Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch was first to report Wednesday that the Cardinals have signed veteran right-hander Carlos Villanueva to a minor-league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. The team later confirmed the news on Twitter.
Villanueva, who turned 31 in Novmeber, has spent the last two seasons with the Chicago Cubs after stops with the Brewers and Blue Jays, posting a cumulative 4.27 ERA while spending a good deal of time both as a starter and a reliever. He’s pitched 206 1/3 innings over the last two seasons while making 20 starts. Although Villanueva has struggled greatly as a starter in recent years, the nine year veteran held opposing hitters to a .226 average last season while pitching out of the bullpen and owns a career 3.55 ERA as a reliever.
Cardinals GM John Mozeliak discussed the trade with the Post-Dispatch on Wednesday:
He gives us that protection that we’ve discussed before as a righthanded option for the bullpen or in the rotation, if needed…As we get closer to spring training there are still a lot of arms out there, a lot pitchers to look at, and we saw (Villanueva) as having the profile for what fit us the best.
Villanueva will provide a solid depth option for a Cardinals pitching staff that already appears to be mostly set, but the 31-year-old could still serve as a valuable option for the club as a swingman some time throughout the course of the season.
Villanueva is one of 18 non-roster players invited by the Cardinals to major-league Spring Training:
Pitchers: Tim Cooney-LHP, John Gast-LHP, Mitch Harris-RHP, Marcus Hatley-RHP, Dean Kiekhefer-LHP, Mike Mayers-RHP, Zach Petrick-RHP, Miguel Socolovich-RHP, Carlos Villanueva-RHP.
Catchers: Steve Bean, Carson Kelly, Alberto Rosario, Travis Tartamella.
Infielders: Scott Moore, Breyvic Valera, Jacob Wilson.
Outfielders: Rafael Ortega, Stephen Piscotty.
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Read more on the signing of Villanueva from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Feature image used under Creative Commons from Keith Allison. No changes made. Image License.
