Flaherty, Hudson among 5 Cards to reach arb agreements

JUPITER, Fla. -- Cardinals right-handed pitchers Jack Flaherty and Dakota Hudson were two of the team’s five players to reach contract agreements and avoid arbitration on Tuesday, and the moves provided different levels of relief for the pair.

Flaherty, the Cardinals’ Opening Day starter in 2020 and ‘21, was able to avoid having to go into arbitration for a second consecutive year, and his new one-year deal kept him from having to endure those proceedings during the upcoming season -- hearings that usually take place prior to the start of Spring Training but will likely push into the regular season this year due to the lockout. Flaherty said he was willing to go into arbitration if needed in order to get the pay he thinks he has earned, but it was avoided with Tuesday’s negotiations.

“I don’t ever worry about it; I don’t ever stress about it,” said Flaherty, who recently received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right shoulder. “We have a plan, we were able to get to that point and we didn’t have to go further.”

Hudson scored something of a double victory on Tuesday, as he pitched two scoreless innings in the Cardinals' 4-3 defeat of the Marlins and then he found out about his new one-year deal after exiting the field. The 27-year-old didn’t celebrate too long as he headed straight for the bullpen to get in some extra throws to better condition his arm for the season ahead.

“I was coming off the field and they did it while I was out there and [were] finishing it up [while he was working in the bullpen],” said Hudson, who allowed just one hit in two innings on Tuesday as the Cardinals improved to 4-0 in Spring Training games. “I feel like the organization treated me with great respect and we were able to get something done. I’m glad it’s over.”

Closer Giovanny Gallegos and former closers Alex Reyes and Jordan Hicks were the other Cardinals to reach agreements on one-year contracts Tuesday. Gold Glove outfielders Tyler O’Neill and Harrison Bader did not come to terms on new contracts with the club, and their cases will now go into arbitration hearings. Dylan Carlson had his contract renewed.

O’Neill and Bader were expected to land significant raises after they set new career highs in several major offensive statistical categories and won Gold Gloves for their defensive exploits. O’Neill, 26, registered career highs last year in average (.286), on-base percentage (.352), slugging (.560), OPS (.912), home runs (34) and RBIs (80). As for Bader, 27, he too set his own highs in home runs (16) and RBIs (50) while notching his first Gold Glove defensive honor.

Bader said it’s obviously less than ideal to have to think about the season ahead and the arbitration proceedings, which aren’t expected to start until after the Cardinals open the season at Busch Stadium on April 7. However, Bader did say that baseball players are paid to play through various kinds of distractions, and he vowed to remain professional throughout the process to determine his salary for 2022.

“With what happened this offseason and no negotiations while the CBA was being decided, it’s obviously changed the timeline,” Bader said. “It’s frustrating to have another thing on my plate when I’m trying to get ready for a championship season. But that’s how life goes and sometimes you get thrown different things that you have to adjust and adapt to, and this is one of those things.”

By reaching a contract agreement on Tuesday, Flaherty can shift his entire focus on rehabilitating an ailing right shoulder that bothered him late last season and has kept him from throwing so far this spring. Tests last week showed that Flaherty has a “minor tear” in his shoulder, but it’s an injury he has managed and pitched with for years. As someone who started 8-1 last season before being sidelined by an oblique strain and later shoulder stiffness, Flaherty said on Tuesday that his shoulder is improving and he’s eager to get back on the mound.

“Mentally, day by day, I feel better,” Flaherty said. “I’m feeling better and I’m making improvements.”