St. Louis Cardinals: 6 under-the-radar closer candidates

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DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 19: Manager Mike Matheny /

Right around this time last year, the St. Louis Cardinals signed Brett Cecil almost completely out of nowhere. With the ‘closer’ role being made of utmost importance, is there another totally random Brett Cecil-type of signing out there? Here are 6 names to know…

Ever since John Mozeliak revealed that a closer is this offseason’s “top priority” for the St. Louis Cardinals and that that pitcher would “likely come from outside the organization,” rumors have swirled and names have been thrown around.

Will it be Greg Holland? What about Wade Davis? Maybe Zach Britton? How about Roberto Osuna? All are beautiful options but would either require excessive contracts or massive prospect hauls in a potential trade.

So, much like I did just the other day in looking at some under the radar ‘impact bat’ candidates for the St. Louis Cardinals, let’s take a look at some of the other guys out there in the closer market.

Quickly, before I get started with the actual list, I’m intentionally leaving Juan Nicasio off because he is already a prevalent option and doesn’t qualify to me as ‘under the radar’ because he might well be right in the center of the radar, hanging out and having drinks with Greg Holland.

Hamstringing the payroll is never good, but in a time where relief pitching is as important and volatile as its ever been, the Cardinals need to shy away from the big money contracts that Wade Davis and Greg Holland will command and instead look to fill the ranks with relatively cheap, yet quality free agents such as the 5 listed above.

With that now out of the way, here we go.

DENVER, CO – JULY 5: Relief pitcher Jake McGee /

Option #1: Jake McGee

Jake McGee is the first of the multiple free agents that will make this list, but he holds the distinction of being the only left-handed pitcher. So, to all you southpaws out there, here’s your guy; I put him first.

Formerly of the Tampa Bay Rays organization before an offseason trade brought him to Colorado prior to the 2016 season, McGee is a power pitcher through and through.

He broke out in 2014, posting a 1.89 ERA, 19 saves, 11.3 K/9, 1.73 FIP and 2.6 fWAR over 71.1 IP. However, after struggling with injuries in 2015, Colorado watched McGee suffer through a tough 2016 campaign that saw his ERA balloon to 4.73 and his K/9 fall to 7.7.

2017 was a bounce back year, though, as McGee posted a 2.93 FIP, 9.1 K/9, 2.5 BB/9 and 1.5 fWAR in 57.1 Coors Field innings pitched. Entering his age-31 season and now 3 years removed from a minor left elbow surgery, McGee looks prime to re-enter his dominant 2014 form.

For the St. Louis Cardinals, this would be a late inning power-lefty option, the likes of which hasn’t been seen in a Cardinals uniform since Kevin Siegrist’s career took a downhill tumble. In a bullpen where the best current southpaw option is Tyler Lyons, I do believe that’s a necessary thing.

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 25: Brandon Morrow /

Option #2: Brandon Morrow

If you’re watching the World Series right now, you definitely know Brandon Morrow’s name. Whether or not you knew him before this season’s Fall Classic is a different story, but you still know him.

In case you don’t know him, just look for the guy throwing 100 MPH out of the Dodgers’ bullpen. I badly want Brandon Morrow suiting up for the St. Louis Cardinals next year.

Since being drafted 5th overall in 2006, Morrow has suffered through an almost unbelievable rash of injuries while being a failed starter. The Dodgers took a flyer on him this offseason and he spent the season in their bullpen.

In 43.2 innings, Morrow posted a 2.06 ERA, 1.55 FIP, 10.3 K/9, 4.4% walk rate, and 1.6 fWAR. This is a power right-handed pitcher who is still just somehow entering his age-33 season and has a lot left in the tank, having only thrown 828 career innings.

If the Cardinals sign him, he’s your closer in 2018. Plain and simple. And, considering the lack of attention his free agent stock is receiving, Morrow could potentially be had for less than $5 million a year – quite the bargain nowadays.

Option #3: Joe Smith

Joe Smith, much like Brandon Morrow, has been around forever. Drafted in the 3rd round of that same 2006 draft, the side-arming right-hander has bounced around between six teams, the most recent being Cleveland.

Entering his age-34 season, he could appear to be a regression candidate, but his 2017 renaissance would point otherwise. After a 2016 season in which Smith was worth -0.3 fWAR over 52 IP, 2017 saw a massive bounce back to the tune of a 2.10 FIP, 2.39 xFIP, 11.8 K/9, 4.7% walk rate, and 1.6 fWAR.

This isn’t a power pitcher in the mold of Jake McGee and Brandon Morrow, but Smith certainly has strikeout stuff. He is the owner of a slider that actually rises up and away from a right-handed hitter as it passes through the zone, the likes of which are extremely uncommon in the Major League ranks, as I noted while watching him in this year’s Division Series.

Joe Smith's slider rises up and away from a right hander. Nothing else quite like it in baseball, explains his 2017 K/9 of 12.9
— Ryan Eisenauer (@Eisenauer7) October 9, 2017

The St. Louis Cardinals certainly have use of strikeout-conducive pitchers in the back end of their bullpen, as every bullpen pitcher not named ‘Rosenthal’ or ‘Lyons’ sat under 8 K/9 in 2017.

Smith is a free agent (just like everyone else here) and a potentially cheap one too, with only 30 career saves on his ledger.

CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 11: Bryan Shaw /

Option #4: Bryan Shaw

If you’re like me, you greatly admired the Cleveland Indians bullpen this season, so here’s another pending free agent (like Joe Smith) to be had from the ranks of the self proclaimed “Cleveland Bullpen Mafia,” Bryan Shaw.

Shaw was Terry Francona’s glue-guy in 2016 and 2017, throwing the most innings of any Cleveland reliever over that time span. In 2017, Shaw posted a career high 1.6 fWAR on the back of a 2.96 FIP, 81.1 LOB%, 0.59 HR/9, and 9.3 K/9.

Also, Bryan Shaw’s 2017 win probability added of 1.04 matches that of Juan Nicasio while his average leverage index of 1.52 is on par with that of Matt Bowman (1.55). So, if you’re struggling to picture Bryan Shaw as the 2018 closer for the St. Louis Cardinals, just picture Matt Bowman with a 2.96 FIP and nearly 2 more strikeouts per 9 innings.

Sure seems like a nice thought to me.

Option #5: Kevin Quackenbush

Kevin Quackenbush.

What a name.

This isn’t actually a serious option but come on, think about how much fun it would be to get a St. Louis Cardinals ‘Quackenbush’ jersey.

Give him all of the money. Do whatever it takes for me to get my Quackenbush jersey.

#Quackenbush2018

CLEVELAND, OH – APRIL 12: Anthony Swarzak /

Option #6: Anthony Swarzak

The most ‘under the radar’ closer candidate of every ‘under the radar’ closer candidate that has ever ‘under the radar’d, Anthony Swarzak had himself a season in 2017 and you’ve probably never heard of him.

The former Twin, Indian, and Yankee found himself on the south side of Chicago to begin the season before a July trade sent him to Milwaukee to finish out 2017. Overall, Swarzak posted a 2.33 ERA, 2.74 FIP, 10.5 K/9, 5.7% walk rate, and an 82.9% LOB rate, all adding up to 2.2 fWAR over the entire season, 8th overall among all qualified MLB relievers.

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In addition, Swarzak’s 2.41 win-probability-added would have ranked 1st on the St. Louis Cardinals in an average leverage index of 1.51, and I should have mentioned this with Bryan Shaw, but an LI of 1 is neutral leverage. Anything over 1 is high leverage, below 1 is low leverage.

Anthony Swarzak, entering his age-32 season, is a remarkably underrated free agent. A power-reliever who just had a career year in 77.1 relief innings pitched would normally be a hot commodity, but I’ve barely heard his name mentioned.

Swarzak, much like everyone else on this list, could reasonably be had for a fairly cheap overall contract, maintaining payroll flexibility that the Cardinals cherish so much while still filling holes in the back end of the bullpen.

Much like I suggested they do in the search for an impact bat, the St. Louis Cardinals should look to beat the market and fill their roster holes with talented players who won’t cost a fortune.

Next: 5 under the radar impact bat candidates

Combine any number of Morrow, McGee, Shaw, Smith and Swarzak with the current lay of the Cardinals’ bullpen and you’ve got a recipe for success.

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