712 Digital Group - top

Matt Belisle agrees to $3.5M deal with Cardinals

Sports

December 2nd, 2014 by Ric Hanson

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Cardinals added more bullpen help, agreeing Tuesday to a $3.5 million, one-year contract with free agent Matt Belisle. The 34-year-old right-hander has made 70 or more relief appearances in four of the last five seasons and led the NL with 80 in 2012.

Belisle was 4-7 with a 4.87 ERA in 66 games for Colorado last season and has a 48-54 career record with a 4.41 ERA in 524 games. He joins Jordan Walden, a right-hander acquired by St. Louis from Atlanta last month. Belisle could earn $500,000 in performance bonuses: $150,000 each for 50 and 60 games, and $200,000 for 70.

St. Louis also hired Chris Correa as director of scouting and promoted Luis Morales to assistant director of international scouting. The 34-year-old Correa joined the franchise in 2009 and had been director of baseball development.