Cardinals & Giovanny Gallegos Agree To Two-Year Deal

RIGHT-HANDED RELIEVER SIGNED THROUGH 2024 WITH CLUB OPTION FOR 2025

ST. LOUIS, Mo., October 3, 2022 – The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they agreed to a two-year contract through 2024 with right-handed reliever Giovanny Gallegos with a club option for the 2025 season. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“Since joining the Cardinals organization in 2018, Gio has been a consistent and significant contributor to our bullpen, and we look forward to him continuing to be an important piece moving forward,” stated Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak.

This season, Gallegos is 3-5 with a 2.91 ERA (19 ER/58.2 IP), 72 strikeouts, and a career-high-tying 14 saves in 56 games. The 31-year-old Mexico native ranks among NL relievers in saves (14, 14^th), average against (.198, 20^th), opponent OBP (.248, 6^th), opponent OPS (.587, 19^th), baserunners/9 (8.74, 6^th), and WHIP (0.97, 9^th).

Originally signed by the Yankees as an International free agent, Gallegos has made 213 of his 233 career appearances with St. Louis. Since his acquisition in 2018, Gallegos leads all Cardinals pitchers in ERA (2.79), opponent BA (.182), strikeouts/9 IP (11.11), hits/9 IP (5.77) and baserunners/9 IP (8.28), while his 0.88 WHIP is tied for the 3rd-lowest in Major League Baseball over that time span.

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Gallegos came to the trade that sent Luke Voit to the Yankees; at the time, many were upset by the deal. Voit started hot, but cooled off; he’s been traded twice since.

Gallegos, on the other hand, has been of the better relievers in the NL, at least prior to this season. Some of the struggles could be overuse; some of it could be the lack of foreign substances on his pitches (which led to the ban on substances being used on balls and the umpires checking pitchers between innings).

This deal buys out the 2 remaining years of arbitration for Gallegos, and could also include his first year of free agency if the option is picked up. It’s a safe deal for both sides if it totals about $10M.