The Cardinals have released veteran righty Jason Motte but remain open to bringing him back into the organization, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. If he is unable to find a MLB opportunity elsewhere, Motte is expected to return on a new deal.
It seems the hope, if not the expectation, is for Motte to ink a new minors pact that will allow him to work at the Cards’ top affiliate to open the season. The 35-year-old, once the team’s closer, fell short in his bid to crack the Opening Day roster but showed enough to earn a place on the depth chart. First, though, he’ll see if there’s interest from another team.
Motte managed to carry a 3.54 ERA in 40 2/3 MLB frames last year in spite of an uninspiring mix of 6.0 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9. He surely benefited from a .200 batting average on balls in play, as Statcast suggested a .337 xwOBA that lands significantly higher than the .305 wOBA mark that actually resulted.
That said, Motte did continue to work near 94 mph with his average heater and maintained a 7.6% swinging-strike rate that — while well below league average and his own peak rates — fell in line with his output in recent seasons. This spring, Motte surrendered six earned runs on 13 hits in 5 1/3 innings, but did record six strikeouts.
Wow.. This is how the Cardinals are doing business now? Hey youre not good enough for the majors anymore. Sooo go out there and see if some other team will pick you up. If not come on back and you can join the team. we like your beard.
Motte lives in Memphis. This is a really nice thing to do. They give him a shot at making the Major League club somewhere else, but if not he has a AAA gig in his city on lock. How is this a bad thing?
Yeah, I wouldn’t say that having a guaranteed fall back option for a job, while also being able to test the market for a better gig is bad business…
WoW! All major league teams do this Red Feather! Why are you so negative on the Cards for it all of a sudden?
It’s a business.. I lived the Piscotty story but come on? If you’re publicly going to come out and say “we’re going to get out of our comfort zone this offseason and spend” and do the opposite and pick up players just to pick them up and give them a job because he lives in Memphis is ridiculous. Go get a pitcher or at least spend the 4 million it would take at this point to get Holland on a one year deal.
Your optics on this situation is incredibly ignorant. You’re clearly clueless
No your just one of the many “wishful thinking” Cards fans.. “well maybe MO and company are playing it smart. I see the value in Luke Gregerson, Jason Motte, and Cy Young Bud Norris”
LOL holland one year 4 mil.
Does Holland have a job? See Mike Moustakas.
Big difference between these 2 players though!
cards don’t wanna give up that draft pick.
…that sounds like a really considerate way to do business. “If you can get a major league contract elsewhere, you have our blessing. But if not, we have a place for you in the minors”
Exactly. It’s a pretty classy way to deal with a player who realistically has one more chance to get paid before the MLB moves on from him.
Of course its classy. Its the Classy Cardinals. The classiest classers to ever class.
Of course. It’s the right way to treat people.
Well said !!!
I haven’t heard if anyone picked Jason up or if he went to Memphis. Does anyone know?