Nick Raquet's MLB Dreams with Cards End After Trade to Orioles
Nick Raquet, who once retired from baseball before clawing his way back through the Independent League and the Minor Leagues, was traded to the Orioles for outfielder Brayden Smith. Raquet made his MLB debut with the Cards last September.
Nick Raquet’s unusual, but inspiring road to the big leagues – one that was interrupted by a brief retirement and a job in finance that he despised – came with a Cardinals club that promoted him in 2025. His future and his bid to get back to MLB, however, will be with the Orioles following a trade on Monday night. Raquet, who was designated for assignment on Sunday to make room on the 40-man roster for lefty reliever Jared Shuster, was traded to the Orioles for outfielder Brayden Smith, according to published reports out of Washington where St.
Louis lost 9-6 to the Nats on Monday night Cardinals are trading Nick Raquet out of DFA limbo to Baltimore for OF Brayden Smith, their 13th round pick last year. Was a charge of Josh Holliday’s at Oklahoma State. — Jeff Jones (@jmjones) April 7, 2026 Raquet, 30, appeared in two games for the Cardinals in 2025 and did not surrender a run.
Wearing No. 70 and pitching in front of family members who hurriedly scrambled to get to Seattle, Raquet made his MLB debut on Sept. 9 and retired three Mariners on eight pitches – seven of them being strikes.
Raquet had hoped to make the Cardinals Opening Day roster out of Spring Training, but instead he was assigned to the roster of the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds. He was 1-0 with a 3. 00 ERA in two outings with Memphis this season.