Report: Cardinals, Bud Norris agree to 1-year, $3M contract

The St. Louis Cardinals haven't made a massive free-agent splash this offseason, but they have been tinkering with their bullpen.

The Cardinals added another piece to their relief corps Monday, reportedly agreeing to a one-year, $3-million contract, plus incentives, with right-hander Bud Norris, sources told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Norris spent 2017 with the Los Angeles Angels, and he started the season strongly. Through 41 appearances, he posted a 2.23 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings. In late July, however, his season went off the rails. He finished with a 4.21 ERA and 19 saves across 62 innings.

Prior to last season, Norris had been primarily used as a starter since his debut in 2009 with the Houston Astros. If the Cardinals feel one of their younger rotation arms needs more seasoning in the minors - or should there be an injury - the team could pivot and slide Norris into the rotation, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold.

For now, he joins offseason acquisitions Luke Gregerson and Dominic Leone as new faces among the late-inning options in the Cardinals' bullpen.