St. Louis Cardinals bullpen is full of depth

There’s no doubting that the St. Louis Cardinals bullpen will be full of depth this season. All one has to do is look at the guys that are likely to start this season in the bullpen and the amount of power arms in the minor league system that can be called up if someone goes down.
Oct 26, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal throws a pitch against the Boston Red Sox in the 9th inning during game three of the MLB baseball World Series at Busch Stadium. Image Credit: Eileen Blass-USA TODAY Sports
Jason Motte is the only Cardinals pitcher remaining from 2012’s law firm of Edward Mujica, Mitchell Boggs, and Motte–better known as the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings guys as the Cardinals made another run to the postseason. Motte’s return to the bullpen meant that the Cardinals had to make a move to free up a spot and they did when they sent Fernando Salas to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Gordo looks at the bullpen turnover and depth.

What we know right now is that Trevor Rosenthal, Carlos Martinez, Kevin Siegrist and Seth Maness are likely to return to the bullpen. I stress likely because Martinez could very well end up with one of the rotation spots. Martinez has to battle Jaime Garcia, Joe Kelly, and Lance Lynn for the two spots–Garcia, if healthy, will be a starter in the rotation so it’s a battle of 3 pitchers for the final spot.

A left-handed pitcher like Tim Cooney could be called upon to make a spot start or come out of the bullpen, if necessary.

Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha, and Shelby Miller will have spots in the rotation. Those are locked in stone.

With the amount of power arms on the team and in the farm, it almost makes one wish that the 40-man roster was year-round and not just for the last month of the season!

Other notes:
David Bell is “thrilled” to be the assistant hitting coach.

Bernie Pleskoff has named both Kolten Wong and Oscar Taveras to his all-National League prospects dream team. His dream team also includes 4 Chicago Cubs prospects, a sign that they could be contenders in the next few seasons.