The Cardinals have finally made a move, signing veteran reliever Phil Maton to a one-year contract according to Katie Woo of The Athletic.
It took until mid-March, but St. Louis has broken their offseason silence. They were the last team in baseball to add a free agent or make any changes to their Major League roster this winter.
Maton split last season between the Rays and Mets, posting a 3-3 record with a 3.66 ERA across 71 appearances. He was shipped to New York at the trade deadline and helped the Mets during their surprising run to the NLCS. The right-hander has averaged 10 strikeouts per nine innings throughout his career.
This signing helps offset the loss of Andrew Kittredge, who had emerged as a key piece in the Cardinals’ bullpen last season. The relief corps remains the team’s strength heading into 2025, and Maton should bolster that unit immediately.
What makes this signing interesting is how it fits with the Cardinals’ overall direction. They had promised a “reset” this offseason but got nowhere with those plans. Attempts to trade Nolan Arenado stalled, and they ultimately chose to hold onto All-Star closer Ryan Helsley despite significant interest from contenders.
The Cardinals aren’t expected to contend this season. If they’re under .500 at the trade deadline, Maton could become a valuable trade chip. Relievers with his track record typically fetch solid prospect packages from teams making playoff pushes.
For now, though, he’ll give the Cardinals’ bullpen a veteran presence to start the 2025 campaign.
