St. Louis Cardinals Best/Worst Case 2016: Trevor Rosenthal

Jul 11, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal (44) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the tenth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 11, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal (44) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the tenth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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Jul 11, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal (44) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the tenth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 11, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal (44) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the tenth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Cardinals’ closer notched 40 plus saves again last season. What are the scenarios that could play out for Trevor Rosenthal in 2016?

Trevor Rosenthal is the anchor of the St. Louis Cardinals bullpen. There are no doubts about that.

The closer notched 48 saves last season with a stellar 2.10 ERA and a 2.42 FIP. He also struck out 83 batters in 68.2 innings pitched. Rosenthal’s 48 saves also planted him in the Cardinals’ record books passing Jason Isringhausen and his 47-save season in 2004. Isringhausen was 31 years old when he set that Cardinals record. Rosenthal beat it at 25 years old and only his second season closing for St. Louis.

In fact, Rosenthal is already 5th on the Cardinals all-time saves list, and with another 40-plus save season he has a chance to move ahead of Todd Worrell for sole possession of third place all time. That’s what makes the right hander so special and so exciting.

He’s said differently, but Rosenthal might as well close the book on any thoughts of ever becoming a starter. The hard throwing righty is going to be shutting the door in the ninth inning for many years to come with the Redbirds. The last two years have proven that he is simply too good not to be in that role. The Cardinals need him there, too. For more on this, check out Dan Buffa’s piece on Rosenthal here.

As we look ahead to the start of the 2016 season, what will Rosenthal accomplish this year? Can the young closer continue to ascend the Cardinals record books?

What are the best and worst case scenarios for Rosenthal?

Next: Best Case: Rosenthal Nails Down 50 Saves

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