St. Louis Cardinals: Michael Fulmer is a trade target

While the St. Louis Cardinals play the Detroit Tigers, reliever Michael Fulmer is one player to watch as a trade target for the bullpen.

The St. Louis Cardinals need offense. That is the worst kept secret in baseball. But what they could really use is another bullpen arm, especially with right-handed reliever Jordan Hicks on the injured list long-term.

And their upcoming series against the Detroit Tigers could offer a look at a few potential options, with one being right-handed pitcher Michael Fulmer.

Now, it’s unclear if the Tigers will even make Fulmer available. He has been coveted by teams since 2017, where the New York Yankees and others pursued him and Gerrit Cole to head their rotations, only for the Tigers to say they wanted to hold onto him. This year could be different, however, as the Tigers look to build for the future and restock their farm system for manager A.J. Hinch.

Fulmer, 28, has shifted to the bullpen and has become the Tigers’ closer. He has a 3.55 ERA and 40/11 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 38 innings. He has closed six games and has an ERA+ of 122, emerging as one of their top bullpen pieces this year.

If the Cardinals acquired Fulmer, or any other reliever for that matter, he would not step in as the closer. That job belongs to Alex Reyes, who has emerged as one of the most dominant relievers in baseball. But adding Fulmer, and then Hicks later in the season, would give the Cardinals a trio that is as good as any in the game.

It would also take pressure off a Cardinals rotation that has been decimated by injuries. That said, Jack Flaherty is expected back at some point in August and the team hopes Miles Mikolas will return at some point.

Pairing that rotation, along with a bullpen that features Hicks and Fulmer, could be what puts the Cardinals over the top. But Fulmer is one of the options the team will likely consider and this upcoming series against the Tigers should show them why.