The Cardinals have added veteran righty Jerome Williams on a minor league deal, GM John Mozeliak tells Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispact (via Twitter). He can earn at a $2MM rate if and when he reaches the majors, per SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo (via Twitter).
Williams seemingly waited to sign after undergoing a procedure on his Achilles tendon. He’ll now begin working towards making the Cardinals the eighth team with which he’s seen major league action. Williams will start out with the club’s top affiliate.
For St. Louis, Williams represents a swingman option. He has exceeded 100 innings in each of the last three seasons, and may be the type of steady piece needed for a staff has shown some cracks. Williams scuffled to a 5.24 ERA last year with the Phillies, but had carried a 4.54 earned run mark (with 6.1 K/9 against 2.7 BB/9) in the 466 innings he threw over the prior four seasons.
Him and his pink glove should stay somewhere far away from baseball
It’s in honor of his mother who died of breast cancer.
That’s a wonderful tribute…..and it’s awesome to see someone take that stand.
That being said…………..The Cards signed Jerome Williams?…….WHAAAATTTT?????
The only way he cracks the Cardinal rotation is through an injury to one of the starters and Alex Reyes needs more seasoning in Memphis.
Yeah, I’d think he’s behind the 5 starters now plus Reyes and Lyons. Unless they think they could use him in middle relief, it’s hard to see where he’d fit.
He would be in long relief not in the rotation
Mo loves the low hanging fruit option
Yep. The only GM signing guys to minor league deals
Nice job cards!!! Mr.Williams is a good #5 starter.
The Cardinals GM loves to sign the “Low Hanging Fruit!” Yes, the Cards have been a perineal playoff contender for several years now. But….Year after Year now, the Cardinals current GM states, when veteran star players are lost by either retirement, injuries or free agency, “We’re looking to fill from within. And we’ll pick up some Low Hanging Fruit along the way to fill our vacancies. Gone are Walt Jockerty, Jeff Ludluv (sp?), Dave Duncan and Tony LaRussa. The players the Cardinals currently have on their roster were for the most part touched by these individuals! Shame on us the fans for taking them for granted! We now have second and third tired individuals occupying their positions within the Cardinals organization. These men’s products are beginning to run out. It is and will become more obvious if the Cardinals can’t compete in their own Division. The Cardinals need a new general manager. A person that has his sights set high. A person who is able to negotiate for Free Agents with positive results, able to have a trustworthy relationship with other General Managers to insure major impact trades can be made that will benefit the Cardinals in the future. Plus, a person that can professionally evaluate Major League Baseball talent we baseball draft time comes around. The Cardinals will keep regressing year after year if the “Low Hanging Fruit”, and fill from within is the only avenue the GM is willing to take. The Cardinals need a solid young star proven player to go along with our proven veteran aging All-Stars. Mike Trout is being advertised. Wouldn’t he look good in a Cardinal uniform. Wouldn’t it be a boost to the starters remaining in the club, and wouldn’t it be a strong influence on Free Agents to play for St.Louis knowing that he and a young strong nucleus of players were going to be around a while. If the fans that support the Cardinals 40,000 at every home game aren’t entitled to give this route a try, why should the keep buying season tickets??? Very frustrating!
The Cards would have to give up the whole farm system for Trout. They do need to get in the free agent pool. It was a disappointing offseason going after no one after they got the big TV contract. Cards ownership is making more money than just about anyone. NY, Boston, and both LA teams spend their money.
I totally agree!!!