Spangenberg was returned to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Spangenberg served as a replacement player during the Cardinals' road trip to Toronto since Paul Goldschmidt (personal) and Nolan Arenado (personal) were on the restricted list. The 31-year-old will head back to the minors now that the Cardinals have returned to the United States.

Spangenberg had his contract selected from Triple-A Memphis on Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

Spangenberg will crack the major-league roster for the first time this season, replacing Paul Goldschmidt (personal) for the Cardinals' two-game series in Toronto. The 31-year-old owns a .218 average with 10 homers, 32 RBI, 35 runs and 10 stolen bases over 238 at-bats in 65 games with Memphis this year.

Spangenberg was reassigned to minor-league camp Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

After joining the Cardinals' camp as a non-roster invitee March 25, Spangenberg went 4-for-8 with three doubles, six runs and an RBI over three games. His strong performance wasn't enough for him to crack the Opening Day roster, but it certainly made his chance to get called up from Triple-A Memphis at some point more likely. The 31-year-old spent the last couple seasons overseas in Japan, last appearing in the MLB in 2019, batting .232 with four extra-base hits, 11 runs, 10 RBI and three stolen bases over 32 games with the Brewers.

Spangenberg signed with the Cardinals as a non-roster invitee Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Spangenberg owns a .256/.315/.389 slash line in 419 career major-league games. The last of those games came in 2019, as he spent the last two seasons playing for the Seibu Lions in Japan, where he hit .257/.330/.463. He'll compete for a spot on the Cardinals' bench in camp.

Spangenberg re-signed with the Seibu Lions of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball on Thursday, Yahoo Japan reports.

EDGE Analysis

Spangenberg spent the 2020 season in Japan, and he'll remain in the NPB on a one-year deal for the upcoming season. The outfielder appeared in 111 games last year, hitting .267 with 14 home runs, 55 RBI and 150 strikeouts.

Spangenberg signed a contract with Seibu on Thursday, Patrick Newman of NPBTracker.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Spangenberg chose free agency at the beginning of November after Milwaukee outrighted him from the 40-man roster. He hit .232 with two home runs, 10 RBI and three stolen bases over 32 contests with the Brewers in 2019.

Spangenberg was outrighted to Triple-A San Antonio on Friday and elected free agency.

EDGE Analysis

Spangenberg was a later addition to the 2019 roster, and he came through in clutch moments for Milwaukee down the stretch. He slashed .232/.277/.358 with two home runs, 10 RBI and three stolen bases over 32 contests.

Spangenberg will start in left field and bat sixth Sunday against the Rockies.

EDGE Analysis

Spangenberg will close out the regular season with four starts in the final five games, as injuries to Lorenzo Cain (ankle) and Ryan Braun (calf) will open up a spot for him in the outfield. So long as both of the banged-up outfielders are able to make it back for the postseason, Spangenberg isn't likely to see regular usage in October.

Spangenberg went 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBI in Monday's victory over the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

Spangenberg spent the bulk of the season with the Brewers' Triple-A affiliate, but he has played a key role late in the season, particularly the last two days, over which he picked up four hits and five RBI. He has been playing second base regularly, but that will no longer be the case when Keston Hiura (hamstring) returns to action, likely sometime this week. However, according to The Brewer Nation, manager Craig Counsell said after Monday's game that Spangenberg could see some action at shortstop -- in place of Orlando Arcia -- when Hiura is back in the lineup.

Spangenberg is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

Spangenberg started the last 10 games at second base and tallied one hit in nine of them, but he will be held out Thursday with manager Craig Counsell electing to give the right-handed-hitting Hernan Perez the start at second base against southpaw Caleb Smith. More days off could be in store for Spangenberg in the near future, as Perez resumes his utility role with shortstop Orlando Arcia back with the team, and Keston Hiura (hamstring) could be back in the lineup sometime next week.