St. Louis Cardinals Sign Steven Matz

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed left-handed starting pitcher Steven Matz to a four-year contract, worth $44 million. The contract includes incentives, which could make the contract worth $48 million. That's if Matz reaches all of the incentives. Matz, 30, spent 2021 with the Toronto Blue Jays. Matz was 14-7 with a 3.82 ERA, 29 games, 29 starts, 150.2 innings, 144 strikeouts, and 43 walks. The wins were a career high for Matz.

Matz had career highs in both innings (160.1) and in strikeouts (153) in 2019, with the New York Mets.

Overall, Matz has played 7 seasons in the MLB. Matz is 45-48 with a 4.24 ERA, 141 games, 136 starts, 1 complete game, 1 shutout, 1 hold, 730.1 innings, 696 strikeouts, 223 walks, and a whip of 1.32.

If Matz can stay healthy, he could end up being a good addition for the Cardinals. Matz had trouble staying healthy with the Mets. At one point in time, Matz was said to be the next Clayton Kershaw. That kind of shows you the kind of talent Matz has in him, when healthy. Do the Cardinals try a six-man starting rotation? Matz was stronger when he had extra rest with the Blue Jays in 2021. That's something to maybe consider. 

St. Louis Cardinals hire Skip Schumaker as bench coach, add Turner Ward to coaching staff

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have hired Skip Schumaker as their new bench coach. Schumaker, 41, spent the last 4 seasons (2018-2021) as a coach on the San Diego Padres coaching staff. The first two seasons, Schumaker was the Padres first base coach. Then Schumaker was associate manager for the last two seasons. Schumaker retunes to the original team that drafted him. Schumaker also had his must success with the Cardinals as a player with them for 8 seasons (2005-2012). Schumaker helped the Cardinals win the World Series in 2006 and 2011. 

Ward, 56, was most recently the hitting coach for the Cincinnati Reds for 1 season in 2019. The Reds let go of Turner on October 1, 2019. Before joining the Reds, Ward was on the Arizona Diamondbacks coaching staff for 3 seasons (2013-2015). In Ward's first season, Ward was the D'Backs assistant hitting coach and then was their main hitting coach from (2014-2015). Ward then was the Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach for 3 seasons (2016-2018). As a player, Ward won the World Series back-to-back in 1992 and 1993 with the Toronto Blue Jays. 

Ward is reunited with Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt; both know each other from their time with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ward also managed Goldschmidt in Double-A with the Mobile BayBears in 2011. That season, Ward won Southern League Manager of the Year. 

Both Schumaker and Ward complete the Cardinals coaching staff for 2022. On paper, both should be great additions to the Cardinals coaching staff. 

St. Louis Cardinals Re-Sign T.J. McFarland

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have re-signed LHP T.J. McFarland to a one-year contract for 2022, worth $2.5 million. McFarland, 32, first signed with the Cardinals on June 30, 2021 after opting-out of his minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. The Cardinals were in need to relief pitching. McFarland felt like he would get a better chance with the Cardinals.

McFarland's stats in Triple-A Rochester weren't that great at the time he left the Nationals. McFarland was 1-2 with a 5.25 ERA, 18 games, 1 save, 24 innings, 26 strikeouts, and 5 walks. McFarland had a good strikeout rate though. McFarland ended up going to Triple-A Memphis after signing with the Cardinals. In Memphis, McFarland was 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA, 4 games, 1 save, 7 innings, 8 strikeouts, and 2 walks. McFarland was added to the Cardinals active roster on July 16, 2021.

McFarland went 4-1 with a 2.56 ERA, 38 games, 15 holds, 38.2 innings, 21 strikeouts, and 9 walks for the Cardinals. The wins tied a career high from 2013, 2014, and 2017. The holds were a career high for McFarland. McFarland also recorded 12 double plays during that time. The double plays set a new franchise record for after the All-Star break. 

McFarland had career highs in both innings (74.2) and in strikeouts (58) in 2013, with the Baltimore Orioles.

Overall, McFarland has played 9 seasons in the MLB. McFarland is 24-15 with a 3.95 ERA, 323 games, 3 starts, 42 holds, 1 save, 439.2 innings, 261 strikeouts, 142 walks, and a whip of 1.45. 

The Cardinals did a good job keeping McFarland around for 2022. McFarland reminds me of a left handed Seth Maness. Maness was right handed, but was great at getting double plays.