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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PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 27: Tyler Clippard #36 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in action against the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on August 27, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 27: Tyler Clippard #36 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in action against the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on August 27, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

Tyler Clippard

Tyler Clippard became a free agent once his option was declined in November by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In 2021, he was 1-1 with six saves and three holds in 26 games, throwing 25.1 innings with 21 strikeouts. In his 15-season career, he has pitched in 803 games, going 56-48, 74 saves, and 952 strikeouts. He relies on a change-up, a four-seam fastball, a sinker, a split-finger pitch, a curveball, and a slider.

Clippard, 36, has a large pitch arsenal and could benefit from trimming down his pitch selection. Maddux could definitely find a project in veteran righty. With an array of offspeed pitches, Clippard could see some success with the Cardinals defense behind as well as Molina behind the plate.

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