In former Cub/voodoo magic news, the St. Louis Cardinals have reportedly agreed to a minor league deal with Carlos Villanueva, who spent the last two years in a swing role with the Chicago Cubs.
The market for pitchers was obviously crowded this year (and projects to be again next year), but getting Villanueva on a minor league deal is quite impressive for the Cardinals. I’ve got to assume it’ll be a split deal where he’ll get a couple million if he makes the big league team, because Villanueva, 31, is pretty good. He was worth 2.0 WAR for the Cubs over 2013 and 2014 in a little over 200 innings, while bouncing back and forth between the rotation and the bullpen. He struggled in the rotation last year, but was excellent out of the pen.
In other words, Villanueva is a decent pitcher to have on staff, and offers depth to a Cardinals team that needs it. And on a minor league deal, with no risk? Just a great deal for the Cardinals.
I always liked Villanueva with the Cubs – he just came off like a thoughtful, good dude – but I’m not sure I want to see him become the latest in a long line of voodoo magic success stories for the Cardinals. And, for the love of God, I hope he shaves his mustache. I couldn’t bear to see it proudly curling against the contrast of Cardinal red.
New Cardinals pitcher Carlos Villanueva's mustache game is strong. pic.twitter.com/K6TqJ22UHj
— Craig Edwards (@craigjedwards) February 4, 2015