Cardinals GM: Keeping Garcia gives us leverage
The St. Louis Cardinals exercised Jaime Garcia's 2017 club option because general manager John Mozeliak believes it makes sense in more ways than one.
"When you look at the free-agent market, there’s not a lot of starting pitching out there," Mozeliak told Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Thursday. "This gives us the leverage to do something (in trade) that makes sense for us."
Garcia's contract carried an option worth $12 million with a $500,000 buyout for 2017.
Last season was a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde year for the left-hander, who was often injured. By Aug. 16, he was 10-8, but didn't record a win again for the remainder of the season.
Mozeliak said the 30-year-old gives the Cardinals pitching depth in the rotation if they do choose to retain him.
"I still think he’s a talent," said Mozeliak. "I’m sure the year didn’t end the way he wanted it to. But when you look at the options out there ... I still think he can help someone. And it may end up being us."
Garcia's 2016 campaign was, overall, the worst of his career. He finished 10-13 with a 4.67 ERA in 171 2/3 innings, the most innings he's logged in a season since 2011.