Brett Cecil (photo/MLB.com)
According to multiple news sources, the St. Louis Cardinals will hand over a four-year $30.5 million contract to left handed relief pitcher Brett Cecil. The 30-year old Cecil will take over with the absence of lefty reliever Zach Duke, who is out for the 2017 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. This move was also prompted when the Cardinals learned lefty Tyler Lyons needed knee surgery and will miss 4-5 months.
Cecil has a 2.90 ERA in his last four seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. Cecil has pitched eight seasons total with Toronto. He went 1-7 with a 3.93 ERA, 45 strikeouts and eight walks in 36 2/3 innings over 54 appearances in 2016 and is coming off a year in which he battled injury.
His ERA was over five before the injury, but returned and finished well over his last 38 appearances.
