The first free agent to sign after MLB’s major league shutdown went to an unexpected player, and the Cardinal announced Friday that he had signed at right Drew VerHagen For a two-year contract. VerHagen, a customer of ISE Baseball, has spent the last two seasons in Japan. It is said that he will guarantee a total of $5.5 million – $2.5 million in 2022 and $3 million in 2023. He can increase his earnings through incentives.
While VerHagen, 31, might not have been expected by many to be the first domino to fall post-lockdown, he is set to return to the big leagues not only with a guaranteed contract but with a multi-year agreement. The 6’6 owner struggled with the Tigers for most of his six seasons, amassing a 5.11 ERA over 199 big frames in the league. His two-year stint abroad changed fortunes when VerHagen broke out as a leading member of the Nippon-Ham Fighters.
In two seasons with the Fighters in 2017, VerHagen notched a 3.51 era in 1/3 innings while hitting a quarter of his opponents for a solid 7.2% walk rate. He had decent speed (94 mph average 94 mph) on his jump and has a track record of sprinting players on the floor at a high rate (53.9% in majors) – which goes well with the other Cardinal’s underworld defense.
Overall, the Cardinal has a track record of signing players outside of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball and Korea Baseball Organization — both in terms of returning former top leagues and NPB/KBO stars making their first leap into MLB made. 2017 signature of the cardinals Miles Micholas (2 years, $15.5 million) Proved to be one of the best throwback pickups in recent memory and KBO Kwang Hyun Kim He spent the last two seasons as the lead man of the St. Louis Monument after signing for two years and $8 million. VerHagen are the latest to go down this route in a major league deal, despite correctly signing Card in January Aaron Brooks to a minor-league deal that could eventually enter that segment.
VerHagen has worked with the fighters off-rotation, and baseball operations card manager John Muziliak suggested today that he might also apply for a job in St. Louis (Twitter-Link via Belleville News-Democrat’s Jeff Jones). However, given the team’s already crowded starting lineup, finding a place to start seems easier. Includes rotation of cardinals Jack FlahertyAnd the Adam WainwrightAnd the Dakota HudsonAnd Micholas and the left Stephen Matz, who signed a four-year, $44 million contract earlier in the season. Maps also have prospects Matthew deliverer And the Zach Thompson They find their way into majors, as well as depth options like Jake Woodford And the Johan Oviedo.
The addition of VerHagen gives them a potentially long hiatus and an opportunity for an immediate start, but he could also find his way into a late role if he can maintain some of his success abroad. Giovanni Gallegos It is currently the favorite to end games for new manager Oliver Marmol and there is plenty of talent in the bullpen mix. Alex Reyes And the Jordan Hicks Both games are closed in the past though Genesis Cabrera and Veterans TJ McFarland Give the cards a pair of strong left hand options. The cards are more likely to do extras since they’ve been populated with high-level attenuators Jo Kelly And the Ryan Tebera for the duration of the closure.
MLB.com’s Mark Vinsand first mentioned Agreement and Conditions.
