When the St. Louis Cardinals quietly inked 32-year-old reliever Phil Maton to a modest one-year, $2 million contract over the offseason, it barely registered with fans. It seemed like a routine move — a low-risk bullpen addition, perhaps a placeholder until a more high-profile acquisition came along.
But fast forward nearly two months into the 2025 MLB season, and Maton has far exceeded expectations. Not only has he justified his salary, he’s become a vital cog in a red-hot Cardinals bullpen — and one of the most valuable bargain signings in all of baseball.
A Reliever on a Mission
Maton’s arrival in St. Louis wasn’t met with much buzz. After a respectable, though not standout, 2024 season split between the Mets and Rays (3.66 ERA with 60 strikeouts over 64 innings), the bar was set fairly low.
Now, he’s flipping the script.
Through 19 outings this season, Maton has pitched 17 innings with a 3.18 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts. While his stats are solid, they don’t fully reflect his impact. He’s become manager Oli Marmol’s go-to option in pressure-packed situations, regularly locking down tight games and halting late-inning rallies.
Living the Childhood Dream
A native of Paducah, Kentucky, Maton grew up a die-hard Cardinals fan, idolizing stars like Mark McGwire. Today, he’s not just wearing the uniform — he’s shining in it.
“Ten-year-old me would be losing it,” Maton told MLB.com. “I had all the Cardinals stuff — even this little red plastic locker with the logo on it. Getting to actually wear the jersey now… it’s a dream come true.”
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