Cardinals selected the contract of 2B/OF Bryan Torres from Triple-A Memphis.

The move prevents Torres from becoming a minor league free agent and protects him from being gobbled up in next month’s Rule 5 Draft. The 28-year-old has spent time at both the keystone and outfield in recent years. He batted 328/.441/.464 with nine homers and 26 steals in 104 games for Triple-A Memphis this past season.