Less than two weeks after the Houston Astros signed former Cardinal reliever Pat Neshek to a 2-year, $12.5 million contract, the Cardinals have signed his likely replacement for the eighth inning, Jordan Walden, to a two-year deal worth reportedly just over half the price.
#stlcards agree to 2-year deal with RHP Jordan Walden thru 2016 with club option for 2017 and avoid arbitration
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) December 23, 2014
The Cardinals officially announced on Twitter Tuesday that they have signed right-handed reliever Jordan Walden, acquired in the mid-November Jason Heyward-Shelby Miller trade with the Braves, to a two-year contract with a club option for the 2017 season, avoiding salary arbitration for the 2015 season. Chris Cotillo of SB Nation/MLB Daily Dish reported that the deal is worth $6.6 million over the next two years, with a $5.25 million club option for the third year (2017). Walden will receive a $350K signing bonus before earning $2.5 million in 2015 and $3.5 million in 2016, and the club option comes with a $250K buyout, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Walden, who recently turned 27, saved 32 games for the Angels in 2011 and will provide the Cardinals with another hard-throwing reliever out of the bullpen. With a career 3.10 ERA throughout four full years in the majors and 62 strikeouts over 50 innings during the 2014 season, Walden appears in line to serve as the team’s primary eighth inning option in front of closer Trevor Rosenthal, a job filled by Pat Neshek, who recently signed with the Astros, in 2014. Walden crafted a 2.88 ERA for the Braves in 2014 in front of All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel, and his 11.16 K/9 innings rate ranked 11th among all National League relievers this past season.
Read more: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Viva El Birdos
Feature image used under Creative Commons from KamenG. No changes made. Creative Commons License.
