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4 relief pitchers the St. Louis Cardinals should consider

By Miranda Remaklus

Alex Reyes #29 of the St. Louis Cardinals walks off the field after allowing a walk-off three-run home run to Yoshi Tsutsugo #32 of the Pittsburgh Pirates (not pictured) in the ninth inning during the game at PNC Park on August 29, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
Alex Reyes #29 of the St. Louis Cardinals walks off the field after allowing a walk-off three-run home run to Yoshi Tsutsugo #32 of the Pittsburgh Pirates (not pictured) in the ninth inning during the game at PNC Park on August 29, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 19: Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a strikeout to end the game during the 9th inning of Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on October 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Braves 6-5 to win the game. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 19: Kenley Jansen #74 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a strikeout to end the game during the 9th inning of Game 3 of the National League Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium on October 19, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers defeated the Braves 6-5 to win the game. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Kenley Jansen

Kenley Jansen is one of the most intriguing relief pitching options on the free-agent market.

At 33 years old, Jansen was 4-4 with 38 saves for the Dodgers in 2021. He recorded 86 strikeouts in 69 innings, including 14 strikeouts in the postseason. He had a 31.2 called strike percentage.

Jansen relies on a cutter, sinker, and slider. Considering his career numbers, Jansen is definitely effective with those pitches. Even with 11 years of service under his belt, it would be interesting to see how working with Molina and pitching coach Mike Maddux could make him a more pitch-to-contact thrower in his later years in the majors.  Jansen’s pitch arsenal indicates he could generate pitch-to-contact throws, but he is so effective at leaving runners on base too.

Robert Murray wrote the Cardinals are linked to Jansen this offseason.

As Jansen will enter his age-34 season in 2022, it’s not likely he will receive a huge contract. Look for the Cardinals to make an offer at this potentially two to three-year, lower-cost option.

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