The St. Louis Cardinals have unconditionally released lefty J.C. Romero and activated right-handed pitcher Eduardo Sanchez from AAA Memphis, according to the team:

Reliever J.C. Romero has been unconditionally released. Right-hander Eduardo Sanchez has been activated and will join the team tonight.

— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) May 14, 2012

Romero, 35, has just eight innings-pitched and a 10.13 ERA for the 2012 season. In fourteen seasons, he spent seven with the Minnesota Twins from 1999-2007, and five with the Philadelphia Phillies between 2007-2011. He also spent parts of seasons with the Rockies, Red Sox, and Angels before signing with the Cardinals in December for $750K.

Romero has a career 4.15 ERA and has earned a touch more than seven wins above replacement throughout his career.

B.J Rains of Fox Sports Midwest suggests the Cards sorely needed a fresh arm, but in several tweets expresses surprise the club moved Romero so quickly:

The Cardinals badly needed a fresh arm and Romero was the path of least resistance. Still kind of surprised they did it this early though.

— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) May 14, 2012

Sanchez, 23, was signed by the Cardinals as an amateur free agent in 2005, and saw 30 innings of 1.80 ERA work over 26 games in the 2011 season.