06/08/2007 6:28 PM ET

Cards and pitcher Troy Percival agree to Minor League deal

 

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Cardinals announced today that they have agreed to terms with right-handed reliever Troy Percival on a minor league contract. The veteran closer will report to Triple-A Memphis where he will continue his attempt at a comeback.

 

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No doubt this puts them over the top and they go back to back.

I doubt it.. Im just curious what comes outta this.. Does Franklin move into the rotation for Wellemeyer.. does Anthony Reyes comeback and Kip Wells get DFA'd with a bad game tonight? Will the Cards trade Isringhausen to a contender if they are outta it (and this division they arent yet)? there's a lot that can come from this move.. we'll see.. Or he could just comeback.. stink and it wont matter.. but I have no reason to rip this signing right now.. never know what can happen..

Juniors sarcasm is getting better.

 

Depending on how he progresses after so much time off(and Perez throwing well in Springfield) could signal the end of Isringhausens era in the STL.

Could be an excellent pickup if Percival goes back to his old self.

All the luck in the world to him, would be a nice story if he comes back strong.

los angeles cardinals of st. louis...i'm telling you, they are getting all of the ex-angels together.

 

but does percy still have it?

They do have alot of Angels former. Sadly, they arent really getting much out of them.

 

Edmonds has become average defensively and for the most part does no good at the plate. Kennedy was a surprising and kind of crappy free agent acquisition. And Eckstein is the same light hitting no defense SS he has always been.

NEW YORK -- Almost two years after he retired, Troy Percival returned to the big leagues.

 

The St. Louis Cardinals called up the former All-Star closer on Tuesday, hoping he can help a bullpen that has struggled this season.

 

The 37-year-old Percival, 12th on the career saves list with 324, left the majors because of persistent soreness in his right shoulder. His final outing was with Detroit on July 9, 2005, when he gave up a game-ending home run to Tampa Bay's Jonny Gomes.

 

"It feels like it's always felt," Percival said before Tuesday night's game against the New York Mets. "It's good to be back. It feels like I never skipped a beat."

 

Percival signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals on June 8. He appeared in six games for Triple-A Memphis and had a 1.35 ERA in 6 2/3 innings.

 

Manager Tony La Russa said Percival is ready to go.

 

"He's going to be a short-spurt type," La Russa said. "We won't stretch him out much unless we're just trying to get him some work."

 

The first 10 years of the right-hander's career were spent with the Angels, and the hard thrower closed out their World Series championship in 2002. He pitched for Detroit in his final season and served as a scout with the Tigers last year.

 

The Cardinals have been below .500 for most of the season, a year after winning the World Series. Several members of their starting rotation have been hurt and their bullpen is 11th in the National League with a 4.13 ERA.

 

To make room for Percival, the Cardinals sent right-handed reliever Andy Cavazos to Triple-A Memphis. Cavazos was 0-0 in seven games, allowing seven runs and 11 hits in 11 innings for a 5.79 ERA.

 

Percival, who received a $100,000 bonus when he signed his minor league contract, gets a $500,000 base salary with the Cardinals. He can earn up to $1.2 million in performance bonus based on games, getting the full amount if he pitches in 30. He would also get an additional $500,000 if he finishes 30 games.

 

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Cardinals P Percival one of top feel-good stories of 2007

August 13, 2007 By Brian Joura

PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

 

 

 

ST. LOUIS (TICKER) -- Lost in Barry Bonds' controversial run at the all-time home run mark and most recently the triumphant return of Rick Ankiel to the majors leagues, is the feel-good story of Ankiel's teammate, Troy Percival after a two-year hiatus from the game.

 

A closer for nine years with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Percival has resumed his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, working as a setup man for RHP Jason Isringhausen. Percival has appeared in 18 games so far this season with the Cardinals and has a 2.50 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 18 innings.

 

It was a love of the game that brought Percival back.

 

"Just the fact that my arm started feeling pretty good," Percival said. "The doctors told me that I probably wouldn't be able to throw again, but the more I threw the better it felt. I just figured, you know what, I want to play until they rip this uniform off me and I'm going to try it again."

 

Percival's comeback has gone so smoothly that he's already thinking about pitching in 2008. He's 12th on the all-time saves list with 324, but even next year a closer's job is not his top priority.

 

"I'm just going to sit back and I don't necessary have to close," Percival said. "I'm going to look for the best opportunity for me to go and contribute in a decent role that means something. I'm not a long guy, I'm a little too old for that so I'm going to look at every opportunity that I have and surely St. Louis is going to be the first place I look."

 

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