According to the southpaw’s MLB.com biography page, the Cardinals signed him to a minor league contract. After being completely removed off the Brewers’ 40-man roster at the conclusion of the season, he chose to become a minor league free agent.
Before his contract was chosen in the last week of the season, Zimmermann spent the entirety of 2024 in the Orioles’ minor league system and nearly the entirety of 2025 with Milwaukee’s Triple-A club. In his first MLB appearance of the season, Zimmermann pitched six innings on September 23 and gave up five earned runs as the Brewers looked to cover innings and generally spare their pitchers going into the postseason.
From 2020 to 2023, the left-hander pitched 158 1/3 innings for the Orioles, starting 27 of 38 games and recording a 5.57 ERA, 18.1% strikeout rate, and 5.2% walk rate. During his tenure in Baltimore, Zimmermann was tagged for forty home runs, and he hasn’t had much success in the Major Leagues against either left-handed or right-handed batters.
Zimmermann had respectable numbers as a starter and reliever at Triple-A Nashville, but the Brewers had enough rotation options that he was somewhat of an afterthought. Since the rebuilding Cardinals are focusing on their younger arms, St. Louis might not give Zimmermann more opportunities to play in Major League Baseball. However, he could play a similar role as a Triple-A depth option, with spot start opportunities available if any of the young players struggle or if injuries occur.
If Zimmermann is chosen for the Cards’ 26-man roster, they must first expose him to waivers before outright removing him from the 40-man roster and returning him to Triple-A because he has run out of minor league options. Zimmermann would also have the option to choose free agency over accepting another outright assignment because he has already been outrighted. Zimmermann may have a busy year in terms of transactions, depending on whether the Cardinals bring him up to the Show at all.
