According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the St. Louis Cardinals have reached an agreement with free-agent reliever, formerly of the New York Mets. Heyman reports that the deal is worth $2 million, with the potential for additional bonuses.
As St. Louis appears to be entering a rebuilding phase, He could become a trade candidate if he performs well in the first half of the season. Last year, he split time between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Mets.
With the Rays, He posted a 4.58 ERA over 40 appearances, recording two saves. However, he found more success in New York, where he pitched 28 2/3 innings with a 2.51 ERA and a 2.57 FIP out of the bullpen.
In St. Louis, Maton is expected to fill a middle relief role, while other key arms handle high-leverage situations. If he delivers a strong first half, the Cardinals may look to trade him—possibly alongside Ryan Helsley—to a contender in exchange for prospects.
The trade market for relievers was particularly active last season, with teams paying a premium for bullpen help. For instance, the Miami Marlins received a significant return for Tanner Scott. However, the Cardinals could also opt to keep Maton, given his relatively low salary, which wouldn’t be a financial burden to retain.
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