St. Louis Cardinals Sign Keynan Middleton

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have signed RHP Keynan Middleton to a one-year contract, worth $6 million. The contract also includes a team option for 2025, worth $5 million or a $1 million buyout. Middleton, 30, was 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA, 51 games, 5 holds, 2 saves, 50.2 innings, 64 strikeouts, and 23 walks combined between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees in 2023. The strikeouts were a career high for Middleton. The ERA was also a career best for Middleton. 

Middleton had his best season in 2017, with the Los Angeles Angels. That season, Middleton was 6-1 with a 3.86 ERA, 64 games, 10 holds, 3 saves, 58.1 innings, 63 strikeouts, and 18 walks. The wins, games, holds, and innings were all career highs for Middleton. In 2018, Middleton had a career high 6 saves. 

To make room for Middleton on the roster, the Cardinals have designated RHP Guillermo Zuniga for assignment.

Overall, Middleton has played 7 seasons in the MLB. Middleton is 10-8 with a 3.84 ERA, 205 games, 1 start, 23 holds, 15 saves, 194.1 innings, 199 strikeouts, 85 walks, and a whip of 1.34. 

Middleton should be a good addition for the Cardinals bullpen. It's also good that the contract is for one-year, because the Cardinals haven't had much success lately when they give a long-term contract to a free agent reliever. Middleton is reunited with former White Sox teammate starting pitcher Lance Lynn. 

My guess is the Cardinals are probably done with signings after Middleton, but it would be nice if they added one more bullpen arm or another good starting pitcher. If I had to rate the Cardinals offseason moves, I'd give them a B- overall. On paper, the pitching looks improved.