5 pitchers the St. Louis Cardinals could target this offseason

Mike Maddux of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on from the top step of dugout during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on September 05, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Brewers defeated the Cardinals 6-5. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
Mike Maddux of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on from the top step of dugout during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on September 05, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Brewers defeated the Cardinals 6-5. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 12: Starting pitcher Carlos Rodon #55 of the Chicago White Sox delivers the ball against the Houston Astros at Guaranteed Rate Field on October 12, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. The Astros defeated the White Sox 10-1. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 12: Starting pitcher Carlos Rodon #55 of the Chicago White Sox delivers the ball against the Houston Astros at Guaranteed Rate Field on October 12, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. The Astros defeated the White Sox 10-1. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Carlos Rodon

In his final season before hitting free agency, Carlos Rodon was 13-5 with 24 games started for the Chicago White Sox. The left-hander threw 132.2 innings and one complete game shutout.  He had an 82.2 left of base percentage striking out a career-high 185 batters. He had a swinging strike rate of 30.3.

Rodon uses a four-seam fastball, a slider, a changeup, and a curveball. Rodon’s fastball averaged 95.4 mph with a drop of 12.6 inches and an active spin of 98%. The slider hits 85.8 mph with 38.2 inches of drop and an active spin of 28%. Rodon’s change-up hits 85.2 mph with 26.2 inches of drop and an active spin of 99%. The curveball is a new pitch he used in 2021. The curve hits 76.7 mph with 54.3 inches of drop and an active spin of 64%.

At 28, Rodon is a crafty lefty with tons of potential. It would be amazing to see how he would mix with and ultimately grow from working with Yadier Molina.