VerHagen signed a one-year contract with the Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball on Friday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
The deal also includes a player option for a second season and could max out at close to $8 million. It will be the second stint with the Fighters for VerHagen, who pitched for them from 2020-21 before spending the last two seasons with the Cardinals.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Collects win over Reds
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VerHagen (5-1) allowed one run on one hit and struck out one over one inning to earn the win Saturday over the Reds.
The Cardinals stormed out to an 11-0 lead after three innings, but starter Drew Rom didn't complete five frames. VerHagen was ultimately awarded the win instead of Andre Pallante, who allowed a run on four hits over one inning. VerHagen has been a decent middle reliever this year with a 3.98 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 60:26 K:BB over a career-high 61 innings across 60 appearances. That's the best he's done in the majors since 2015 with the Tigers.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Takes loss Saturday
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VerHagen (4-1) allowed two runs on one hit over one-third of an inning to take the loss and a blown save Saturday versus the Pirates.
Verhagen plunked Andrew McCutchen and gave up a two-run home run to Josh Palacios in the ninth inning. Prior to Saturday, VerHagen had been in good form with just one run allowed over 10 innings since the start of August. The right-hander has a 4.38 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 52:21 K:BB, 12 holds and a blown save through 52 innings this season.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Back from bereavement leave
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The Cardinals reinstated VerHagen (personal) from the bereavement list Monday.
He'll be available out of the bullpen for Monday's series opener versus the Padres after he was away from the team for the past three days while tending to a personal matter. The Cardinals optioned James Naile to Triple-A Memphis to open up a spot on the 26-man active roster for VerHagen.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Goes on bereavement list
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VerHagen was placed on the bereavement list Friday, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
VerHagen figures to be away from the Cardinals for the duration of their weekend series in Philadelphia before rejoining the roster early next week when they return home. Guillermo Zuniga is taking his spot in the bullpen.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Returns from injured list
Rotowire
VerHagen (hip) was activated off the 15-day injured list Saturday.
VerHagen missed three weeks with a hip impingement. Prior to the injury, he recorded an unimpressive 4.78 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 35 relief appearances. Kyle Leahy was optioned to clear space on the roster for his return.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Could return Saturday
Rotowire
VerHagen (hip) could be activated from the 15-day injured list as soon as Saturday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
VerHagen allowed one run over one inning in his first rehab appearance with Double-A Springfield on Thursday, and it sounds like it might be the only rehab outing he needs before returning to the big-league bullpen. The righty holds a 4.78 ERA and 38:18 K:BB over 37.2 relief innings for the Cardinals this season.
VerHagen (hip) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Springfield on Thursday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
VerHagen landed on the injured list at the beginning of July with a right hip impingement after attempting to pitch through it for three weeks. It's unclear how long the Cardinals plan on keeping VerHagen in the minors, but it's likely he returns to the bullpen before the end of July.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Sidelined with hip impingement
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VerHagen (hip) was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right hip impingement.
John Denton of MLB.com reports VerHagen has been dealing with hip pain for three weeks. The right-hander tried to pitch through it, but he's given up eight runs (six earned) over his last 9.2 innings. He'll now be shelved for a minimum of two weeks. JoJo Romero was recalled from Triple-A Memphis to take VerHagen's spot in the Cardinals' bullpen.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Collects fourth win
Rotowire
VerHagen (4-0) pitched 1.2 perfect innings and struck out one to earn the win Sunday over the Mets.
VerHagen did his part to keep the game tied until the Cardinals took the lead in the ninth inning. The right-hander has had mixed results in June with three runs allowed over 6.2 innings while posting a 5:1 K:BB. He continues to serve as a multi-inning option, though he's also managed seven holds this season and could see more late-inning work while Ryan Helsley (forearm) is out. VerHagen has a 4.32 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 34:13 K:BB over 33.1 innings this season.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Snags win Sunday
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VerHagen (3-0) struck out three without allowing a baserunner over 2.1 innings to earn the win Sunday over the Dodgers.
VerHagen came into the game with the bases loaded and two outs, and he balked in an inherited runner. From there, he was perfect, recording seven outs on a tidy 26 pitches. The right-hander has been solid as a long-relief option for the Cardinals this season, posting a 3.60 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 26:8 K:BB over 25 innings. He's also picked up five holds. VerHagen has allowed four runs in 12.2 innings in May.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Awarded win Sunday
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VerHagen (2-0) earned the win Sunday over the Tigers, striking out three over two perfect innings.
JoJo Romero would have typically been in line for the win, but the official scorer deemed VerHagen more effective in his multi-inning appearance despite entering after the Cardinals took the lead. Over his last six outings, VerHagen has given up one run on three hits and four walks with eight strikeouts in 7.2 innings. He's been solid for the season as well with a 3.50 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB while adding four holds across 18 innings. The right-hander fills a versatile role in the Cardinals' bullpen, which has included some setup work early in 2023.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Collects first win
Rotowire
VerHagen (1-0) allowed an unearned run without allowing a hit or a walk in one inning Sunday versus the Pirates, earning the extra-inning win.
VerHagen gave up an RBI groundout to Canaan Smith-Njigba in the top of the 10th inning, but the Cardinals rallied for a walkoff win in the bottom of the frame. Through eight appearances, VerHagen has allowed three runs (two earned) while posting an 8:1 K:BB and three holds. With John Denton of MLB.com reporting manager Oliver Marmol said Sunday that Jordan Hicks would be shifting to a low-leverage role amid his recent struggles, VerHagen could be an option to see some late-inning work. It's unlikely his usage would lead to many saves, but he's been effective enough to snag some holds.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Solid pitching so far
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VerHagen has allowed a walk and struck out two over two Grapefruit League innings.
Katie Woo of The Athletic reports VerHagen mixed his new four-seam fastball in with his usual sinker and slider. A hip injury ended the right-hander's season early in 2022, and his 6.65 ERA, 1.89 WHIP and 18:14 K:BB over 21.2 relief innings weren't great marks when he was healthy. He remains in the mix as a multi-inning relief option who could also serve as a spot starter, though the Cardinals' rotation has enough depth to weather an injury or two before they'd need to turn to someone like VerHagen.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Shifts to 60-day IL
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VerHagen (hip) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday.
It was announced Thursday that VerHagen will require season-ending surgery on his hip, so the move to the 60-day IL was no surprise. The 31-year-old inked a two-year, $5.5 million deal with the Cardinals after spending the previous two seasons in Japan, and he struggled in his return to the majors with a 6.65 ERA, 1.89 WHIP and 18:14 K:BB across 21.2 innings.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Requires season-ending surgery
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VerHagen will undergo season-ending hip surgery, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
VerHagen dealt with a hip injury for most of the season, and he'll ultimately require a procedure to address the issue. The right-hander made just 19 appearances during his injury-plagued season and posted a 6.65 ERA and 1.89 WHIP in 21.2 innings. According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, VerHagen is expected to make a full recovery from hip surgery in advance of spring training.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Throws side session
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VerHagen (hip) threw a side session this week, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
VerHagen recently received a second opinion on his injury, but the evaluation apparently didn't reveal anything concerning as he's been cleared to begin a throwing program. The right-hander has been on the shelf since July 17 due to a right hip impingement, but it's possible that he'll rejoin the Cardinals' bullpen sometime in early August.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Getting second opinion
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VerHagen is getting a second opinion on his right hip, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
The injury has been labeled an impingement, but VerHagen has dealt with the injury for months. It's possible he is getting the second opinion to determine if surgery makes sense.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Heads to IL with hip issue
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The Cardinals placed VerHagen on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right hip impingement.
Just four days ago, VerHagen returned from a three-week stint on the IL due to a sore right shoulder, but he made only two appearances out of the St. Louis bullpen before succumbing to another injury. His latest IL stint is backdated to Friday, so he'll be eligible to return as soon as July 30. The Cardinals reinstated Steven Matz (shoulder) from the IL in a corresponding move in advance of his scheduled start Sunday against the Reds.
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Cardinals' Drew VerHagen: Comes off IL
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The Cardinals reinstated VerHagen (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
St. Louis optioned left-handed starter Matthew Liberatore to Triple-A Memphis to clear a spot on the active roster for VerHagen, who will be available in a multi-inning role out of the bullpen as he makes his way back from the IL. Before being sidelined with the right shoulder injury, VerHagen hadn't been particularly effective for St. Louis, pitching to a 6.30 ERA and 1.80 WHIP over his 17 appearances out of the bullpen.
