According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the St. Louis Cardinals have reached an agreement with New York Mets free-agent reliever Phil Maton. The deal is reportedly worth $2 million, with additional bonuses possible.
As the Cardinals appear to be entering a rebuilding phase, it’s possible Maton could become a trade candidate if he performs well in the first half of the season.
Last year, Maton split his time between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Mets. With the Rays, he made 40 appearances, posting a 4.58 ERA and two saves. However, his performance improved significantly with the Mets, where he recorded a 2.51 ERA and a 2.57 FIP in 28 2/3 innings out of the bullpen.
Now, Maton is expected to take on a middle-relief role with the Cardinals, while some of their more talented arms will handle the high-leverage situations.
If Maton has a strong first half, the Cardinals could potentially trade him, along with Ryan Helsley, to a contender in exchange for prospects.
Last season, the relief pitcher market was extremely active, with many relievers fetching much higher returns than usual, such as the Miami Marlins receiving a substantial package for Tanner Scott.
The Cardinals could also choose to keep Maton, as his contract is affordable, making it no burden to retain him.
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