Cyber Monday: Best bargain free agents for the St. Louis Cardinals

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 25: Christian Vazquez #9 of the Houston Astros in position during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 25, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 25: Christian Vazquez #9 of the Houston Astros in position during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 25, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Chris Martin #58 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after striking out Wil Myers #5 of the San Diego Padres to end the sixth inning in game four of the National League Division Series at PETCO Park on October 15, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 15: Chris Martin #58 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after striking out Wil Myers #5 of the San Diego Padres to end the sixth inning in game four of the National League Division Series at PETCO Park on October 15, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Reliever – Chris Martin

After being traded from the Chicago Cubs to the Los Angels Dodgers at the trade deadline, Chris Martin posted a 36:1 strikeout-walk ratio with a 1.46 ERA in his 26 games with the Dodgers. He has the stuff of a late inning reliever who would make a fantastic trio with Ryan Helsley and Giovanni Gallegos at the back of the Cardinals bullpen.

Martin has been a bit streaky throughout his career, as most of the non-elite relivers in the game are, but he would come into the St. Louis bullpen fighting to be the 7th inning guy, taking pressure off of him and making him a low risk signing for St. Louis.

MLB Trade Rumors has Martin projected to get two-years, $14 million on the open market, a very digestible number for a club looking to bring their bullpen up to the level of other contenders in baseball. Going after another reliever seems a bit scary considering the club’s recent history with bullpen arms in free agency, but there is a higher ceiling with Martin than guys like Aaron Brooks or Drew VerHagen, and much lower risk than the bigger contracts guys like Brett Cecil and Greg Holland received.

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