Cardinals ink 1st lockout deal, sign Drew VerHagen to 2-year pact
The St. Louis Cardinals have signed right-handed pitcher Drew VerHagen to a two-year contract, the team announced Friday.
We have agreed to terms with free-agent RHP Drew VerHagen on a two-year contract.
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 11, 2022
VerHagen, 31, spent six seasons with Detroit (2014-19) and pitched the past two seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan. pic.twitter.com/vJey4Z5Alc
The deal reportedly guarantees VerHagen $5.5 million, with up to an additional $1 million available in incentives each season, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
The 31-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in Japan, posting a 3.51 ERA over 38 games.
VerHagen's most recent MLB experience is a six-year stint with the Detroit Tigers between 2014-19. He posted a 10-10 record, authoring a 5.11 ERA and 4.76 FIP over 199 innings while making eight starts and 119 relief appearances.
VerHagen will likely fit into a bullpen featuring Giovanny Gallegos and Alex Reyes. He could also serve as a swingman for the Cardinals, acting as depth for a rotation that has Dakota Hudson and Miles Mikolas at the back end.
"We believe he will compete for a starting job but could easily transition to the bullpen if needed," president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said, according to Feinsand.