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.