Cardinals: Pros and cons of free agent targets for St. Louis

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Trea Turner #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws out Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres on an infield grounder during the second inning of a game at PETCO Park on September 28, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Trea Turner #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws out Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres on an infield grounder during the second inning of a game at PETCO Park on September 28, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 15: Kenley Jansen #74 of the Atlanta Braves reacts to a home run by Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 15: Kenley Jansen #74 of the Atlanta Braves reacts to a home run by Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Kenley Jansen

Pros

  • Kenley Jansen has been one of the best relivers in baseball since 2010, and proved he could be successful outside of Los Angeles with the Braves this year, posting a 3.52 ERA with 41 saves and 85 SO in 64 innings of work.
  • Jansen is playoff tested, meaning the Cardinals would have three cold-blooded righties at the back of their bullpen with Jansen, Giovanni Gallegos, and Ryan Helsley.
  • At this point in his career, Jansen will likely only command a one-year deal, meaning St. Louis will not have to lock itself into a multi-year deal with a reliever again.

Cons

  • Signing aging closers, or really any relievers, is one of the most unpredictable things in baseball. Jansen could be great, or he could be terrible, but you have to pay big bucks to find out, and can St. Louis afford to do that when they have other needs?
  • At 35-years old, Jansen has begun to show cracks in his performance, declining in 2019 and 2020, bouncing back in 2021, and then mostly being good in 2022. Is 2023 another good year, or is that all that Jansen has left in the tank?

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