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Cardinals Re-Sign T.J. McFarland

By Mark Polishuk | August 23, 2022 at 12:31pm CDT

After releasing T.J. McFarland last week, the Cardinals announced that the veteran left-hander has been re-signed to a minor league deal.  McFarland will report to the Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate in Memphis.

Now in his second season with the Cards, McFarland pitched well in 2021 but has struggled to a 6.61 ERA over 32 2/3 frames this season.  Low-strikeout pitchers who heavily rely on ground balls are perhaps more prone to big swings in performance, and in McFarland’s case, an increase in hard contact, a jump in BABIP (from .261 in 2021 to .333 this year), and a decrease in grounder rate (53% this season, 63.7% in 2021) have all combined to ruin McFarland’s performance.  His strand rate is also an abnormally low 60.4%, and his walk rate is also up from last season.

McFarland’s sinker (his primary pitch) is the best illustration of how his performance has tended to vary over his 10 MLB seasons.  When the southpaw had a 2.00 ERA over 72 innings with the Diamondbacks in 2018, McFarland’s sinker was one of the most effective pitches in all of baseball, and he also had great success with the pitch in 2021.  When the sinker isn’t only an average or below-average pitch, however, batters have feasted.

Retaining McFarland on a minors contract is a low-risk move for the Cardinals, as some time in Triple-A could help the 33-year-old get back on track.  St. Louis has plenty of other left-handed options in their bullpen for the stretch run and potentially into the playoffs, but a McFarland who can rediscover his 2021 form would give the Cardinals another nice depth option.

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St. Louis Cardinals Transactions T.J. McFarland

Cubs Select Nicholas Padilla
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Giants Claim Jonathan Bermudez
View Comments (10)
Post a Comment

10 Comments

  1. Francys01

    3 years ago

    This is surprising. However, it’s important to have depth. Welcome back to the organization.

    2
    Reply
    • Deadguy

      3 years ago

      The organization really likes McFarland evident in how long it took to release him this year? He walked in a run a few times, walked to many and the grounders found holes. With the results he achieved last year it’s not surprising to see the Cardinals willing to give him a shot in the minors hopefully he can figure it out.

      2
      Reply
  2. TradeAcuna

    3 years ago

    Pittsburgh and Oakland should follow suit

    Reply
    • Thomas Walker

      3 years ago

      Wrong article dummy.

      4
      Reply
  3. bravesallrhe way

    3 years ago

    FIRST

    Reply
    • Dunedin020306

      3 years ago

      Not. So. Much.

      Reply
  4. cah011381

    3 years ago

    Mo is officially dumpster diving his own dumpster now.

    4
    Reply
    • Daryl Pauley

      3 years ago

      Thanks. You made me laugh.

      Reply
  5. FrontOfficeStan

    3 years ago

    Hope he can get fixed down there.

    Reply
  6. JerryBird

    3 years ago

    Mo is a glutton for punishment.

    1
    Reply

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