photo: Jason Motte (USA TODAY Sports Images)
Who says you cannot go home again?
For the second time this month, the St. Louis Cardinals have signed one of its former closers to a minor league contract for 2018. Following the path of Edward Mujica is Jason Motte, whose deal, pending a Monday physical, was announced by Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch on Friday night. One difference between the two is that Motte will be in major league camp as a non-roster invitee.
Motte, who last pitched for St. Louis in 2014, has since been a member of the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies and most recently, Atlanta Braves.
Now 35 years of age, the hard-throwing former catcher first reached St. Louis in 2008. He worked his way up to closer in 2012, when he saved his career high of 42 games, a total which included every save for the team that year. After sitting out 2013 following spring Tommy John surgery, Motte returned during the 2014 season in a setup role with reduced effectiveness before leaving that fall as a free agent.
Motte then signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Cubs for 2015, but departed after one season for a two-year, $10 million contract with Colorado that covered 2016-2017. However, Motte was released following spring training 2017 and hooked on with Atlanta, for whom he split last season between Triple-A and the majors.
In 397 2/3 career innings over 444 games in parts of nine seasons in the majors, Motte has a career ERA of 3.30. 54 of his 60 career saves were recorded with St. Louis.
His career strikeout rate is 8.5 batters per nine innings, with his walk rate on the high side at 2.8 per nine. The recent trend is not positive. Last season with Atlanta, Motte’s K and BB rates were his worst ever, at 6.0 and 4.4, respectively. At first blush, his 3.54 ERA would appear more encouraging, but his 5.54 FIP last season, two full runs higher, suggests otherwise.
One would assume that barring spring injuries to St. Louis’ relievers, Mujica and Motte may open the season in the Memphis bullpen, perhaps vying to get the ball in the ninth inning at Triple-A and waiting for the call to the bigs once again.
There obviously has been no announcement yet, but it is worth noting that Motte’s old uniform number 30 for the Cardinals is currently unassigned. It was last worn by Carson Kelly and Jonathan Broxton last season.
Update: On Monday, February 19, the Cardinals made the signing official.
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