Cardinals officially sign Cecil to 4-year, $30.5-million deal

ST. LOUIS - The Cardinals signed reliever Brett Cecil to a four-year, $30.5-million contract on Monday, filling a massive void in their bullpen following injuries to Zach Duke and Tyler Lyons.

Cecil had a 3.93 ERA in 36 2/3 innings for the Blue Jays last season. He was slowed by a torn lat muscle, but dominated down the stretch, tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings in the playoffs.

He had a 2.90 ERA in four years as a full-time reliever in Toronto.

Duke is expected to miss all of next season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, and Lyons had offseason knee surgery that leaves him questionable for the start of the regular season.

The deal for Cecil leaves an outfielder as the biggest hole remaining on the St. Louis roster.