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5 free agent pitchers the Cardinals should be contacting
There are still plenty of free agents who have yet to sign, and the Cardinals should be on the phone with at least these five arms.
With several notable free-agent starting pitchers still available, seeing who signs just before Spring Training kicks off will be fun. John Mozeliak, president of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball operations, has said he is still trying to improve the team. And his motto for the offseason was to get "pitching, pitching, pitching."
The additions of Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson are great. Add this trio to Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz, Zack Thompson, and Matthew Liberatore; you still have some concerns about the rotation. Lynn, Mikolas, Liberatore, and Matz have all had their injury concerns.
Pitching disasters involving injuries have plagued the Cardinals for multiple seasons. Mozeliak should address the potential problem head-on. Don't settle for three free-agent arms when free-agency options are still available. Mozeliak could make a deal for a starting pitcher by trading from the club's prospect pool.
Mozeliak promised to improve this team, and it will need all the help it can get with Oli Marmol still managing. The new bullpen additions are excellent, but you don't want the problems of past seasons where the bullpen gets overused because the rotation is struggling.
More pitching options with guys that can throw strikes will be essential for Marmol and the Cardinals, and while getting more starters would be great, other high-leverage capable relievers would also be great.
Blake Snell is still available to the Cardinals in free agency
While he is a client of Scott Boras, it's surprising that Snell is still available on the free-agent market. Last season's NL Cy Young Award winner is arguably the best remaining free agent pitcher market and should garner a nice payday. He should lead a team's starting rotation for several seasons. But what team will that be, and why not the Cardinals?
He's 31 and technically a bit young for a Cardinals pitcher. But he is a two-time Cy Young Award winner, so you should give him a shot. Last season, Snell was 14-9 for the San Diego Padres. He pitched 180 innings over 32 starts. He threw a career beset 234 strikeouts. That's amazing and just more than what you want in a pitcher.
He is the top remaining starting pitcher to get. He's likely outside of the Cardinals' price range, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't at least kick the tires on him. He is exactly what the Cardinals need.
Jordan Montgomery is still available to the Cardinals in free agency
Sure, the Cardinals traded Montgomery to the Texas Rangers, and he became an integral part of their World Series Championship. That's why he needs to come back! No, but he was one of the more successful pitchers for the Cardinals during his time with the team, which amounted to an entire season.
Montgomery had an overall record of 12-12 with a 3.31 ERA in 32 games with the Cardinals. He is familiar with the Cardinal Way and would have to be excited to return to a club where he had some success with a more experienced pitching staff he can work alongside. Plus, Yadier Molina is going to be around more. Molina will work with Willson Contreras and get these two working correctly together.
Montgomery has indicated he would like to come back to St. Louis. He was a fan favorite. Monty and Mo can make a deal that benefits both sides.
Phil Maton is available to the Cardinals in free agency
There was some reported interest between Maton and the Cardinals earlier in the offseason. Hopefully, this is a deal the two sides can come to, as the team could benefit from him joining the bullpen.
Maton appeared in 68 games last season for the Houston Astros, going 4-3 and finishing seven games with one save. He had a 3.00 ERA over 66 innings, striking out 74 batters. He had an impressive 2.9 strikeout-to-walk ratio. That would be a welcome statistic for the higher-leverage arms in the Cardinals bullpen.
The bullpen needs just as much help as the rotation. The pen was taxed last season, so an arm like Maton would be welcome.
Liam Hendriks is available to the Cardinals in free agency
A reliever with high-leverage stuff to close out games and give the bullpen a gritty edge? Yes, please! The Cardinals should check the availability to sign Liam Hendriks to the team.
After coming back from Stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, his 2023 came to a halt when he required Tommy John surgery for a torn ulnar collateral ligament. He estimates to be back around the 2024 trade deadline. While that is several months away, having him on the team and working with the bullpen guys could boost morale. If Hendriks is battling, so should they!
It may seem like a risky move, but adding Hendrik for a late-season boost and then for the remainder of his contract could be huge for the Cardinals.
Mark Melancon is available to the Cardinals in free agency
With 13 seasons of experience as a high-leverage reliever, Melancon would be another excellent veteran addition to the bullpen. The veteran has a career record of 37-40 with 262 saves. He's earned an ERA of 2.94 over 732 games and 726.2 innings. He has struck out 643 batters over that time.
Melancon did not play in 2023, as he spent his last season with the Arizona Diamondback rehabbing a subscapularis strain. The rehab process involved taking a platelet-rich plasma injection the previous spring. The D-backs decline their option for 2024, making him a free agent.
The decision allows Melancon to find a new home to ramp up for the 2024 season.
Melancon has always been a pitcher you want going in a high-leverage situation. While he would be a high-risk candidate for that now, it could be a high-risk but ultimately a high-reward scenario if he could become a dependable arm to get through some innings.
Mozeliak should at least consider meeting with Melancon and his representation to see if he could be an option.
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