St. Louis Cardinals: Free Agent Pitchers Who Make Sense

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Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Scott Kazmir

A three-time All-Star, Scott Kazmir had a difficult time finding a job a few years ago, but now finds himself in a situation as one of the most coveted free agents remaining on the market. Kazmir has adapted to an American-league pitching style through his entire 11-year career, meaning he could thrive in a new change of scenery without frequently being exposed to designated hitters.

Kazmir’s two-seam fastball averaged just over 91 mph last year, assorted with a variety of pitches such as changeup, cutter and slider. He demonstrates similar composure to Jaime Garcia mechanically and could provide similar leadership to John Lackey. Last year marked the first time that Kazmir finished in the American League’s Top 5 for ERA (3.10), while his postseason experience on three teams also makes him a stronger middle-rotation candidate.

Steven McNeil talked about Kazmir being one of those under the radar “bargain signings”. Kazmir offers quite a bit with his

Reasonable contract: 2 years, $26 million

Next: Yovani Gallardo