defensive versatility with the Cardinals, playing 17 games in left field, eight games in center field, two games in right field, and one game at second base.

This article first appeared on FanNation Cleveland Baseball Insider and was syndicated with permission.

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