Free agent pitcher Jason Motte heads north to rival Chicago Cubs

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St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Jason Motte, a free agent, has signed a contract with the Chicago Cubs according to ESPN’s Jayson Stark.

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Stark tweeted the news this evening that the Cubs and Motte agreed to a one year deal, pending a physical. The deal is worth $4.5 million according to Stark.

While Cardinals fans will be saddened to see Motte go, especially to the Cubs, he really didn’t have a spot in the Cardinals bullpen next season. Even after coming back from Tommy John surgery this year, Motte didn’t exactly have a set role with the Cardinals after losing the closer’s role to Trevor Rosenthal and while 8th inning setup role went to Pat Neshek.

This past season, Motte posted a 4.68 ERA over 25 innings pitched in 29 appearances.

Prior to missing the season in 2013, Motte led the National League with 42 saves during the 2012 season. In 67 appearances, he posted a 4-5 record with a 2.75 ERA over 72 innings pitched.

After taking over for the retired Ryan Franklin in 2011, Motte eventually won the closer’s role with the 2011 Cardinals, recording 5 saves during the postseason. Motte finishes his chapter with the Cardinals having compiled a 18-13 record with a 3.81 ERA and 54 saves over 285 innings. That’s not bad for a player originally drafted by the Cardinals as a catcher.