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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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 22: Alex Colome #48 of the Minnesota Twins pitches against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 22, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. The Twins defeated the Cubs 5-4. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 22: Alex Colome #48 of the Minnesota Twins pitches against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on September 22, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. The Twins defeated the Cubs 5-4. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Alex Colome

Alex Colome became a free agent after the Minnesota Twins declined their mutual option in the right-hander’s contract. The club will buy out his 2022 contraction of $1.25 million.

Colome started his career with the Tampa Bay Rays and had much success as their closer, earning 47 saves in the 2017 season. In 2021 with the Minnesota Twins, he pitched in 67 games going 4-4 with 17 saves and five holds. He threw 58 strikeouts.

Colome primarily relies on a cutter and a four-seam fastball. The cutter averages 89.5 mph with 51% active spin. The four-seam fastball averages 93.7 mph with a 97% active spin.

It would be interesting to see how Colome and Molina would work together. The pair could work really well together in later innings. With his cutter working, it would be certain that Colome could benefit from the Cardinals Gold Glove defense. The Cardinals may consider the righty in a later innings role.