ST. LOUIS – In a somewhat surprising move Monday, the St. Louis Cardinals designated one of their best pure power-hitting prospects in recent history for assignment.

The Cardinals “DFA’d” 25-year-old outfielder Moisés Gómez to make room for Alfonso Rivas on their 40-man roster. Rivas, a 27-year-old first baseman by trait, has spent time with three MLB squads over parts of the last three seasons.

Just two minor league seasons ago, Gómez broke the Cardinals’ minor-league record with 39 single-season home runs. Gómez has slugged 69 home runs over the last two minor-league seasons, spending much of last year with the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.

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At least from a power perspective, Gómez seemed close to MLB-ready. The Cardinals likely have doubts as to whether his other qualities would translate to big-league success.

Gómez produced a .232/.293/.750 slash line (AVG/OBP/OPS) last year, a considerable drop from his .294/.371/.624 clip in his HR-record-breaking season one year earlier. He also finished with a strikeout rate of nearly 31% last year, only a modest improvement from previous seasons. Scouting reports indicate that Gómez has room for improvement in his fielding abilities as well.

While Gómez didn’t seem on track to break the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster out of big-league camp, he was placed on the 40-man roster earlier this offseason and seemed to be a candidate for a promotion in the case of an injury to a Cardinals outfield without much clutter. He still could be, but it depends how things proceed ahead of spring training.

Gómez is now exposed to MLB’s outright waivers process, which allow’s the league’s other 29 teams to potentially claim him. Anyone who does must add him to their 40-man roster and take on his financial obligations.

If that doesn’t happen, he could end up back in the Cardinals’ minor league system.

“If the player clears outright waivers without being claimed, his team has the option of assigning him outright to the Minor Leagues,” states MLB.com.

It would almost be a second chance of sorts for Gómez to prove he belongs in the organization.

One example of how that could work out is former Cardinals prospect Adolis García.

The Cardinals DFA’d García after the 2019 season, and he was eventually traded to the Texas Rangers. Then, after a brief MLB stint during the 2020 season, the Rangers again DFA’d García in 2021. He cleared waivers, worked his way back to the big leagues early in the 2021 campaign, and he’s made the most of his chances from there.

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García has earned two All-Star nods in his last three MLB seasons, set a league postseason RBI record last October, earned ALCS MVP and took home his first World Series title with the Rangers last year.

As for Gómez, he doesn’t necessarily profile to García’s skillset just yet, but it might be tempting for teams to take a chance on his power, especially ones in a rebuild. The Cardinals have around a week to try to trade Gómez or respond with a decision if he clears waivers.

Meanwhile, pitchers and catchers will report to spring training on Feb. 14, with other position players soon to follow after that.

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