Yankees Sign Former Homegrown Cardinals Hurler To Bolster Pitching Depth
The St. Louis Cardinals have dedicated this offseason to bolstering their pitching staff which significantly underperformed in 2023.
The organization has brought a familiar face back to the rotation-- Lance Lynn -- and has expressed interest in reuniting with Jordan Hicks and Jordan Montogomery this winter -- though deals of those calibers are unlikely at this point.
However, one former Cardinals pitcher will not be having a reunion with St. Louis after reportedly landing a deal with an American League foe.
"Free-agent pitcher Luke Weaver and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a one-year, $2 million contract, pending physical, according to a source familiar with the deal," FanSided's Robert Murray reported Thursday. "The deal includes a club option for 2025 and can max out at $8.25 million."
Weaver recorded a 15-17 record with a 4.79 ERA, 238-to-83 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .281 batting average against, and 1.45 WHIP in 233 innings pitched throughout his three-season career for the Cardinals.
The 30-year-old was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2018 in a deal that brought four-time Gold Glove recipient Paul Goldschmidt to St. Louis in exchange for homegrown talent Weaver, Carson Kelly, Andy Young, and future considerations.
The right-handed pitcher is coming off a season where he posted a 6.40 ERA with a 1.58 WHIP in 123 2/3 innings pitched for the Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, and Yankees. Weaver finished 2023 in New York after being claimed off waivers following the Mariners designating him for assignment.
The Cardinals are content with their rotation and likely didn't see much value in signing Weaver -- who's had an unstable career.
Improving the bullpen is now the main concern for St. Louis and hopefully, a high-leverage reliever or two will be added by Opening Day.
More MLB: Cardinals Sign All-Star Hurler To One-Year Deal, Avoiding Arbitration
