Biographical

Portrait of Jason Motte

Jason Motte PCardinals

Cardinals Player Cards | Cardinals Team Audit | Cardinals Depth Chart

2019 Projections (Preseason PECOTA - seasonal age 37)
IP ERA WHIP SO W L SV WARP
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Birth Date6-22-1982
Height6' 0"
Weight205 lbs
Age41 years, 10 months, 9 days
BatsR
ThrowsR
-0.52015
-0.82016
-0.32017
2018
-0.22019
proj
WARP Summary

MLB Statistics

Historical (past-seasons) WARP is now based on DRA..
cFIP and DRA are not available on a by-team basis and display as zeroes(0). See TOT line for season totals of these stats.
Multiple stints are are currently shown —Click to hide.
YEAR Team Lg G GS IP W L SV H BB SO HR PPF H/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/9 GB% BABIP WHIP FIP ERA cFIP DRA DRA- WARP
2008 SLN MLB 12 0 11.0 0 0 1 5 3 16 0 97 4.1 2.5 0.0 13.1 0% .238 0.73 1.01 0.82 71 2.95 62.9 0.3
2009 SLN MLB 69 0 56.7 4 4 0 57 23 54 10 91 9.1 3.7 1.6 8.6 0% .303 1.41 4.76 4.76 99 4.57 98.0 0.4
2010 SLN MLB 56 0 52.3 4 2 2 41 18 54 5 89 7.1 3.1 0.9 9.3 0% .275 1.13 3.31 2.24 91 3.63 82.0 0.8
2011 SLN MLB 78 0 68.0 5 2 9 49 16 63 2 95 6.5 2.1 0.3 8.3 0% .258 0.96 2.44 2.25 84 3.28 76.3 1.2
2012 SLN MLB 67 0 72.0 4 5 42 49 17 86 9 98 6.1 2.1 1.1 10.8 0% .242 0.92 3.16 2.75 76 2.83 64.9 1.7
2014 SLN MLB 29 0 25.0 1 0 0 29 9 17 7 105 10.4 3.2 2.5 6.1 0% .286 1.52 6.46 4.68 116 5.33 130.8 -0.3
2015 CHN MLB 57 0 48.3 8 1 6 48 11 34 4 92 8.9 2.0 0.7 6.3 0% .284 1.22 3.63 3.91 116 5.66 132.3 -0.5
2016 COL MLB 30 0 23.7 0 1 0 28 8 24 6 114 10.6 3.0 2.3 9.1 43% .319 1.52 5.71 4.94 127 7.90 174.9 -0.8
2017 ATL MLB 46 0 40.7 1 0 0 28 20 27 6 6.2 4.4 1.3 6.0 46% .200 1.18 5.46 3.54 115 5.73 122.0 -0.3
CareerMLB4440397.727156033412537549867.62.81.18.542%.2651.153.883.30984.3798.52.4

Statistics for All Levels

'opp' stats - Quality of opponents faced - have been moved and are available only as OPP_QUAL in the Statistics reports now.
Minor league stats are currently shown —Click to hide.
YEAR Team Lg LG G GS IP W L SV H BB SO HR PPF H/9 BB/9 HR/9 K/9 GB% BABIP WHIP FIP ERA cFIP DRA DRA-
2006 QUD A MDW 8 0 12.1 1 1 0 16 3 13 1 11.9 2.2 0.7 9.7 0% .375 1.57 3.22 5.21 0 0.00 0.0
2006 SCO A- NYP 21 0 26.0 1 2 8 30 4 25 1 10.4 1.4 0.3 8.7 0% .345 1.31 2.34 3.12 0 0.00 0.0
2007 PMB A+ FSL 9 0 10.0 1 0 3 7 1 6 0 93 6.3 0.9 0.0 5.4 0% .212 0.80 2.40 0.90 88 3.15 64.6
2007 SFD AA TXS 44 0 49.0 3 3 8 36 22 63 3 102 6.6 4.0 0.6 11.6 0% .303 1.18 2.93 2.20 80 4.36 89.5
2007 MSS Wnt AFL 11 0 12.0 2 0 1 10 5 10 2 7.5 3.8 1.5 7.5 0% .222 1.25 5.28 3.00 0 0.00 0.0
2008 SLN MLB NL 12 0 11.0 0 0 1 5 3 16 0 97 4.1 2.5 0.0 13.1 0% .238 0.73 1.01 0.82 71 2.95 62.9
2008 MEM AAA PCL 63 0 66.7 4 3 9 64 26 110 6 103 8.6 3.5 0.8 14.8 0% .395 1.35 2.56 3.24 58 3.08 63.0
2009 SLN MLB NL 69 0 56.7 4 4 0 57 23 54 10 91 9.1 3.7 1.6 8.6 0% .303 1.41 4.76 4.76 99 4.57 98.0
2010 SLN MLB NL 56 0 52.3 4 2 2 41 18 54 5 89 7.1 3.1 0.9 9.3 0% .275 1.13 3.31 2.24 91 3.63 82.0
2010 MEM AAA PCL 2 0 2.7 0 0 0 2 1 2 0 6.7 3.3 0.0 6.7 0% .250 1.11 3.21 3.33 0 0.00 0.0
2011 SLN MLB NL 78 0 68.0 5 2 9 49 16 63 2 95 6.5 2.1 0.3 8.3 0% .258 0.96 2.44 2.25 84 3.28 76.3
2012 SLN MLB NL 67 0 72.0 4 5 42 49 17 86 9 98 6.1 2.1 1.1 10.8 0% .242 0.92 3.16 2.75 76 2.83 64.9
2014 SLN MLB NL 29 0 25.0 1 0 0 29 9 17 7 105 10.4 3.2 2.5 6.1 0% .286 1.52 6.46 4.68 116 5.33 130.8
2014 SFD AA TEX 5 0 4.7 0 0 0 1 1 3 0 1.9 1.9 0.0 5.8 0% .083 0.43 2.47 0.00 97 2.62 55.4
2014 MEM AAA PCL 2 0 3.0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 6.0 0.0 0.0 6.0 0% .222 0.67 2.36 0.00 99 4.08 86.3
2015 CHN MLB NL 57 0 48.3 8 1 6 48 11 34 4 92 8.9 2.0 0.7 6.3 0% .284 1.22 3.63 3.91 116 5.66 132.3
2016 COL MLB NL 30 0 23.7 0 1 0 28 8 24 6 114 10.6 3.0 2.3 9.1 43% .319 1.52 5.71 4.94 127 7.90 174.9
2016 ABQ AAA PCL 6 0 5.7 0 0 0 3 3 5 1 4.8 4.8 1.6 7.9 23% .167 1.06 5.83 3.18 104 3.14 69.4
2017 ATL MLB NL 46 0 40.7 1 0 0 28 20 27 6 6.2 4.4 1.3 6.0 46% .200 1.18 5.46 3.54 115 5.73 122.0
2017 ROM A SAL 1 0 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 9.0 100% .000 0.00 1.53 0.00 88 3.86 82.1
2017 GWN AAA INT 7 0 7.3 1 0 2 5 1 7 0 6.1 1.2 0.0 8.6 37% .263 0.82 1.84 1.23 84 3.29 70.1

Plate Discipline

YEAR Pits Zone% Swing% Contact% Z-Swing% O-Swing% Z-Contact% O-Contact% SwStr%
2008 171 0.5497 0.4795 0.6707 0.6383 0.2857 0.7500 0.4545 0.3293
2009 921 0.5353 0.4647 0.7991 0.6389 0.2640 0.8540 0.6460 0.2009
2010 824 0.5109 0.5085 0.7446 0.6912 0.3176 0.7973 0.6250 0.2554
2011 1112 0.5216 0.5090 0.7473 0.6483 0.3571 0.8059 0.6316 0.2527
2012 1120 0.5545 0.5232 0.7184 0.6957 0.3086 0.7569 0.6104 0.2816
2014 407 0.5258 0.4939 0.7861 0.6729 0.2953 0.8264 0.6842 0.2139
2015 781 0.5455 0.5314 0.8578 0.7183 0.3070 0.8824 0.7890 0.1422
2016 461 0.4902 0.5098 0.8213 0.7168 0.3106 0.9074 0.6301 0.1787
2017 639 0.4444 0.4585 0.8157 0.6549 0.3014 0.9032 0.6636 0.1843
Career64360.52190.50110.77530.67600.30950.82920.64990.2247

Injury History  —  No longer being updated

Last Update: 12/31/2014 23:59 ET

Date On Date Off Transaction Days Games Side Body Part Injury Severity Surgery Date Reaggravation
2014-08-01 2014-09-02 15-DL 32 30 - Low Back Strain -
2014-03-21 2014-05-20 15-DL 60 44 Right Elbow Recovery From Surgery Tommy John Surgery 2013-05-07 -
2013-03-22 2013-10-31 60-DL 223 162 Right Elbow Surgery Tommy John Surgery 2013-05-07 -
2010-08-03 2010-08-30 15-DL 27 22 Right Shoulder Sprain AC Joint Bothered Since April -
2010-06-27 2010-06-28 DTD 1 1 Lower Leg Cramp Calf -

Compensation

Year Team Salary
2017 COL $5,000,000
2017 ATL $
2016 COL $5,000,000
2015 CHN $4,500,000
2014 SLN $7,500,000
2013 SLN $4,500,000
2012 SLN $1,950,000
2011 SLN $435,000
2010 SLN $411,000
2009 SLN $400,000
YearsDescriptionSalary
9 yrPrevious$29,696,000
9 yrTotal$29,696,000

 

Service TimeAgentContract Status
9 y 17 dACES1 year (2018)

Details
  • 1 year (2018). Signed by St. Louis as a free agent 2/16/18 (minor-league contract). Released by St. Louis 3/23/18.
  • 2 years/$10M (2016-17). Signed by Colorado as a free agent 12/8/15. 16:$5M, 17:$5M. DFA by Colorado 3/31/17. Released by Colorado 4/5/17. Signed by Atlanta as a free agent 4/10/17 (minor-league contract). Contract selected by Atlanta 4/27/17.
  • 1 year/$4.5M (2015). Signed by Chicago Cubs as a free agent 12/15/14. Performance bonuses: $0.25M each for 60, 65 games. $0.25M each for each game finished from 50 to 59 GF.
  • 2 years/$12M (2013-14). Signed extension with St. Louis 1/23/13 (avoided arbitration, $5.5M-$4.5M). $1M signing bonus. 13:$4M, 13:$7M. 2014 performance bonuses: $0.25M each for 50, 60 games finished.
  • 1 year/$1.95M (2012). Re-signed by St. Louis 1/25/12 (avoided arbitration, $2.4M-$1.5M). Performance bonuses: $25,000 each for 50, 55, 60 games finished.
  • 1 year/$0.435M (2011). Re-signed by St. Louis 2/11.
  • 1 year/$0.411M (2010). Re-signed by St. Louis 3/4/10.
  • 1 year/$0.4M (2009). Re-signed by St. Louis 2/28/09.
  • 1 year (2008). Contract purchased by St. Louis 11/20/07. Re-signed by St. Louis 3/4/08.
  • Drafted by St. Louis (as catcher) 2003 (19-575) (Iona).

2019 Preseason Forecast

Last Update: 1/27/2017 12:35 ET

PCT W L SV G GS IP H BB SO HR BABIP WHIP ERA DRA VORP WARP
90o 8.8 0 1.1 60 0 51.8 38 20 44 6 .231 1.11 3.58 4.02 -6.0 -0.7
80o 7.6 0 0.9 53 0 45.5 36 19 38 5 .245 1.21 3.98 4.47 -7.5 -0.8
70o 6.7 0 0.8 48 0 41.2 35 18 35 5 .255 1.28 4.28 4.8 -8.2 -0.9
60o 6 0 0.7 44 0 37.5 33 17 32 5 .264 1.34 4.54 5.09 -8.7 -0.9
50o 5.4 0 0.6 40 0 34.2 31 16 29 5 .273 1.40 4.78 5.36 -8.9 -1.0
40o 4.8 0 0.5 36 0 30.9 30 15 26 4 .281 1.46 5.03 5.64 -9.0 -1.0
30o 4.2 0 0.4 32 0 27.6 28 14 23 4 .290 1.53 5.30 5.95 -9.0 -1.0
20o 3.5 0 0.4 28 0 23.7 25 13 20 4 .301 1.61 5.63 6.31 -8.6 -0.9
10o 2.7 0 0.3 22 0 18.6 21 11 16 3 .316 1.73 6.09 6.84 -7.8 -0.9
Weighted Mean5.300.639033.43016284.2711.384.745.32-8.6-0.9

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BP Annual Player Comments

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BP Articles

Click here to see articles tagged with Jason Motte

BP Chats

DateQuestionAnswer
2015-07-23 17:00:00 (link to chat)Is the truth out there or is it hiding beneath Jason Motte's beard? Also, will Soriano be a bust or boom for the Northsiders?
(Agent Mulder from DC)		It's buried under The Field Museum.

Bust in terms of not being a shutdown closer. Fine in terms of providing OK relief innings. (Mike Gianella)
2014-09-08 13:00:00 (link to chat)Hi Sam, Which non-closers should I pick up now on the chance they will close in 2015?
(Cal Guy from Cal)		Wade Davis, Ken Giles, Kevin Jepsen, Bruce Rondon... though not necessarily closing in April 2005. Trying to figure out who is going to close for the Giants next year. Who's going to close for the Giants next year? I'll say Jason Motte is going to close for the Giants next year. Enjoy this prediction, Giants fans and fantasy owners, I wrote it just for you! (Sam Miller)
2014-03-19 20:00:00 (link to chat)Hey Bret - Any guys that are not closers this year that could have the inside track to be closer next year? Thanks.
(Dave from Boston)		Cody Allen and Jason Motte. (Bret Sayre)
2013-09-12 18:00:00 (link to chat)Some non-closer this year that are good bets to earn 20+ saves next year are _____?
(Joanah from Redwood)		Hi Joanah.

No non-closer is ever a good bet to earn 20+ saves. If you had Kevin Gregg with 30 saves this year, raise your hand. Not so fast, every single one of you.

But if you're asking for names, I like Cody Allen in Cleveland, Ryan Cook in Oakland, and Trevor Rosenthal in St. Louis if he stays in the bullpen. All three are risks, but that's the nature of a question like this; these are all guesses at this point. I think the Indians will non-tender Perez, but maybe they sign him for $9-10 million. Grant Balfour probably leaves for free agency, but maybe he doesn't. Edward Mujica probably leaves, but maybe the Cardinals keep him or maybe Jason Motte is healthy and gets the role back. I used to shy away from the skills over roles thing, but now I believe it. If you grabbed Rosenthal in your fantasy league this year, you probably were very satisfied with the overall numbers (and especially the strikeouts) even though he never wound up closing. (Mike Gianella)
2013-02-14 13:00:00 (link to chat)1) Will my beard ever be as epic as Jason Motte's? 2) Is there a better time to sell high on me?
(R.A. Dickey from Growing a Manly Beard)		1 & 2) Probably not. (Paul Sporer)
2013-02-14 13:00:00 (link to chat)With SP being so deep this year, would you risk parting with a stud closer (Jason Motte) for a 2/3sp like Jordan Zimmerman?
(bateman19 from Boston, MA)		I would, yes. Motte is my #2 closer, but Zimm is a favorite. I think he's fantastic. (Paul Sporer)
2012-02-14 13:00:00 (link to chat)Standard 5x5 keeper league. Is David Freese a drastic overpay for Jason Motte? (Both players have the same salaries for this year, next year, etc.) I'm concerned Freese can't stay healthy enough to play more than 100 games.
(Kingpin from Grinnell, IA)		I've talked with BP's in-house injury expert, Corey Dawkins, about Freese in the past, and he doesn't believe that Freese is that typical injury-prone sort--just unlucky. That said, it really depends on who your other 3B options are and how badly you need a closer. Are there a lot of other closers out there to be drafted this year? Motte is talented, but closers are largely interchangeable, so while I'm not in love with Freese, I wouldn't pay him if you can get someone comparable without giving him up. In a vacuum, in a 12-team mixed league, I'll take Motte based purely on value. (Derek Carty)
2012-02-02 15:00:00 (link to chat)Cory, Do you think there's fewer top tier closers this year. I drink the 411 Kool-Aid but I'm hoping to pick up 2 of the top 12 closers a little later than normal. Do you agree? And who do you think might have value as a #2 closer. Many thanks Neil
(Neil from London, England)		It does seem that way. The top 5 this year is probably Kimbrel, Mariano, Papelbon, Axford and Wilson, or maybe Storen, but that doesn't seem as strong as two years ago when Bell was in that mix. I'm looking closely at Jason Motte for my targeted #2 this year; I picked him up several times last year in NFBC while their closer carousel was spinning, but of course by the time he actually got the job I was out of FAAB money! Figures. (Cory Schwartz)
2012-02-02 15:00:00 (link to chat)Standard 5x5 keeper league. Is David Freese a drastic overpay for Jason Motte? (Both players have the same salaries for this year, next year, etc.) I'm a Cardinal fan and I just don't see Freese healthy enough to play more than 100 games.
(Kingpin from Grinnell, IA)		Last one... and thanks to everyone for the great questions. My fingers hurt from typing!

At the same salary, I'd take Motte. As mentioned earlier I think he'll be a very solid #2 closer this year, with strong strikeout numbers and ratios, as he's developed his pitch repertoire a little bit over the years. Freese is a solid hitter, and while I'm not worried too much about the injuries, I just don't see enough power upside to make him untradable. Do the deal. (Cory Schwartz)
2012-01-10 13:00:00 (link to chat)Who are some breakout closers you have in mind for 2012? Not just save collectors, guys that could be elite. Kimbrel was a a draft day jewel for lots of people last year, no doubt.
(froston from Canada!)		Rafael Betancourt, Jason Motte, Addison Reed, Grant Balfour. Betancourt and Motte have already shown elite skills and will likely start the year with the jobs. Reed's riskier but could be elite too (also might not get the job), Balfour's a tier below but still good (and too might not get the job). (Derek Carty)
2010-04-08 14:00:00 (link to chat)The right side of the Cardinals' bullpen is brutal...can any of Sanchez/Salas/Samuel contribute this year?
(Andrew from Chicago )		I could see Sanchez getting there at some point. I'm not sure he's going to help a ton this year though. Jason Motte sure can throw those upper 90s fastballs up and straight as an arrow, can't he? (Kevin Goldstein)
2009-07-21 13:00:00 (link to chat)Do the Cardinals have what it takes to get Halladay? I've got to think Brett Wallace is expendable, but while guys like Jason Motte and Jess Todd are nice pieces, I get the feeling they don't have the kind of starting pitching required to get the deal done. Am I wrong about that?
(David Vines from NYC)		Tons of Halladay-trade scenarios in here.

Two Sundays ago I was on Ken Broo's fine sports show on WLW in Cincinnati -- Ken is a BP fan who knows his stuff -- and Halladay came up. I opined that the Cardinals were a possible destination for him, and that if that happened,it almost ensured the division. While teams like the Indians, Astros and Bruce-less Reds, are better served looking to the future, St. Louis may seriously want to consider such a deal. Wallace has a damn bright future, though. (David Laurila)


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PITCHf/x Pitcher Profile

A Collaboration between BrooksBaseball.net and Baseball Prospectus - Pitch classifications provided by Pitch Info LLC


Although he has not thrown an MLB pitch in 2024, Jason Motte threw 6,863 pitches that were tracked by the PITCHf/x system between 2008 and 2017, all of them occuring in Spring Training. In 2017, he relied primarily on his Cutter (87mph) and Fourseam Fastball (93mph). He also rarely threw a Sinker (94mph), Change (91mph) and Slider (93mph).