Chris

Stratton

Stratton will make $4.5 million in 2025. He’s thrown 141 innings out of the bullpen in the last two years and finished 2024 on the injured list. Stratton was unable to make it back to pitch for the Royals in the playoffs. He also had a 5.55 ERA in 2024. Given all of those factors, it likely wasn’t a very difficult decision for Stratton to exercise his player option with Kansas City.

Stratton’s had an uneven year with the Royals after being a member of the 2023 World Series Champion Texas Rangers last year. He has a 5.55 ERA this year. Still, Stratton has been a workhorse out of the bullpen totaling 82 2/3 innings in 2023 and 58 1/3 this year. It’s concerning that he’s going on the injured list this late in the year with a flexor strain. It’s unclear if Stratton will pitch again this season and flexor strains can sometimes be a precursor to Tommy John surgery.

Stratton’s save was his fourth of the year. James McArthur is still in the late inning mix for the Royals, but he entered in the seventh inning of a tie game. McArthur has only one save this month, but has finished four games.

The save was Stratton’s third of the season. He isn’t a threat to James McArthur, the Royals’ regular closer. Stratton just happened to enter the game with an 8-3 lead and the bases loaded in the eighth inning. Technically it was a save opportunity because the tying run was in the on-deck circle. Don’t expect Stratton to be an option for many more saves over the course of the rest of the season.

That’s the first save of the season for Stratton, and it’s just the 12th of his career. The former first-round selection has mostly pitched in the middle innings in his career, but KC tasked him with protecting a three-run lead Saturday. He obliged. Stratton could see more save situations going forward, but it’s far from a guarantee.

The deal also includes a $4.5 million player option for the 2025 season. Stratton earned himself a World Series ring during the 2023 season as he registered a 3.92 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and an 81/25 K/BB ratio over 82 2/3 innings in 64 appearances between the Cardinals and Rangers. He’ll help to solidify the middle of the Royals’ bullpen.

Kansas City’s spending spree continues as they’re close to signing their second free agent in the last few hours. Stratton split last season between the Cardinals and Rangers, helping the latter take home a World Series title, finishing with a solid 3.92 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 81/25 K/BB ratio a cross 82 2/3 innings (64 appearances). He’ll presumably pitch in middle relief for the rebuilding Royals.

Like Montgomery, Stratton is set to hit free agency at season’s end. The 32-year-old right-hander has made 42 appearances out of the Cardinals’ bullpen this season — registering a 4.36 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 59/17 K/BB ratio across 53 2/3 innings. He’ll settle into a middle relief role with the Rangers.

It’s a bit less than the White Sox got for the similar Lucas Giolito-Reynaldo López package, but this is still a fine return for the Cardinals for a couple of free agents to be. Saggese offers a rock solid bad for a second baseman, assuming that he can last there. Roby’s numbers haven’t been great, but the 2020 third-round pick still has a strong arm and the potential to make it as a starting pitcher. Montgomery can and probably should knock Martín Pérez out of the Rangers rotation. A few years ago, going from St. Louis to Texas would have murdered a pitcher’s fantasy value. Now, it seems like an upgrade for Montgomery.

Goold mentioned that Hicks could also potentially sign an extension; although, the team and player have been unsuccessful in those conversations in the past. Helsley is also the only player signed beyond this season, so the asking price for him figures to be higher, which means Stratton and DeJong are the most likely to be dealt. Stratton has cooled down after a strong start and now holds a 4.47 ERA on the season, while DeJong returned to action in late April and has a .238/.304/.424 slash line with 13 home runs and four steals in 77 games. Neither figures to return a huge haul for the Cardinals but could land an intriguing prospect at the lower levels of the minors.