Reliever Jordan Walden and the Cardinals have agreed to a $6.6 million, two-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. The 27-year-old right-hander gets a $350,000 signing bonus and salaries of $2.5 million next year and $3.5 million in 2016 as part of Tuesday's deal. The Cardinals have a $5.25 million option for 2017 with a $250,000 buyout. Walden was obtained by the Cardinals from Atlanta with outfielder Jason Heyward on Nov. 17 for pitchers Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins. Walden made $1.49 million last season, when he was 0-2 with a 2.88 ERA and three saves as a setup man for closer Craig Kimbrel. Walden has appeared in 50 or more games in three of the past four seasons and has a 12-13 career record with a 3.10 ERA, 38 saves and 254 strikeouts in 211 2-3 innings. He was an AL All-Star in 2011, when he had 32 saves for the L. A. Angels.
Get Your Very Own 2015 Cardinal Calendar: just click here
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.