St. Louis Cardinals Sign Veteran Reliever Coming Off Strong Season
Maton, who grew up a Cardinals fan in Chatham, Illinois, expressed excitement about joining his childhood team. “Definitely, younger Phil would have been stoked about it,” he said. “As you go through professional baseball, you get numb to it, but it’s going to be exciting being close to home and close to family and friends that grew up Cardinals fans.”
To make room for Maton on the 40-man roster, left-hander Bailey Horn was designated for assignment.
We have signed RHP Phil Maton to a one-year contract.
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 13, 2025
Maton had a 3.66 ERA in a combined 71 games for the Mets and Rays in the 2024 season. pic.twitter.com/68M8I6HNoh
Maton, who turns 32 later this month, is coming off a strong season split between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets, finishing with a 3.66 ERA and a career-high 18 holds across 71 appearances.
He was especially effective after his midseason trade to New York, where he posted a 2.52 ERA in 31 games and contributed to the Mets’ NLCS run. Despite his success, Maton found himself waiting for offers this offseason. “We were pretty confused with the entire offseason, in general,” he admitted. “I guess there is less value in durability and being available every day than we thought there was going to be.”
With St. Louis looking to replace Andrew Kittredge, who departed in free agency, Maton’s ability to pitch in high-leverage situations makes him a key addition.
Insane that it took this long for someone to sign Phil Maton. https://t.co/respmNhusA
— Beaneater Buzz (@BeaneaterB) March 13, 2025
Over his eight-year career, Maton has made 415 appearances with the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Houston Astros, Rays, and Mets, posting a 4.16 ERA with five saves.
His best seasons came with Houston from 2022-23, when he developed one of the game’s most effective curveballs, holding hitters to a .160 average against it last year. Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol praised Maton’s skill set, saying, “He can really spin it, and that’s one of his best attributes.”
Now, Maton joins a St. Louis bullpen that ranked among the league’s best in 2024, led by closer Ryan Helsley.
Photo Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
