4 pitching options available for St. Louis Cardinals as lockout begins

Giovanny Gallegos #65 and Andrew Knizner #7 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after beating the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 during game one of a doubleheader at Great American Ball Park on September 01, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Giovanny Gallegos #65 and Andrew Knizner #7 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrate after beating the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 during game one of a doubleheader at Great American Ball Park on September 01, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – MAY 23: Robert Gsellman #44 of the New York Mets delivers a pitch during the sixth inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on May 23, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MAY 23: Robert Gsellman #44 of the New York Mets delivers a pitch during the sixth inning against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park on May 23, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Robert Gsellman

Robert Gsellman was non-tendered a contract from the New York Mets, making him a free agent and a potentially interesting project for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Gsellman was 0-1 in 17 games for the Mets in 2021. He pitched in 28.2 innings, striking out 17, walking seven, giving up 14 runs on 27 hits for the season. He induced 49.2% ground balls with a 22.7% called strike-out rate.

He primarily relies on a sinker but can mix things up with a slider, change-up, four-seam fastball, and a curveball. Gsellman’s change-up averaged 84.8 mph with a 99% active spin. The four-seamer averages 94.4 mph with a 91% active spin. Gsellman’s sinker averages 93.9 mph with a 93% drive spin. The slider averages 89.5 mph with an active spin of 46%.

Gsellman presents as the perfect project for Yadier Molina and pitching coach Mike Maddux. It will be interesting to see if the Cardinals kick the tires on this option.