GM John Mozeliak spoke with the press about the team’s decision to sign southpaw Brett Cecil to a four-year deal, as the Associated Press reports (via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch). That article also provides a breakdown of the contract, which provides Cecil a $1MM signing bonus along with three years of $7.5MM salaries and a $7MM payout for the 2020 campaign.
- Cecil’s contract was a fair bit larger than most were expecting, but Mozeliak explained that the market dictated the deal. “Brett was the one person we thought if we were going to make a splash in the bullpen, he was the one we identified,” the veteran executive said. “There was a lot of demand for him and it was moving.” As ever, the presence of multiple bidders is a recipe for success in free agency.
- Clearly, there was plenty of interest, and more than one team that believed the 30-year-old was in an upper tier of relief pitchers. As Jeff Sullivan of Fangraphs explains, the $30.5MM guarantee really shouldn’t be seen as much of a surprise. (Mea culpa: we at MLBTR predicted a three-year, $18MM deal.) Cecil has been rather dominant when healthy, with the peripherals to match. And he is not only reasonably youthful, but has the kind of arsenal that gives reason to think he can keep it up. Sullivan argues that the pact fits comfortably in with precedential contracts such as Darren O’Day’s four-year, $31MM payday last winter.
- One of the major reasons that Cecil’s contract rated as a surprise is the fact that he registered only a 3.93 ERA and managed just 36 2/3 innings in his platform season. St. Louis (and others) were willing to look past that, and Cecil suggested in his comments that he was already rounding back into form late in the year (as his strong late-season performance suggests). His torn lat muscle plagued him in the middle of 2016, as he balanced the need for healing with the urge to get back to the mound. “We tried to rest, tried to let it heal. It wasn’t working,” Cecil explained. “I was sidelined for six weeks. I almost had to start spring training over again in the middle of the season. It took me a little bit to get going, and there in August and toward the end of the season and in the playoffs, I was beginning to feel like my old self again.”
- Shoring up the bullpen was a major need for the Cards, especially once Zach Duke was lost for the year due to Tommy John surgery. But perhaps the single greatest opening for the organization is in the outfield, with the team giving indications that it prefers to add a center fielder — preferably, one with defensive chops. Still, there’s also a need to replace some of the pop that the club has lost with Brandon Moss and Matt Holliday heading to free agency, Mark Saxon of ESPN.com notes. He suggests that Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna is a “name to keep an eye on” for the Cardinals. Ozuna has rated well with the glove in the past, though his metrics dipped last year, but he also brings a power bat. (In 2016, Ozuna hit 23 home runs for the second time in his career while posting a personal-best .187 isolated slugging mark.) Of course, he’s also going to cost quite a bit in trade value since he’s only projected to earn $4.5MM in his first of three seasons of arbitration eligibility. That being said, the Cardinals look to be a strong possible match with the Marlins, at least on paper, given their relative abundance of MLB-level starting pitching — a major focus of Miami’s offseason.
- After designating catcher Brayan Pena for assignment today, the Cardinals seem like a possible suitor for a backup catcher to spell Yadier Molina. As their updated depth chart shows, the club’s top in-house options (assuming Pena takes free agency) are youngsters Carson Kelly and Jesse Jenner along with journeyman Alberto Rosario. It may be the right time for the organization to give Kelly an extended look, as Molina is only controlled through 2018 (via club option) and is already 34 years of age — though the lauded veteran proved again in 2016 that he’s still capable not only of carrying the bulk of the load, but playing at a high level. At the very least, though, it seems reasonable to expect St. Louis to make a depth addition. While the free agent crop of catchers may not quite be up to the demand for everyday pieces, it does have quite a few experienced backstops who’d make for solid reserve options.
Plz do not trade Michael wacha for ozuna
Trade him for Blackmon or Gonzalez
At least with ozuna you get youth. Also, with the Cory Dickerson trade last year you saw what getting out of the Rockies does to a player.
There is no guarantee they would even do that. Wacha was awful last year. The last thing the Rockies want to do is bring him to Coors. Makes far more sense for him to go to Miama, which favors pitchers, and gives him the possibility of a change of scenery. Plus, the Cardinals have notably wanted defense, therefore I think Ozuna or even Carlos Gomez fits the bill. Gomez would make more sense in my opinion as you don’t have to trade anyone and he shouldn’t demand an earth shattering salary
There is no guarantee they would even do that. Wacha was awful last year. The last thing the Rockies want to do is bring him to Coors. Makes far more sense for him to go to Miami, which favors pitchers and gives him the possibility of a change of scenery. Plus, the Cardinals have notably wanted defense, therefore I think Ozuna or even Carlos Gomez fits the bill. Gomez would make more sense in my opinion as you don’t have to trade anyone and he shouldn’t demand an earth shattering salary.
Not sure Colorado would do that. Or Miami for that matter.
You guys missed the boat… Marlins had him offered pretty cheap last year
I wish I was left handed and could throw the ball 90 mph for strikes. That’s all it takes to get a mlb team to beg you to take millions as a LOOGY. I’m praying my 19 month old turns out to be left handed (it’s looking that way). He can strike it rich in baseball because of the outdated theory of righty/lefty matchups. Yes yes, please enlighten me on all of these outlandish statistics that show blah blah blah. At the end of the day, all mlb hitters should be efficient at hitting someone pitching from either side and all pitchers should be effective regardless of which side of the plate the hitter is on.
When you teach him to throw teach him to do it left handed even if he’s a righty. That’s what Robinson Cano’s dad did but with opposite hands. Might as well make him throw with both.
Shamefully I have encouraged both of my boys to try to use their left hand dominantly. My older boy is definitely a righty, however the toddler eats with his left and generally throws objects in anger with his left. Crossing my fingers!
Ambidextrey can be taught
Have you ever played baseball before
Yeah I actually have. It would be hard for a 14 year old to re learn to throw but a 3,4 or 5 year old that has never thrown before is a different story.
Teach them to kick a ball with both feet first. That goes a long way later in that development
If you were asking me, then yes, and at 43 I still play in a competitive men’s amateur league.
Cecil is not a LOOGY. Handles both lefties and righties. Would not have gotten that kind of contract if he was only one out guy.
Since when are righty/lefty splits outlandish statistics? You say all should be able to hit all and vice versa. Well, that doesn’t happen – so acknowledge it and get on with it.
It would be ignorant to not accept the reality.
Yeah it doesn’t matter … ask John Lester that throws that cut fast ball in on the right handers hands that eat them up… he has gotten rich off that pitch.. breaks away from the leftys also….so it’s not so much righty or lefty as it is the arsenal and command
The fact is, most LHHs can’t hit LHPs well; whether they should be able to in your opinion is irrelevant. Most LHPs throw across their body, which makes them harder to pick up and hang in against for a LHH than most RHPs are for RHHs, which is why you see more severe splits. As it makes sense why that’s more difficult, there’s no reason to suspect severe splits will ever go away.
Ozuna would be interesting on two fronts…how much are the marlins asking in return and what Ozuna would you be getting return. Ozuna is extremely streaky but looks really good during stretches so it’s almost like you are gambling with him that he will become more consistent. But the question is do you part with prospects on a hope he puts it together for an entire year
They don’t want prospects for ozuna lol. They want young big league starters.
Is it bad to have a dream scenario where they could get rid of wacha, Garcia, and Adams in a deal. There is their core players but let’s face it, the rest are question marks and a team could benefit if they broke out with a change of scenery…bc there is a ton of potential that isn’t working in St. Louis
I’d be careful about giving up *too* much starting depth in a trade.
If both Wacha and Jaime Garcia left via trade, that would thin out the rotation behind the starting 5; Waino, C-Mart, Leake, Reyes and Lynn. Reyes is coming off the most innings he’s pitched as a major leaguer and Lynn is coming back from major surgery. With the departure of Cooney and with Tyler Lyons most likely starting the season on the DL, that only leaves Luke Weaver as the No. 6 starter and back-up.
The only consistent stat I see in Ozuna is that he doesn’t get on base.
This looks like a great fit. I think STL has soured on Wacha becoming that ace they thought he would. He’s exactly the kind of player Miami seems to covet and may or may not benefit from a change of scenery. They have a huge hole now without Fernandez. I could see something like Wacha and Peralta and a pitching plus another prospect for Ozuna and a hitting prospect.
No need for Peralta, Wacha, Garcia and a prospect for Ozuna and a prospect.
I didn’t say Garcia.
That package is absurd for just Ozuna. The Cardinals could just sign Carlos Gomez who was at his best in the NL Central. Pretty much the same player too.
I envision them signing Carlos Gomez in reality, but it’s not that absurd of a trade. Wacha was that bad last year and still has control issues. Ozuna is young, a good fielder who has a gold glove, is signed through 2020 I believe, and has multiple 20 homer seasons to his name. They are looking to trade Peralta anyway as his contract is almost up. Can’t tell if you view it as unfair to the Cards or Marlins, but this is all subjective to whether or not a person views him as the 20+ homer guy or closer to what he showed in 2015.
It looks like a fit, but I don’t know how interested the Marlins would be in Wacha and/or Garcia, both have their own issues
I think if the cards wanted a backup catcher they wouldn’t have released Pena who they still owe money to
It was a roster crunch move. They filled up the 40-man roster with prospects they wanted to protect from the Rule 5 draft, but then they needed to clear a spot for Cecil. It would’ve been nice to keep Hazelbaker too, but these guys are apparently more expendable than the others.
And if they sign another catcher theyhave to clear another spot on the 40 man roster.
The play that Mo and the front office should be making is for Eaton and Sale. The Sox are looking to rebuild and are shopping pretty much everyone. This move answers both the center field and left handed starter problem. We have enough young talent to make the deal. Use Kelly as backup catcher and spot start Yadi at first to get him more time behind the plate.
Except there’s not enough elite talent on the farm without significantly damaging the major league team as a result. Especially in terms of bats in which the White Soxs are in need of. Eaton is also an amazing RF not really a great CF.
Nobody actually needs a left-handed starter. If Garcia doesn’t make the rotation or is traded, then the Cardinals will be fine with an all right-handed rotation just as they have been several times in recent years.
Eaton is a good target, though.
That contract for Cecil was ASININE. 4 years 30 mil for a average (at best) reliever. Plus a No-Trade? Are ya’ kidding me. Someone in the Cards front office needs to be drug-tested…immediately
It’s kinda high, I agree, but Cecil’s most certainly above-average. I probably wouldn’t have gone 4 years, but Cecil’s a much better player than most people (including myself until he signed) realize
Cecil is well above average
League average relievers since 2013
fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all
Cecil is definitely above average. Look at the ballparks and lineups he has had to pitch in. Coming to the national league where not many have seen you, let alone for several years, and I think it strengthens the pen big time. With Rosenthal getting a shot at starting or long relief, I think it’s only a matter of time before a bigger deal gets done to move some of the pitching depth. Start the season with Wacha making spot starts to keep Reyes’ innings down and hope value is built up in Garcia or Wacha, then go get the bigger need. Plenty of talent for Cardinals to stay in the hunt until closer to trade deadline.
At this point, I think it’s crazy to move Wacha. Other teams see the same thing we all see – great pitcher when his mechanics are right and he’s healthy, but mediocre when he is not right. The Cardinals need to keep him and let him pitch – if he’s healthy and getting guys out, he’s a controllable young arm that’s worth a great deal. If you move him now, he’s just not worth very much (someone else’s questionable player.)
Does anyone think the Cardinals would consider a minor league deal with Tony Cruz with an invitation to Spring Training? If Kelly needs a couple more months in Memphis, Cruz could certainly fill that void.
Tony Cruz would be a solid depth and backup signing. I wouldn’t discourage that at all.