Post by Fish Troll on Jun 8, 2007 19:05:57 GMT -5
Former Los Angeles Angels closer Troy Percival, making a comeback after a year away from the game, is closing in on a deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, two sources told ESPN.com.
Percival, 37, has 324 career saves with the Angels and Detroit Tigers. He suffered an injury to his right forearm with Detroit two years ago and retired after an aborted comeback with the Tigers in spring training of 2006.
Percival recently held a series of workouts at the University of California at Riverside, and San Francisco, Philadelphia, Oakland, Detroit, Tampa Bay and Cleveland were among the teams to express an interest in signing him.
Percival will join former Angels teammates Adam Kennedy, Jim Edmonds, David Eckstein, Scott Spiezio and Russ Springer in St. Louis. The Cardinals' bullpen has pitched well, with a 10-2 record and a 3.41 ERA. But St. Louis' starting rotation ranks near the bottom of the National League in innings pitched, and general manager Walt Jocketty has been looking to add depth to the 'pen.
Percival, 37, has 324 career saves with the Angels and Detroit Tigers. He suffered an injury to his right forearm with Detroit two years ago and retired after an aborted comeback with the Tigers in spring training of 2006.
Percival recently held a series of workouts at the University of California at Riverside, and San Francisco, Philadelphia, Oakland, Detroit, Tampa Bay and Cleveland were among the teams to express an interest in signing him.
Percival will join former Angels teammates Adam Kennedy, Jim Edmonds, David Eckstein, Scott Spiezio and Russ Springer in St. Louis. The Cardinals' bullpen has pitched well, with a 10-2 record and a 3.41 ERA. But St. Louis' starting rotation ranks near the bottom of the National League in innings pitched, and general manager Walt Jocketty has been looking to add depth to the 'pen.
sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2898087
Perhape this might be what the Cardinals need to catch up to the Brewers. They are now 2nd place with plenty of season left. Plus the Brewers may be over achieving so who know how much longer they can stay at 1st, so Cardinals are still in the picture of retaining the Division title, that if Cardinals lineup can manage to provide a lead so Percival could close.
