Dodgers Claim Minor League Slugger Luken Baker Off Waivers
Following a flurry of trade deadline moves, the St. Louis Cardinals have continued reshaping their roster. They parted ways with former top prospect, minor league slugger, Luken Baker, who was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The move came just days after the Cardinals dealt Ryan Helsley, Steven Matz, and Phil Maton in a deadline strategy aimed squarely at the future. Baker, 28, became the odd man out, designated for assignment as the club makes room for younger talent and clears a path for potential September call-ups.
Baker, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound first baseman, was originally selected by St. Louis with the No. 75 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. Known for his raw power, he put up massive home run totals at Triple-A Memphis over the years. Although he never found consistent footing at the big-league level.
Baker Mainly used as Backup or DH
In 72 MLB appearances across 2023 and 2024, Baker slashed .201/.314/.327 with four home runs and 22 RBI. That production mostly coming off the bench as a backup first baseman or hitting DH. Despite minor league success, Baker has had little chance to crack the big league line-up.
That’s especially true this season, with Alex Burleson enjoying a breakout year while anchoring first base. Meanwhile, Willson Contreras and Ivan Herrera have taken over DH duties, pushing Baker further down the depth chart.
Now with the Dodgers, Baker will likely report to their Triple-A affiliate. Given L.A.’s injury issues and depth concerns, a spot-start or late-season opportunity isn’t out of the question. The Dodgers have been aggressive in bolstering depth post-deadline, and Baker offers a low-risk, power-hitting option who’s still under team control.
For the Cardinals, this marks yet another step toward a new era—moving on from fringe MLB pieces to make way for a younger, more versatile core as they aim to reload for 2026 and beyond.
