St. Louis Cardinals Offseason Tracker: Hottest Free Agency News, Trade Rumors
The St. Louis Cardinals made the playoffs yet again in 2014, so with much of the roster set already, the team's front office will try to add some complementary pieces that can get the team back to the World Series next year.
St. Louis beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series but was eliminated by the San Francisco Giants in the National League Championship Series. Given all of the injuries that the team had to battle this year, that's pretty impressive.
For once, some of the team's moves didn't pay off. The team acquired Peter Bourjos last offseason, but he didn't hit well enough to keep his starting job. Midseason acquisitions John Lackey and Justin Masterson didn't perform up to expectations. In fact, Masterson struggled so mightily that he was sent to the bullpen as he played out his contract.
This is a front office that has a knack for making under-the-radar moves that help the team win. There aren't many holes on this roster, so the front office may not have to push too hard this winter.
Stay tuned throughout November to see what is going on with the Cardinals.
Done Deals
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Done Deals
Oct. 30: Cardinals exercise John Lackey's $500,000 option
Nov. 17: Traded RHP Shelby Miller and RHP Tyrell Jenkins to Atlanta in exchange for OF Jason Heyward and RHP Jordan Walden
Dec. 2: Signed RHP Matt Belisle to a one-year, $3.5 million deal
Dec. 11: Signed 1B Mark Reynolds
Dec. 23: Signed RHP Jordan Walden to a two-year deal, with a club option for a third season
Cardinals Free Agents
Dec. 11: RHP Justin Masterson signed a one-year, $9.5 million deal with Boston Red Sox
Dec. 11: Justin Masterson Signs with Red Sox
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Update: Thursday, Dec. 11 at 11:55 a.m. ET
Justin Masterson has signed with the Boston Red Sox, according to ESPN's Buster Olney.
--End of Update--
Update: Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 9 p.m. ET
The Red Sox have made a one-year offer to Justin Masterson, according to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe.
Cleveland, per The Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes, and Texas, per Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, do not appear to be interested in the right-hander at this point.
--End of Update--
Update: Monday, Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. ET
The Red Sox, the Marlins, the White Sox and "possibly" the Cubs are among the teams that Masterson is expected to meet with at the Winter Meetings, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
--End of Update--
Update: Monday, Nov. 17 at 2:10 p.m. ET
The Red Sox, the Indians and the Twins aren't the only teams to check in on Masterson. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick tweeted that the San Francisco Giants, the Chicago Cubs, the Atlanta Braves and the Kansas City Royals have all either checked in on Masterson or checked out his medical records.
--End of Update--
Update: Sunday, Nov. 16 at 12 p.m. ET
The Minnesota Twins have shown interest in Masterson, according to Darren Wolfson of ESPN 1500.
--End of Update--
Update: Friday, Nov. 14 at 6:10 p.m. ET
Per Northeast Ohio Media Group's Paul Hoynes, the Cleveland Indians have talked to Masterson about a possible reunion. The team would only be interested in a one-year deal, according to Hoynes. That may interest Masterson because it would give him a chance to rebuild his value.
--End of Update--
Update: Monday, Nov. 10 at 11 p.m. ET
Per Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com, the Boston Red Sox have "made calls" regarding Masterson.
Masterson was drafted by Boston in the second round of the 2006 draft but was traded to Cleveland during the 2009 season.
--End of Update--
The Cardinals had hoped Justin Masterson could help them survive some injuries, but the veteran was unable to right the ship when he came to St. Louis.
Masterson went 4-6 with a 5.51 ERA in 19 starts with the Cleveland Indians in the first half of the season. After being acquired by the Cardinals, he went 3-3 with a 7.04 ERA in nine appearances (six starts). He allowed at least four runs in all but one of his starts with the club, which gave the team no choice but to send him to the bullpen.
In the past, Masterson has been a very good pitcher. He went 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA in 2011 and was an American League All-Star in 2013, a season in which he went 14-10 with a 3.45 ERA.
Masterson bet on himself and declined an extension with Cleveland last offseason. It was a risky move by the pitcher, and it looks like it may have backfired on him. Still, he is just 29 years old and has a talented arm. There will likely be some teams looking to take a chance on him this winter.
*All stats are via MLB.com.
Max Scherzer: Potential Free Agent Target
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The Cardinals may make a run at Max Scherzer, who is from the St. Louis area.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that the Cardinals are at least interested in the right-handed pitcher. However, he is going to be looking for a huge contract.
Scherzer, 30, went 18-5 with a 3.15 ERA in 2014. That comes one year after he won the AL Cy Young, going 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA.
It's not clear how high the Cardinals would be willing to go in a bidding war for the hometown star, but they are at least considering pursuing him.
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Nov. 17: Cardinals Acquire Jason Heyward from the Braves for Shelby Miller
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The St. Louis Cardinals have traded right-handed starting pitcher Shelby Miller and right-hander Tyrell Jenkins to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for outfielder Jason Heyward and pitcher Jordan Walden.
St. Louis has always been able to fill out its rotation, so it traded one of its young arms in order to fill a hole in right field.
Heyward slashed .271/.351/.384 and hit 11 home runs and 26 doubles this year.
The 25-year-old had spent his entire career with Atlanta since being drafted by the club in the first round of the 2007 draft. He has slashed .262/.351/.384 with 84 home runs in his five-year career.
Not only is Heyward a strong hitter, but he has also won Gold Gloves in two of the past three seasons.
Heyward will make $7.8 million in 2015 and is set to become a free agent after next season. The Braves didn't expect to sign him this winter, so it faced the possibility of losing him in free agency next winter.
Not only did the Cardinals get an All-Star right fielder, but they also got a solid arm in return.
Walden has a career 2.31 ERA and a 1.233 WHIP in 231 career appearances. The 27-year-old posted a 2.88 ERA and a 1.200 WHIP in 58 games in 2014. Adding Walden gives the Cardinals one more reliable arm for the back of the bullpen.
This deal is a move that shows that St. Louis is trying to win now. Heyward is entering the final year of his contract, and Walden has just two years of control left. They gave up a lot of club control in this deal, but it sets the team up better for 2015.
Andrew Miller: Free Agent Target
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The Cardinals have checked in with free-agent Andrew Miller, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Miller went 5-5 with a 2.02 ERA and a 0.802 WHIP in 73 games between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles in 2014. He struck out 103 batters and walked just 17 in 62.1 innings.
The 29-year-old has flourished since switching from a starter to a reliever in 2012. He has a career 3.38 ERA in 193 relief appearances.
Miller's agent, per ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick, says that Miller would like to close.
Oct. 30: Cardinals Exercise John Lackey's $500,000 Option
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In what will be the easiest move the team makes all offseason, the Cardinals exercised John Lackey's $500,000 team option for 2015, per MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch.
When Lackey signed with the Boston Red Sox before the 2010 season, the contract stated that if he missed significant time with an arm injury, a $500,000 club option would be available for the 2015 season. The right-hander missed the entire 2012 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, so St. Louis will be able to have him at an incredibly cheap cost.
Lackey went 3-3 with a 4.30 ERA in 10 starts after coming to the Cardinals in a midseason trade that sent Allen Craig and Joe Kelly to the Red Sox. He had gone 11-7 with a 3.60 ERA in 21 starts with Boston in the first four months of the season.
The 36-year-old is 152-117 with a 4.03 ERA in his 12-year career.
Pat Neshek: Free Agent
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Pat Neshek had easily the best season of his career this year, and now, he will get a chance to hit the market.
The 34-year-old was named an All-Star for the first time in his eight-year career. He went 7-2 with a 1.87 ERA in 71 outings. In 67.1 innings pitched, he struck out 68, walked just nine and allowed only 44 hits. That equates out to a 0.787 WHIP.
Although he may have been a big part of the Cardinals bullpen this past season, Neshek may not be back next year. His great performance may have earned him a contract that will be too steep for St. Louis. With Carlos Martinez viewed as a potential eighth-inning man, the Cardinals don't have to overspend on Neshek.
A.J. Pierzynski: Free Agent
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A.J. Pierzynski was signed in the middle of the season to help the team while Yadier Molina was out. Now, he is free agent.
The 37-year-old hit .244 with one home run, two doubles and six runs batted in in 30 games with the Cardinals. Before joining St. Louis, the veteran catcher played in 72 games with the Boston Red Sox in 2014. He hit .254 with four home runs and 10 doubles with Boston.
St. Louis no longer needs Pierzynski. Molina has an offseason to make sure that he is 100 percent for next season, and Tony Cruz is under club control still. Pierzynski is nearing the end of his career, so it will be interesting to see how much interest he draws as a free agent.
Randy Choate: Potential Trade Candidate
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Veteran reliever Randy Choate may find himself on yet another team next season.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold reported that the Cardinals will look to trade the 39-year-old this winter.
Choate went 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA this season. Despite making 61 appearances in 2014, he threw only 36 innings. The club needs a more versatile reliever than the situational southpaw.
The left-hander has played for six teams in his 14-year career.
Peter Bourjos: Potential Trade Target
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After coming to St. Louis last offseason, Peter Bourjos may be on the move once again.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold reported in late October that the Cardinals will see what kind of interest teams around the league have in Bourjos.
The speedy center fielder was acquired to give St. Louis an upgrade over Jon Jay. However, Bourjos struggled, and Jay ended up producing this year. With Jay, Matt Holliday and Randal Grichuk, Bourjos may be expendable if he brings back something valuable in return. A team can never have too much depth in the outfield, though. If the Cardinals don't like what they see from other teams, they don't have to trade him.
Bourjos hit just .231 with four home runs, nine doubles and five triples this year. The 27-year-old is eligible for arbitration for the second time this winter.
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