Fuentes bolsters Cardinals' bullpen

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals plugged lefty Brian Fuentes into the major league roster 10 days after signing him to a minor league contract.

The Cardinals purchased the contract of the 36-year-old Fuentes from Class AA Springfield in time for Wednesday night's game against the Dodgers.

Fuentes is a four-time All-Star with 224 career saves to lead active left-handers. He led the majors with 48 saves with the Angels in 2009 and had six seasons with 20 or more saves.

The Cardinals are set at closer with Jason Motte, whose locker is next to Fuentes'. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said he'd use the side-arming Fuentes as a lefty specialist for now.

"I think he definitely can be an asset," Matheny said. "He's funky. It wasn't too long ago he was throwing really hard with incredible deception.

Fuentes (Brian)

"He hides the ball and basically steps into the dugout and throws it across the plate."

Fuentes said he didn't care when he pitched.

"I knew there was an opportunity here, a spot open in the bullpen or at least a need for another back-end guy," Fuentes said. "It just seemed like the right fit."

The Cardinals also had been in the bidding for Fuentes before the 2009 season.

"It was real close," Fuentes said. "It was my first time in free agency, and there's a lot to take in, a lot to learn."

Fuentes was 2-2 with a 6.84 ERA and five saves in eight chances in 26 appearances for Oakland before being released July 11. The Athletics had signed Fuentes to a two-year, $11 million contract in January as a setup man.

Fuentes blamed control woes on his problems in Oakland. He was 0-2 with a save, two blown saves, a 19.50 ERA and .452 opponents' batting average over his last seven outings.

"I was falling behind hitters, and when I did come into the strike zone, it was kind of the fatter parts of the plate because I had to throw a strike, and guys were jumping on it," Fuentes said. "It was just kind of an array of different things. It goes downhill quickly when you don't throw strikes."

Fuentes became the first Oakland reliever ever to take the loss in four consecutive appearances earlier this season.

Struggling Cardinals right-hander Victor Marte was optioned to Class AAA Memphis, and right-hander Chuckie Fick was designated for assignment to clear space on the 40-man roster. Fuentes will be the third left-hander in the bullpen along with Marc Rzepczynski and rookie Barret Browning.

Rzepczynski has been a bit of a disappointment with a 4.96 ERA, and Browning has thrown just 7 2/3 major league innings.

The 31-year-old Marte was 2-2 with a 4.46 ERA entering Wednesday's game.