4 relief pitchers the St. Louis Cardinals should target after the lockout

DENVER, CO - JULY 03: Pitching coach Mike Maddux of the St. Louis Cardinals visits Genesis Cabrera #92 on the mound in the seventh inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 3, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JULY 03: Pitching coach Mike Maddux of the St. Louis Cardinals visits Genesis Cabrera #92 on the mound in the seventh inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on July 3, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CA – JULY 16: Alex Claudio #58 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches during the game against the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 16, 2021 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – JULY 16: Alex Claudio #58 of the Los Angeles Angels pitches during the game against the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 16, 2021 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Alex Claudio

Released in September by the Boston Red Sox, Alex Claudio had a short season with the Los Angeles Angels.

Claudio pitched in 41 games with the Angels in 2021, going 1-2 with a 5.51 ERA, one save and two holds in 32.2 innings pitched. He had 30 strikeouts. He relies mostly on a sinker, a slider, a changeup and a four-seam fastball.

Claudio has been in the majors for six seasons with a career record of 16-10 in 352 games. He’s had 14 saves and 51 holds. He has a career strikeout total of 247. Claudio could be an excellent situational, later innings option that the Cardinals are familiar with after the left-hander spent two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers.