Cardinals Sign Reliever T.J. McFarland to One-Year Contract

Cardinals sign reliever T.J. McFarland to one-year contract for 2022 season; veteran groundball pitcher returns to St. Louis bullpen.

ST. LOUIS, MO. – November 8, 2021 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have agreed to terms with free agent left-handed relief pitcher T. J. McFarland on a one-year contract for the upcoming 2022 season. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 32-year old McFarland, who signed with the Cardinals organization last season on July 1 and joined St. Louis on July 16, went 4-1 with a 2.56 ERA (38.2 IP) and 21 strikeouts in 38 appearances. The left-hander induced 12 double plays to establish a new Cardinals reliever record after the All-Star Break (since 1974), which tied for most double plays among Major League relievers throughout the duration of last season.

The Palos Park, Ill. native has made 323 career appearances between Baltimore (2013-16), Arizona (2017-19), Oakland (2020), and St. Louis (2021) over his nine-year Major League career.

McFarland’s career 63.4 ground ball percentage ranks 6^th-highest among relievers since 1987, and trails only Zack Britton (76.5) among active relievers. His career 1.38 GIDP/9 IP ranks 6^th-highest among relievers since 1974, and ties Brandon Kintzler for highest among active relievers.

— STL —