Cardinals acquire INF/OF Brayden Smith from Orioles

Field Level Media|published: Tue 7th April, 11:22 2026

Feb 14, 2026; Jupiter, FL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Nick Raquet (70) delivers a pitch during a spring training workout at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The St. Louis Cardinals acquired minor league infielder/outfielder Brayden Smith from the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday in exchange for left-hander Nick Raquet.

The Cardinals designated Raquet, 30, for assignment on Sunday after just two relief appearances with the team, both in 2025.

Smith, 22, was a 13th-round draft pick by Baltimore in 2025 out of Oklahoma State. He is hitting .190 with one home run and nine RBIs in 17 games in the minors over the past two seasons.

Raquet, a third-round pick by the Washington Nationals in 2017, made his major league debut last September and had no decisions with no runs or hits allowed in two innings of relief.

Raquet's unique journey to the majors included a three-year break from baseball from 2019-21. He pitched for York (Pa.) in the independent Atlantic League in 2023 and in the Dominican Republic before signing with the Cardinals in 2024.

--Field Level Media

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