St. Louis Cardinals: Four Possible Free Agent Replacements for Alex Reyes

Sep 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Alex Reyes (61) reacts to falling down trying to field an infield single off the bat of Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell (not pictured) during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Alex Reyes (61) reacts to falling down trying to field an infield single off the bat of Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell (not pictured) during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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St. Louis Cardinals
Oct 9, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Colby Lewis throws a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the second inning during game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 3 – Colby Lewis

Colby Lewis is another strong option for teams in search of an experienced veteran that provides depth to a starting rotation. He’s coming off a strong year for the Texas Rangers making 19 starts and posting a 3.71 ERA. Lewis has also been relied upon by the Rangers in recent years as a multi-inning reliever in the postseason.

Lewis is an interesting candidate for the Cardinals because even though he is a free agent, he is likely to still end up with the Rangers. He pitched for the Rangers from 2002 to 2004 and then again from 2010 to 2016 and there are rumors of them remaining interested in him. However, he still remains a free agent as spring training goes into full swing.

Lewis is 37-years old and has pitched in the major leagues for 11 years. His age makes him a short-term contract candidate while his experience and abilities make him a gap filler on any team. It is unlikely he is a full-time starter wherever he ends up but he did not seem to have any issues pitching out of the bullpen while in Texas.

The St. Louis Cardinals want to return to the postseason and want to return to their successful ways. They’ve built their recent success on pitching, roster depth, and postseason play. Colby Lewis has postseason experience, would provide the rotation and the bullpen with some security, and is a relatively successful pitcher.

He may not be the best option on this list, but he’s a good one nonetheless. If Reyes’s injury causes the Cardinals to lack depth in their pitching staff, then why not fix that with the reliable Colby Lewis?