"The Cardinals on Thursday formally announced the signing of lefthanded reliever J.C. Romero to a one-year contract. Terms were not announced.

The move could complete a bullpen that already offers lefthander Marc Rzepczynski and an abundance of righthanders, including Jason Motte, Lance Lynn, Kyle McClellan, Fernando Salas, Mitchell Boggs and Eduardo Sanchez.

Romero, 35, worked 36 games last season for the Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies. He compiled a combined 1-0 record and 4.32 ERA in 24 2/3 innings. He profiles as a lefthanded specialist as lefthanded bats reached him for a relatively modest .231 average and no extra-base hits in 46 plate appearances while righthanded hitters bothered him for a .322 average and nine extra-base hits in 70 plate appearances. Righthanded hitters compiled a .937 on-base-plus-slugging percentage against him."