12:55pm: Norris is guaranteed $3MM on the one-year term, and the contract contains “significant” incentives, Rosenthal tweets.
Interestingly, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Norris will also be given the opportunity to start in the event that the Cardinals decide one or more of their younger arms need time in the minors early in the season. He adds that Norris is expected to join the team Wednesday, which would suggest that we’ll know the corresponding 40-man roster move within 48 hours or so.
9:50am: It’s a one-year, Major League contract for Norris, tweets SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo.
9:41am: The Cardinals are in agreement on a contract with free-agent righty Bud Norris, reports Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter). His contract is pending a physical. Norris is represented by Wasserman.
It’s not yet clear whether Norris, 33 next month, signed a Major League or Minor League contract, though the latter is a possibility following a rough finish to what began as a strong 2017 season. The 4.21 ERA that Norris authored through 62 innings last season doesn’t look overly impressive, but he was somewhat quietly dominant through the season’s first half; in 36 1/3 innings prior to the All-Star break, Norris notched a 2.23 ERA that was backed by a 2.96 FIP and a 3.21 xFIP. In that time, the starter-turned-reliever averaged 11.6 K/9 against 3.5 BB/9 with a 47.6 percent ground-ball rate.
However, Norris missed time in late June and early July with a knee injury, and upon his return, his success quickly deteriorated. Then the Halos’ closer, Norris improbably served up a pair of grand slams (being charged for all four runs in each instance) within a span of six days, ballooning his ERA from 2.23 to 3.89. Things didn’t get any better for him in the month of August, and he again hit the disabled list late that month due to inflammation in the same problematic right knee. Overall, Norris perhaps quite literally limped to a 7.01 ERA following the All-Star break and watched his K/9 (9.5), BB/9 (4.6) and ground-ball rates (41.8 percent) all go in the wrong direction.
The Cardinals, though, could be heartened by the fact that Norris’ success out of the ’pen in the past couple of seasons has corresponded with a notable change in his pitch selection, as he’s largely abandoned his four-seam fastball in exchange for a cutter and sinker. If those changes and better health can allow him to sustain production more in line with last year’s first half than his nightmarish second half, then Norris could prove to be a bargain for a Cardinals team whose late-inning relief mix still looks to be rather unsettled.
As things stand, Luke Gregerson could well head into the year as the closer, though St. Louis also picked up righty Dominic Leone from the Blue Jays in the Randal Grichuk trade, and lefty Tyler Lyons had a breakout year as a high-leverage reliever last season. Any from that mix could conceivably find his way into the ninth inning in 2018, as could righty Alex Reyes when he returns from Tommy John surgery (even though the organization views him as a starter long term).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Cards making moves…LOL
wow.
Contract contains “significant” incentives.
Cardinals GM: Hey, Bud if you pitch an inning without giving up a run today, I give you cheeseburger from McDonald’s later.
Bud: Cheeseburger good.
First Hanigan, now Norris. Just a few hours into Monday let’s keep this momentum! With pitchers and catchers reporting over the next week let’s hope this is the week the levee breaks.
Only 103 FA left to sign. It is going to take a flood to avoid a strike.
Solid Yu Darvish counter… I think this puts the Cards into First in the central.
Gigantic kick to the nuts for all Cards fans today. I suppose the moves can’t be compared but the fact remains two days ago the Cubs sign the top pitcher out there, and when even my dog knows we need a top starter, we DO sign a decent starter…….from 2010. If we don’t sign Arrieta or make the move for Archer, this offseason will be the ultimate betrayal by the front office, even with the Ozuna trade.
The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!
They won’t get Archer without Reyes in the mix and that is the start. MO won’t do it. I cant blame him. Archer is good but he is no Mad Max or CK or Klubber or Sale.
As far as JA, I don’t think MO will spend the cash. It take more money for JA than Darvish. JA turned down a 4 year 110 million dollar extension with the Cubs both in 2016 and in Jan 2018. That is 27.5 Million a year. he turned down and the match offer for Darvish.
At the very least your looking at 150 – 5 years / 165-6 years which would probably get it done, 7 years is plain stupid. at any price. Anything less is a waste of Boras and JA time. Not that the Cubs didn’t try but theri not going to toss money away. JA is just Greedy like Hos, and JD
The Cubs saw things they didn’t like with JA. His velocity has been down and there is no sign that it will get any better. I mean I’d take JA on a 2 year/40 mil contract. I mean the Scrubs are still the team to beat, I’m good with standing pat and see what happens. If we’re in the running then make eals at the deadline. If not, then we keep our prospects and ride it out again this year and hopefully get some big bats and arms net year. There really isn’t much in this FA class. I’d like to have JD Martinez but not for that price. I love Marp, but man he is one dimentional. The time to trade him is now to get anything good for him. Either way, I think the Brewers don’t do jack this year, we end up in 2nd and miss the wild card by 4 games because our Starting rotation is not very good at all.
Baseball-Reference projects his 2018 record as 3-6 with 4.86 ERA and 1.432 WHIP. Not exactly Darvish numbers.
Depends is darvish still going to be tipping pitches
Not to far off Darvish’s Rangers numbers last year 6-9 with 4.01 ERA
just .85 of arun, but what is math to a St. Louis fan?
Wow another solid veteran reliever to add to our collection!- Cardinals Fan
why do you do this to me mozeliak
He’s an idiot-Cardinals fan here
Is that why the Cards have like 10 straight winning seasons in a row? Because of how dumb you think he is?
Ignore the BFIBS I think they literally think with their ass
I like the Bud, he is a good relief pitcher and can start if we need him too( even though we won’t)
A Bud at (Anheuser)-Busch Stadium? What are the odds?!
Saucy!
Dilly Dilly
Norris is decent for stretches, but in no way spectacular. As a depth type move at probably a decent price (terms not listed when I’m posting this) Norris should be fine.
Ex-Major League Baseball journeyman Esteban Loaiza was arrested Friday with more than 20 kilos of either cocaine or heroin, according to the San Diego Sheriff’s Office, and is currently in jail on $200,000 bond.
Dude nearly won the Cy Young once.
he’s as high as cy young now
The dude had good stuff.
He also could pitch.
no scott boras client has ever had to resort to this to support themselves after their career.
Former MLB pitcher, Williams Perez (ATL, CHC) accidentally shot and killed his pitching coach when handing off a loaded handgun in his native Venezuela.
Maybe he could return to the Pirates to be the Parrot. He has the resume.
+1
Makes me wonder what Curtis Strong is up to…
Excellent reference
That is a name I have not heard in quite a while. Sounds like he is not having so much luck in the next exciting chapter of his life.
Is 20 kilos a lot?
Yeah that’s like 44lbs
its a small fortune worth of drugs. a kilo of coacaine is worth 25 to 30 grand in the US, so he had give or take 500 grand worth of drugs
If he cut it right
and broke it down, it would be closer to $4 million!
A haunting name for blue jays fans,,,,,,traded micheal young to Texas for the
Stiff,,,,,,what a pant load he was,,,lazy s.o.b
now they know why the chalk lines kept disappearing in toronto
norris seemed to pitch good against st louis wen he was with the astros
12-7 team record vs st louis
Yes, so this is a great signing for 2010.
Key word “against”
Didn’t Norris start out with the Cards
and pitch a no-hitter his rookie year with them?
No
Your thinking of Bud Smith
And Bud Smith was a lefty.
That’s right! Thanks!
That is the only reason I know who he is. I remember being in Arkansas visiting and looked at the match up and said Bud Norris? haaa sounds like a bum, and then he beat us like 7 consecutive times. He’s a bulldog though, could work out well for SP depth and a BP arm. We shall see.
I don’t really like this move, but let’s see what he does with the team.
Anyone who remembers this dude when the Astros were still in the NL Central remembers that for some reason he shredded the Cardinals back in the day.
I don’t know what this deal means. I am confused.
Yeah, why “overpay” for a good starter when you can keep all your money and finish last? I love this business model. Too bad it doesn’t work outside the MLB.
The Pirates are way ahead of the Cardinals in terms of keeping money and finishing last.
Great. Cards can’t even win that race. 🙂
By all projections, the Cards will be one of the wild card teams in the NL. Their chances of coming in last are very low.
They have great flexibility and a good roster.
Cards fans are acting incredibly spoiled on message boards.
yep, that front office is real flexible when bent over
“All” projections? Really?
I like this signing. There likely is not tremendous upside to Bud but this is low-risk. It isn’t the big splash I’d like to see but there will be time for that.
Everybody crapping on Norris’ 4.21 ERA
3.90 FIP, increased usage of the cutter and a maintained velocity avg. of 94. On a cheap one year deal, you could do a lot worse.
I believe they are more concerned about his second half numbers.
also, I didn’t see the terms listed. Likely, cheap, but who knows?
He was a top 10 BP arm until he got hurt last year, thats why his 2nd half numbers suck balls.
Don’t know how much the contract is for, but it can’t be much. It’s the Cardinals after all. So it’s likely a low risk, potentially decent reward move. If he tanks in spring training it won’t be a huge deal. Not a sexy move, but potentially useful.
Right! Like Neshak.
Just goes to show that Luhnow was the brains of the organization. This is just another slap from the M&M idiots. I’m done. Plenty of good teams play every night on the AT BAT App.
Grow up. How many sub .500 seasons has Mozeliak had?
I see your Yu Darvish and raise you one Bud Noriss
Isn’t there 40 man full?
It is right now, but with a flexibility due to some deadweight. I’d expect to see Mike Mayers DFA’d off the 40-man. I don’t know if any other team will claim him, but it’s not a big loss if someone does.
Bud Norris a better pitcher than Seung Hwan Oh? No.
Last year he definitely was
So the Cubs sign a top of the rotation pitcher for a price the Cards could easily afford, and our counter move is to bring in a guy who tore them up 6-7 years ago. I pray to God there are more moves coming. Right now on paper this is your third place team in the Central. The fans get it – management better get it, too.
Finally, Bud is off the board. Let the games begin.
How original.
No doubt in my mind the Cardinals have something big in the works. Although i think itll happen by mid-week, give em til the weekend. All of the nay-sayers will be silenced
Your dreaming
Finally pry Archer and Colome away from the Rays … and then I woke up.
I wish the Cards could’ve got Ordozzi from the Rays. Didn’t the Twins get him for a single player? I think it was a AA SS if I’m not mistaken . Really ? The Cards couldn’t have beat that deal? I was confused about that. Especially since they were in on him for awhile.
What have they done to make you so optimistic? I need some of what you’ve got because I’m afraid they’re going to sit around and do nothing.
Because after what the Brewers have done, and now the Cubs have signed Darvish. How do you think its gonna look for Mo if they do nothing else, especially with the money they have available, and miss out on the playoffs? I dont see them signing Arrieta, Lynn or Cobb. But I bet theyre on the phone with several teams.
Well they got a MVP caliber left fielder earlier in the off-season, and unloaded two unnecessary outfielders for controllable players.
Probably focus on that, since that’s what makes their off-season so good.
So are 29 other teams on the phone lol If you kept up with St L MO and Dumbinski lol already have said they are keeping pact and going into ST as they are and no other major moves are being made. Get over it. Cheating birds will suffer eternal wrath for cheating and won’t win another title until all 29 other teams have starting with 2015 KC and going down the line for as long as it takes.
The Cards front office and MO only care about Ball Park Village and maintaining the 3 million fans in attendance every year. Keep the montys..rolling in
You’re a trolling moron ! Why don’t you get back on the Cubs boards
and worry about your team for a change ! By the way, is Russell still beating his wife?
Cheap Cheap Cheap. What a bunch of BS.
Chris disapproves
I don’t disapprove. I’m ok with the signing after thinking about it. I mean we have some depth in the BP and SP now. This FA class wasn’t anything special, so I think we played it smart, got some pices and now we sit back and reevaluate in a few months. Cards are still cheap though, and Mo can shove his lame bow ties up his arse.
Scratching my head on this on. The new pitching coach had to have some input or is leveraging this for yet another big move. Could be a good game of chess beginning.
World Series, babies! Watching it on tv, I mean lol
Where will you be performing your comedy act this weekend?
What drives me crazy is that people are complaining about this deal yet it’s a depth move. A little disappointed he got a major league deal but none the less this could work out like Matt Albert did last year for the Nats. I understand fans want them to make a bigger move but for who? The only free agent I wouldn’t mind them to sign would be Jake Arrieta or Bring back lance Lynn because the rotation scares me a little, but as for the bullpen with all the depth they have I’m not to concerned.
Albers*
Thank God the Angels didn’t resign this guy.Even wean he was having a good day he couldn’t get anyone out 123 .Nagy did the best he could with this guy good luck to the Cards pitching coach.LOL
Mike Maddux is pretty amazing so he should be alright.
Ok Mike, time for you to make chicken salad out of Chicken s…
103 FA left to go after Breslow and Norris sign.
Just please stop saying “The Cardinal way” just stop.
If Norris gives them just half a dozen starts, and as a result they can leave one or more young arms down in the Minors and delay their service time, this is a terrific investment.
I’m surprised he got a guaranteed major league contract. He only has one good season from a few years back
Collusion, obviously.
I guess one of the advantages of hiring one of the best pitching coaches in MLB is that you can take a cheap flyer on a guy and see if he can provide value.
Is he really one of the best? Or has he just been around forever and have a famous brother?
Tabbing a coach the best or worst can be deceving, Joe Torre managed the Cardinals prior to managing the Yankees. Stl could not see him go quick enough, yet he goes on to win 5 championships in NY and is considered great.
That is a great advantage, especially if you don’t have adequate resources.
This Bud’s for you!
Y’all like crepes?
Great move Mo!!! That ought to strike fear into the hearts of the Cubs, and the Brewers! Not to Mention the Nationals, the Dodgers, the Giants, and the Rockies and Diamondbacks. Way to keep your head in on what’s going on around the rest of the National League.
I heard the Cardinals have offered Hosmer a $36 million contract divided over 8 years!!!! They are expecting a response soon! At least he will get his 8 years from someone!!!
Joking about a player that makes no sense for them erodes your sarcasm.
How does Hosmer not make sense for the Cardinals? Move Carp back to third, and we have a decent power threat who plays gold glove D. I know they’ll never cough up the money but I’m a huge Hos fan and think he’d fit in perfectly in STL.
Probably because Gyroko is the same value as a hitter as Hosmer.
Why take those PA away?
Hosmer is a ground ball hitter. I’d take him at 36/8 like was suggested of course, but he isn’t really an upgrade.
What do u mean, he’s the 9th best 1b in baseball, that means there are only 8 better
And Hosmer wasn’t one of them
Hosmer < carpenter, carpenters defense at 3b < gyorkos defense, gold glove at first base is slightly above being worthless, hosmer wants 7 years over 125 million for little to no upgrade
So basically he had two good months and this means the Cardinals are a genius for signing him. Ignoring not just the rest of the year, but the other 8 years in his career.
You then have to ignore his uptick in velocity and change in pitches.
But sure, ignore those things.
I think fasbal1 hit the nail on the head with his comments.
Mo holds the purse, I can’t really blame him. It’s Nitwit Dewitt who spends the cash and he’s spending it on Ball Park Village. It’s great they recognized they had management issues. Fortunately they kept Matheny. Rather than fire him they put new management around him to hopefully make him better. Yankees fired their manager.
Seems to me they’re desperate to have legit 3-4 hitters in the line-up instead of keeping Carp in the lead off spot. I mean Fowler did great in the lead off spot, terrible in one of the 3-4 spots, and Carp is notorious for hitting well in the 3-4 spot.
Looking forward to going to ball park village this year and watching a third rate team. Even Al Harbosky said he thinks the Cards will be 3rd this year in the division. Said it right on TV! I’m looking forward to seeing if they can improve their fundamental play which rivaled the Bad News Bears.
.
Really? Right on TV? WoW!