FRIDAY: Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports that Neshek will earn $1MM if he makes the big league club (Twitter link).
THURSDAY: The Cardinals have agreed to a minor league deal with right-handed reliever Pat Neshek, reports Keith Olbermann of ESPN.com (via Twitter) (hat tip to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). The 33-year-old gets a Spring Training invitation.
Neshek threw 40 1/3 innings last year for the Athletics, posting a 3.35 ERA. He elected free agency after the season, after accepting an outright assignment earlier in the year. The side-armer has been devastating against righties over his career, facing 555 batters and limiting them to a .181/.257/.315 mark. Opposite-handed hitters, however, have fared much better: in 326 plate appearances, lefties have put up a .237/.328/.432 mark against Neshek.
Another pitcher? Thought the Cards were still seeking some pop off the bench from the right side…
Like all minor league deals this obviously prevents the cards from signing any other players this offseason
:clap:
2013 called.
They should be, but they don’t seem to be, pretty well set. Would Nelson Cruz take a 1 year deal and come off the bench? That was a joke, but they have the money to make that happen.
Best of luck to Pat! Loved him when he was in Oakland. I will never forget the game in the playoffs after his son died and he pitched a scoreless inning.
That’s awful. Good for him.
Neshek on a Minor League Deal or Rodney for 14 Million over 2 years? Simple.
Nice signing for the Cardinals, this guy destroys Right Handed Hitters.
M’s won this round (sarcasm)
Side arm slinging we are singing…
Should’ve invited Chuckie Fick to ST.
Did you just create a profile to make a Chuckie Fick comment?
Did you just create a profile to make a Chuckie Fick comment?
I am surprised he did not get a major league deal. He is great against righties and although much worse against lefties, he still puts up decent numbers against them. I don’t see how Carlos Marmol gets a MLB deal but Neshek, who has a 3.07 career ERA, can’t get one
I don’t see that he is “much worse” against left-handed batters. .237 batting average? Excellent. .328 OBP, above average performance for sure!
Lefties aren’t necessarily poison to him, but the .237/.328/.432 career line he’s given up to lefties is certainly much worse than the .181/.257/.315 he’s allowed righties.
I don’t see that he is “much worse” against left-handed batters. .237 batting average? Excellent. .328 OBP, above average performance for sure!
This is a signing from the Cardinals standpoint to have a situational stopper in October……. example – the Dodgers that hit RH include Hanley, Kemp, Puig & Uribe.
Motte may not be 100% ready, and in his best interest could be put on the 15 day DL to start the year and only miss 10 games or so, this is a GREAT pickup by the Cardinals. I am surprised that he didn’t get a ML contract, I don’t see how they won’t give him a chance if his arm is still attached at the end of ST. Delaying the service clock on a young reliever would in the long run be worth MUCH more than the $1M he’ll make.
Mark another offseason win down for Mo…..
You know he’s going to come in and pitch a sub-2.0 ERA in that bullpen. That’s just how the Cardinals operate. Unfortunately.
Nah, he’ll have something around a 2.50 ERA and in the playoffs against the Dodgers, he’ll shut down the middle of their order RH’s every game they play….
Nah, he’ll have something around a 2.50 ERA and in the playoffs against the Dodgers, he’ll shut down the middle of their order RH’s every game they play….
Good luck, Pat! You couldn’t have found a better landing spot. Next to R.A. Dickey, Neshek is the nicest, most personable athlete I’ve ever met.
Along with being a Cards fan, I also love METAL. Neshek is also a fan of Metal so I’m glad he’s with the Cards.