3 free-agent relievers available for the St. Louis Cardinals

John Mozeliak of the St. Louis Cardinals speaks to the media before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 20, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
John Mozeliak of the St. Louis Cardinals speaks to the media before the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 20, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 13: Collin McHugh #31 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during the first inning of their MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 13, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO – SEPTEMBER 13: Collin McHugh #31 of the Tampa Bay Rays pitches during the first inning of their MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 13, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images) /

Collin McHugh

Having a pitcher who can start but can also eat innings in the middle of a game? Sounds like what the Cardinals are needing. It’s exactly what they could get in Collin McHugh.

McHugh pitched 37 games in 2021, starting seven of them. He threw 64 innings for the Tampa Bay Rays going 6-1 on the season with one save. He threw 74 strikeouts and had a 33.5% called strike out rate.

McHugh relies on a slider, a cutter, a four-seam fastball and a curveball. The fastball averages 90.6 mph with an active spin of 88%. The cutter averages 87.5 mph with a 36% active spin. The slider, his most used pitched, averages 79.5 mph with an active spin at 59%. The curveball averages 74.3 mph with an active spin of 81%.

He does have a 44.5% groundball rate. The Cardinals Gold Glove defense should definitely help McHugh in being effective with his off-speed pitches getting outs in later innings.

McHugh, 34, had a bit of an off year with the Rays after some success with the Houston Astros for many years. It should be interesting to see what his offseason entails and what he could be expected to bring his new team in 2022. Due to this drop in production, McHugh may be an acquisition a team make closer to the season starting.