The Cardinals signed Brian Tallet to a one-year contract, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (on Twitter). The southpaw posted 8.6 K/9 and 1.8 BB/9 against lefty batters last year and should continue to be productive against them in Tony La Russaās bullpen.
The 33-year-old posted a 6.40 ERA with 6.2 K/9 and 4.4 BB/9 in 2010, his fifth season in Toronto. Tallet earned $2MM in 2010 and was headed for a raise through arbitration until the Blue Jays outrighted him to Triple-A. He refused the assignment and hit free agency before I named him as a potential bargain reliever.
The Blue Jays used Tallet as an occasional starter, but Morosi hears that the Cardinals will use him as a reliever. That makes sense, since they have Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, Jaime Garcia, Jake Westbrook and Kyle Lohse in their rotation.
Buahahahaha
YEEESSSSSS!!!!! (I’m a Blue Jays fan)
Yeah, the day definitely just got better!
Woo Canadians are a tough crowd…
Won’t be saying that once Dave Duncan works his magic.
lol he’s a pitching coach not a genie
Won’t be saying that once Dave Duncan works his magic.
Good pick-up for the Cards. Tallet definitly had a very bad year in 2010 but if he becomes effective, he can be a real asset for a team. He can start, he can be your mid or late reliever.
If he can’t stand up from his down 2010 season, well it’s only a one-year contract…
From a Jays fan.
I think at this point in his career, he likely will only be effective as a specialist against left-handed batters. When used for multiple innings, he usually manages to put the game out of reach, and not in a good way. When used as a spot starter, he’s mediocre at best, and a good bet to lose the game that day. On the bright side, he’s not a complainer, will do as told, and has a ’70s porn moustache.
Very bad year is putting it lightly. He was one of the worst 3 pitchers in the league. In before ‘it’s Cito’s fault for not using him properly!’
It is Cito’s fault. The guy owned lefties last year — a 4.67 K/BB ratio against southpaws (0.82 WHIP). He should be a left-handed reliever, not a starting pitcher. But since Cito started him, he faced 130 more RHB than LHB and got blasted. The Cards are going to use him as a second LOOGY to replace Dennys Reyes, and he should be fine in that role.
Combine that proper role with the way La Russa micromanages his lefty relievers, and he should be pretty good. He’d be an early prediction for Comeback Player of the Year if he weren’t a middle reliever.
If you mean it was a good pick for the Cardinals because the Jays can’t possibility re-sign him anymore then yes, “good pick-up.”
Tallet has never done well as a starter, the Jays had him starting games in both 09 and 2010. He does better out of the bullpen. So, as long as he’s not starting a game, he shouldn’t have an high era, unless he ends up getting hurt.
Oliver Perez can be an asset to a team if he becomes effective…
League Minimum please…
It’s gotta be minimum or close. He’ll probably compete with that other dude we just signed to be the second lefty in the pen/6th starter.
Raul Valdes? He was signed to a minor league contract, I’m guessing tallet’s deal has him in the Majors.
rual vlades
Were the sideburns included in the deal?
With LaRue retiring, the Cardinals needed to acquire a majestic mustache this offseason.
As long as he never faces a single RH batter, he will be fine.
Should be fine to pitch to the pitcher too!
Probably not.
20 HR’s in 77 innings? Are you kidding me? Can’t wait for Aramis to hit his first of many 7th inning HR’s or later of this clown. WTF Cardinals?
He is a lefty so I doubt he would face Him.
Cardinals management are pretty moronic on this one.
Actually, the Blue Jays management was moronic to make him a starter. You wouldn’t make Brian Shouse a starter and expect it to go well, would you? Or Trever Miller? Tallet is good against lefties and bad against righties — what did they expect would happen when he started facing twice as many righties as lefties?Tallet will replace Dennys Reyes on the Cardinals as a LOOGY. He’ll face a minimum amount of righties, and he should be a useful, proven tool in the bullpen that will cost the Cardinals almost nothing. How quickly Blue Jays fans forget how effective Tallet was out of the bullpen from 2006-2008 before becoming a crappy starter.You call this moronic, I call it savvy. I’m glad that the Cardinals management is smart enough to look past the guy’s 2010 ERA and HR allowed and acquire a decent lefty specialist for nothing.
To be fair, what looks like mishandlying by the Jays organization.. Tallet much preferred to be a started and begged for the opportunity. Cito is a loyal man, to a fault and gave Tallet the opportunity to do as he wish, for better or for worse.
He wasn’t “abused” because he wanted a shot, its not like Cito forced him in to the rotation. However he was also equally as bad out of then pen. As long as his hopes of being anything more then a LOOGY dont come in to play this is a decent pick up.
No scott downs though
I didn’t mean to imply that he was abused. But lots of pitchers wish they were starters, and it’s the manager’s job to be objective about whether to let them start or put them in the bullpen. Think Aaron Heilman — he’s wanted to start for years, but nobody will start him because he sucks, so he’s been a reliever. Tallet should have been in the bullpen, whether he wanted to start or not. In the end, that’s Cito’s fault (and possibly the front office’s fault, too, if they didn’t provide Cito with other viable options).
There were other options, its just Cito being Cito. pretty much all that can be said on that topic
There were other options, its just Cito being Cito. pretty much all that can be said on that topic
Well actually, we put him in that role for ONE START, just to fill a spot for an injured starter. Then we put him right back into the bullpen. So saying we tried to convert him to a starter is WAY over the top. He was definitely never that effective over those years as you’re making it seem. So if you think this is a savvy acquisition by the Cardinals then I’m glad I’m not a Cardinals fan.
Cito kept him in to get 20 Homeruns to help him get a contract for his family, its why Arencibia didn’t play down to the stretch.
He was abused by being used against Right handers last year. He’s a LOOGY, most definetly.
He was a starting pitcher in 09 and 010. He’s better out of the bullpen. Back in 08, he had a 2.88 era out of the bullpen. 07, 3.47 era and in 06 he only made 1 start, but had an era of 3.81
That’s not the brightest comment, Craig. The only way that happens is if the Cards are up by 10 in the 7th. I applaud your wild imagination, tho. Keep dreaming. š
Brian Tallet: best mutton chops in baseball history?
He looks like he could captain a river boat down the Mississippi.
Mcgowan’s Lamb chops > Tallet’s mutton chops
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahhaahhaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahhaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
I actually kind of feel bad for Tallet. He admitted like 60% through the season that his arm was sore. Yet for the last 2 months of the season, Cito used him the most out of any reliever. Brought him in for multiple innings, 1 run games, against multiple RHB’s, etc. I’m sure in Cito’s twisted mind, he was giving him a chance to earn a contract or whatever. But truth is – he was making it much worse.
I don’t feel bad for players who say they are sore at all.. either get the job done, or hit the DL.. Its not like Tallet was the key piece of a magical playoff run and we needed him to play hurt. There’s no need to pitch through soreness, say you’re hurt, fix whats wrong and come back and still suck.
this.
does toronto get a pick now ?
No. He’s not a type A or B.
You don’t get picks for Type E’s.
Nope, in fact Jays have to give up their 1st round draft pick to the cardinals now
Take frasor and you have a deal
If Tallet is a Type B, then Derek Jeter deserved his Gold Glove and a 6/150M$ contract.
Toronto should be giving a pick for this.
edit- wow, slow pony.
this move is good. lefty specialist on the cheap with the potential for a rebound? exactly what i wanted.
Trust me you don’t want this. Trust me.
Yes we do, actually, as long as he isn’t starting or pitching much against righties.
OUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED!
Thank you God!
Consider that Tallet was hurt for much of 2010 and tried to pitch through it without much success. Consider, also, that Tallet is going from thr AL East to the NL Central. This is potentially a very good get.
ugh…..more low hanging fruit. Figures with this frustrating organization.
When the role you’re filling is second-in-line left-handed-specialist, you’re doing something wrong if you’re not filling that role with low-hanging fruit. Spending significant money to acquire someone with “a name” who’s just going to throw 40 innings would be patently idiotic.
I like this signing too. He’s gotta be better than Dennys Reyes…
i don’t see what the problem is. he did fine against lefties last year and we need a LOOGY. no need to spend actual money on a LOOGY.
are you people kidding me its a half an hour after we signed him and your already complaining about this deal how bout you guys be the real cards fans and appreciate that we got a guy like this hes coming to work with dave duncan which means alot so the past is history im sure hes looking to move on from last seasons misques. although this isnt the left handed reliever i wanted st. louis to get this offseason its still a decent move and thats all we need right now ways to tweak our team not drastically improve
um
punctuation please.
Oh, no, he meant to write the world’s longest and most confusing sentence.
Oh, no, he meant to write the world’s longest and most confusing sentence.
say what
coming from a jays fan who doesnt miss a single game….Tallet is the most frustrating pitcher u will ever watch pitch. literally our prayers have been answered. he gives up more homeruns then singles and he thinks hes an ace. although, good numbers against lefties, he is another year older and on the decline. hes a nice guy if its any consolation tho
“he thinks hes an ace”
What?
ok im over-exadurating a bit lol but remember before the season started and he was saying that he deserved to be in the starting rotation even though his numbers in spring were aweful.
Has everyone on this site collectively forgotten how sentences work?
sorry grammar teacher. this is a sports thread, not an essay im writing to Obama.
You misspelled awful…
You misspelled awful…
Has everyone on this site collectively forgotten how sentences work?
ok im over-exadurating a bit lol but remember before the season started and he was saying that he deserved to be in the starting rotation even though his numbers in spring were aweful.
“he thinks hes an ace”
What?
That’s all well and good, but like you said, he’s good against lefties, and that’s what he’s going to do on the Cardinals. I’m sure it was frustrating to watch him be a crappy starter, but he won’t be starting on the Cardinals. Don’t forget how good he was out of the bullpen for the Jays from 2006-2008, before they made him a starter and he faced a ton of RHB.
he had some good years as a reliever and thats all he should ever be. cito made him the number 2 starter which was a joke. hopefully for cards fans he can regain his ’09 form and be solid in the pen but i highly doubt it.
I’m glad he got a job. He seemed like a very nice guy.
That’s all I have to say.
I’m with you, sadp.
Losing Halladay and Tallet in two consecutive off-seasons must be rough for a franchise.
LOL
LOL
Look for the Cards to add at least one more LOOGY. They lack leftys in the minors too, so they will set up a competition for the second LOOGY spot. Tallet may not be the sure thing that so many assume. Cards can’t lose much so seems like a no brainer to me.
We already signed Valdez for LOOGY depth at AAA.
Look for the Cards to add at least one more LOOGY. They lack leftys in the minors too, so they will set up a competition for the second LOOGY spot. Tallet may not be the sure thing that so many assume. Cards can’t lose much so seems like a no brainer to me.
The reason why Tallet was used the way he was is because he career splits show he was actually better against righties and thus used accordingly. 2010 was a non typical split for him where he as actually better against lefties.
Maybe in 2011 he will only be good against switch hitters
This just in– Cards sign BJ Ryan.
Jays fans never appreciated him and all these comments show it. Up until the last couple months of this past season, his career ERA as a reliever for the Jays was like 3.70-3.75, but Jays fan thought he was Josh Towers version 2006 for some reason.
He was awful this year, no denying that. But there’s no way he ever should’ve had a spot in any rotation the Jays had. Spot starter to help out sure, but not a full-time starter like Cito wanted.
As a jays fan, what is the point of being happy about it? There is no compensation coming our way.
Oh I don’t know, teh fact that he won’t be on our team?
Comparing stats, Tallet looks a lot like a left handed Hawksworth. Both suffer when used as a starter. When Tallet is used soley as a reliever, he really isn’t that bad. If he is expected to be a starter, then you had better watch out!
America’s got TALLET!
BAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAAHH SOMEONE ACTUALLY SIGNED HIM AHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH! Cardinals fans, my sympathy