BREAKING NEWS: St Louis Cardinals sign intriguing starter Zach Plesac with strong connection to new…..

BREAKING NEWS: St. Louis Cardinals Sign Intriguing Starter Zach Plesac With Strong Connection to New Pitching Coach

In a surprising yet calculated move, the St. Louis Cardinals have signed right-handed pitcher Zach Plesac to a one-year deal with performance-based incentives, sources confirmed Friday afternoon. The 30-year-old free agent joins a rotation still seeking stability, and he brings with him a compelling connection to the Cardinals’ new pitching coach, Carl Willis — the man who helped develop him during his early success in Cleveland.

Plesac, a former top prospect with the Cleveland Guardians, has had an up-and-down career marred by inconsistency and injuries. After a standout 2020 season (2.28 ERA in 8 starts), Plesac struggled to recapture that form over the past few seasons. He most recently spent time bouncing between Triple-A and the majors, including brief stints with the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets organizations. Despite the volatility, Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak believes there’s still untapped potential.

“We’ve seen what Zach is capable of when he’s confident and healthy,” Mozeliak said. “With our coaching staff and environment, we’re optimistic he can rediscover that form.”

The Carl Willis Connection

One of the key drivers behind the signing appears to be the reunion between Plesac and Carl Willis, who joined the Cardinals’ coaching staff this offseason after a long tenure as pitching coach in Cleveland and Seattle. Willis, known for his work with Shane Bieber, Carlos Carrasco, and Corey Kluber, also had a major influence on Plesac during his breakout early years.

According to sources close to the organization, Willis was a “strong advocate” for giving Plesac a shot, citing his competitiveness, athleticism, and ability to adapt when given the right tools and support.

“Zach’s got the stuff — the fastball plays, the command can be elite,” Willis said in a brief interview. “He just needs the right structure and a little confidence. That’s what we’re here to provide.”

What It Means for the Cardinals’ Rotation

The Cardinals are in desperate need of rotational depth, especially after a first half riddled with injuries and underperformance. Plesac is expected to begin in a long-relief or spot-start role, but the team reportedly views him as a potential back-end starter if he impresses early.

His signing doesn’t necessarily block any top prospects, but it does buy the team time as younger arms like Tink Hence, Cooper Hjerpe, and Gordon Graceffo continue to develop.

A Low-Risk, High-Upside Gamble

Plesac’s deal is reportedly a low-risk structure with a base salary under $2 million, including incentives that could push the total to $5 million based on innings pitched and games started. For a team hunting for answers without mortgaging the future, it’s a calculated gamble with potentially high upside.

For Plesac, it’s a chance to reboot his career in a division that offers a fresh set of challenges — and a coaching staff that already believes in him.