Almost four years ago the Cardinals looked to push the market to sign a specific lefty reliever, a specialist who they felt could fill a vacancy in their roster.
The Cardinals added a third year to their offer to woo Randy Choate, and even with that extra time found the veteran, single-batter lefty to be an odd fit for their bullpen. They tried him in a variety of assignments beyond the one that was clearly his best. Now back shopping for a lefty and negotiating again this past week with the same agency, the Cardinals raced the marketplace to sign Brett Cecil on Monday for that same spot _ but a vastly different role.
Cecil is someone who is clearly best in a variety of assignments.
"You're finding left-handed specialists harder and harder to use," general manager John Mozeliak said. "I think the evolution of where we were four years ago to where we are today is we need somebody who can get right-handers out, equally. It's nice to have that ability to get the lefties out, but you don't have to make it one and done. Having someone like Mr. Cecil is our bullpen that has the confidence to get a No. 2, 3 or 4 hitter out _ and our division has a few of them _ gives us the confidence you can use him in an optimal high-level situation."
Cecil, 30, finalized a four-year, $30.5-million contract with the Cardinals after passing a physical Monday morning. The deal includes a no-trade clause and a $1-million bonus, a source confirmed. It will pay the lefty $7.5 million in each of the first three seasons.
It is the largest deal for a free-agent reliever ever for the Cardinals.
Back in 2001, the Cardinals signed Jason Isringhausen, an All-Star closer, to a four-year, $27-million deal, and that's been the club's biggest spending on a reliever since. Times have changed. The current cost for a setup reliever reveals the soaring salaries for players in general, but also the interest a lefty like Cecil can command, even after a season muddied by injury. This past October, Cleveland's aggressive use of lefty Andrew Miller highlighted what's become a trend in baseball _ late-inning relievers used in pivotal moments and paid like closers used to be. The Cardinals added a fourth year to Cecil's deal so their offer topped interest from teams like Toronto and Seattle.
"Brett was like the one person that we thought if we were going to make a splash in the bullpen, he was the one we identified," Mozeliak said. "I did also think when you're looking toward market movement or changing dynamics if some of those guys who are quote, unquote closers did fall off demand for Brett might change. It was really one of those situations, working with (his agents) and myself, there was a lot of demand for him. It was moving. Regardless of any pace I may have wanted, it was being dictated by others."
The Cardinals intended to have Zach Duke as their second lefty for 2017, but his elbow surgery last month started a run of issues that depleted the depth.
They no longer had any lefty luxury.
They had a need.
"I've done everything from obviously starting, long relieving, sixth inning, seventh inning, eighth inning, ninth inning," said Cecil, who will wear No. 21. "My flexibility is limitless."
The 38th overall pick in 2007, Cecil has spent his entire career in Toronto. He moved into the bullpen full time in 2013 and was an All-Star that season. He has more strikeouts (261) than baserunners (247) in that 200-inning stretch. Lefties have hit .232 against him the past three years, righties .224. This past year, Cecil's ERA bloated 5.14 at the All-Star break and he missed six weeks with a muscle strain.
Cecil said Toronto and he "tried to let it rest, tried to let it heal," but the tear still limited him and made him feel like he was going through spring training while relieving.
He did not allow a hit in four postseason appearances.
To make room on the 40-man roster for Cecil, the Cardinals designated backup catcher Brayan Pena for assignment. Once he clears waivers, Pena can elect to be a free agent. That would leave Alberto Rosario or Carson Kelly as Yadier Molina's backups, though the Cardinals believe leading prospect Kelly can benefit from starting at Class AAA, not sitting in the majors.
Cecil had never visited St. Louis until Monday, so his physical became a family event. His father and mother joined he and his wife and their three kids for the trip. After a press conference at Busch Stadium the family intended to roam a bit, get to know their new home. The reason the lefty gave for his whole family making the trip was a lot like Mozeliak gave for trying to outpace the market and sign Cecil before Thanksgiving.
"For me and my family this is a huge deal," Cecil said.
After the presser, Cecil's eldest son, 6-year-old Bryton, grabbed a camera to try and capture his dad's new look, asking him to look up after tugging down a new Cardinals cap. Cecil had 2-year-old Branson in his arm as he turned to the camera.
"Say cheese," Bryton encouraged.
