photo: Jason Isringhausen (Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports)
The St. Louis Cardinals made a big splash last week with the signing of free agent relief pitcher Andrew Miller. In our weekly history feature, another prominent free agent reliever addition is remembered, that of Jason Isringhausen 17 years ago.
Cardinals add reliever Andrew Miller
The St. Louis Cardinals made no secret that they were in pursuit of left-handed relief help for the 2019 season. This past week, the team found their man, signing free agent pitcher Andrew Miller.
Miller, 33, was the first round selection of the Detroit Tigers in the 2006 June draft. The left hander has played for six different teams in his 13 year MLB career, beginning in Detroit followed by the Florida Marlins, the Boston Red Sox, the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians. Miller’s career record is 49-48 with an ERA of 3.98.
Miller most recently pitched for Cleveland, where he was named the ALCS MVP in 2016. Miller was named to two All-Star teams, in 2016 and 2017. Injuries in 2018 derailed the left hander, as he spent most of that season on the DL for hamstring, knee, and shoulder issues, logging only 34 innings. Miller’s medical history was reviewed by the Cardinal medical staff and the verdict is that the lefty is good to go for Spring Training.
Miller’s deal with the Cardinals is for two years, $25 million, with a $12 million vesting option for a third year if he pitches 110 combined games in 2019-20. Incentives make the total maximum value of the contract to be $36 million.
Miller will be introduced to Cardinals fans at the Winter Warm-Up in January.
To make room for Miller on the 40-man roster, the Cardinals designated right-handed pitcher Ryan Meisinger for assignment. Meisinger was a waiver pickup from the Baltimore Orioles two weeks ago.
BBWAA Dinner to honor Costas and Smith
The 61st annual St. Louis Baseball Writers Dinner will be held on January 20, 2019 at the Curio Hotel at Union Station downtown. The event coincides with the Cardinals annual Winter Warm-Up held that weekend.
Scheduled to attend and be honored at the annual dinner are former Cardinals broadcaster Bob Costas, and former St. Louis pitcher Lee Smith. Costas was last year’s Ford C. Frick award winner, baseball’s top broadcasting honor, and Smith will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY in July 2019. Smith was chosen for induction by the Hall’s Today’s Game Era Committee this month.
Costas will receive the Red Schoendienst Medal for invaluable service to the game of baseball in recognition of his four decades of service to sports broadcasting.
The dinner will also feature a special presentation honoring Vera Clemente, the widow of Roberto Clemente. Mrs. Clemente will give the Roberto Clemente award to this year’s recipient, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina. Clemente will also receive recognition as this year’s co-winner, along with Rachel Robinson, wife of the late Jackie Robinson, of the Branch Rickey Award.
Among other honorees at the dinner will be current players Miles Mikolas and Matt Carpenter, who are named the J.G. Taylor Spink St. Louis Baseball Men of the Year. Jack Flaherty, Jordan Hicks, Harrison Bader, and Yairo Munoz will be recognized for their outstanding rookie seasons with the Herman/Ostermeier award.
New Cardinal Paul Goldschmidt has been invited to receive his 2018 Silver Slugger Award at the dinner.
Tickets for the event are on sale at StLouisBBWAA.com and range in price from $150-$250.
Trade and Acquisition Rumors
The signing of reliever Andrew Miller this past week does not preclude further additions to the bullpen writes Derrick Goold of the Post-Dispatch. Goold states that the signing of Miller allows the team to step back from its pursuit of left-handed relievers. Goold quotes President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak as saying the team will “reassess, see if there’s anything we want to pursue on the outside” in the New Year.
The Cardinals are also expected to add a left-handed hitting infield reserve and a catcher to serve behind Yadier Molina. The latter may be on a minor league contract initially.
Transactions
- 12/21 The Cardinals designated RHP Ryan Meisinger for assignment.
- 12/21 The Cardinals signed free agent LHP Andrew Miller
Injury Report
Yadier Molina underwent a minor surgical procedure last week to remove a bone spur from his left knee. Recovery is expected to last about two weeks, and Molina should return to a normal offseason by the first of the year.
Pitcher Alex Reyes’ recovery from shoulder surgery is on track, but the right-hander may open the season on the disabled list and ramp up his workload in the minors as he did in 2018. His ultimate role with St. Louis is to be determined.
Looking Ahead
As the offseason continues, the Cardinals continue to look for additions to the roster in the form of an additional bench bat and a backup catcher. The Cardinals also continue to monitor the market for any opportunities that make sense for the roster.
January 11 is the deadline for clubs and arbitration eligible players to exchange salary expectations for 2019. The Cardinals have three remaining arbitration-eligible players whose salaries are not yet set – Michael Wacha, Marcell Ozuna, and Dominic Leone. Both Wacha and Ozuna are in their final year of arbitration and thus will become free agents after the 2019 season. Leone is a first year arbitration eligible player.
The annual Cardinals Care Winter Warm-Up fan festival will be held on January 19-21 at the Hyatt Regency at the Arch in St. Louis. Admission tickets and autograph tickets are currently on sale.
The annual St. Louis BBWAA Dinner will be held on January 20 at the Curio Hotel, Union Station downtown. Former Cardinals broadcaster Bob Costas and new Hall of Fame pitcher Lee Smith will be among the honorees.
Blast from the Past
This past week, the Cardinals signed free agent LHP Andrew Miller to a multi-year contract to pitch out of the bullpen for St. Louis beginning in 2019. This week’s Blast from the Past recalls another prominent free agent reliever acquisition by the Cardinals.
Jason Isringhausen was signed by St. Louis as a free agent prior to the 2002 season. The right-hander had been originally drafted by the New York Mets in the 44th round in 1991. “Izzy” had an injury-plagued five years as a once-promising starter for the Mets, and was finally traded away mid-season 1999 to the Oakland Athletics. As closer for Oakland, Isringhausen established himself as a top reliever, pitching in the playoffs in both 2000 and 2001 and earning his first All-Star selection in 2000.
Isringhausen became a free agent after the 2001 season and signed with St. Louis that December 11. His seven seasons with the Cardinals included two trips to the World Series, in 2004 and 2006, and an All-Star selection in 2005. Isringhausen led the league with 47 saves in 2004, tying Lee Smith’s franchise record. The record was broken in 2015 by Trevor Rosenthal.
Though Isringhausen contributed to getting the Cardinals to the World Series in 2006, he was sidelined with a hip injury late in the season and did not pitch in the playoffs. He was replaced as closer by rookie Adam Wainwright.
During Isringhausen’s final season with the Cardinals in 2008, he struggled with his control and was removed from the closer role by manager Tony La Russa in May. The right-hander was returned to the closer role at the end of July but left the team in mid-August with elbow tendinitis and a torn tendon. He departed as the franchise’s career saves leader with 217 and games finished at 332.
Isringhausen’s final years in major league baseball were marred by arm injuries, including Tommy John surgery in 2009 while he was with the Tampa Bay Rays. He signed a minor league contract in July 2010 with the Cincinnati Reds, then returned to the Mets in 2011. He ended his career with the Los Angeles Angels in 2012, appearing in 50 games.
Isringhausen currently works as a mentor and pitching instructor in the Cardinals’ minor league system and has been among candidates on the team’s annual Hall of Fame fan ballot.
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