Redbird Rants
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Ranking the 5 worst St. Louis Cardinals contracts in recent history

By Josh Jacobs

Miles Mikolas #39 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 17, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds won 6-1. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Miles Mikolas #39 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 17, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds won 6-1. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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John Mozeliak of the St. Louis Cardinals speaks to the media before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 20, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
John Mozeliak of the St. Louis Cardinals speaks to the media before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 20, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Brett Cecil

Another brutal move from the 2016-2017 offseason, the Cardinals looked to strengthen their bullpen by adding left-handed specialist Brett Cecil to a four-year deal worth $30.5 million.

Although Cecil struggled a bit in the prior season, he had been one of the most consistent and top left-handed relievers from 2013-2015. If Cecil were to regain his from in St. Louis, he would have provided an elite left-handed option to an already strong bullpen.

That would not be the case, though. Across 100 innings in two seasons for the Cardinals, Cecil had an ERA of 4.86, with the especially horrendous 2018 that saw him post an ERA of 6.89 across 32.2 innings.

The contract and performance were so bad that the club released him after the first two seasons, paying Cecil $7.75 million in 2019 and 2020 to not play in St. Louis. He has not pitched in a big league game since, and it is pretty easy to see why.

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