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Issues with 3 impending FA pitchers that could impact the Cardinals' offseason
While the Cardinals may not have been looking to target each of these names, it's clear that the free-agent pitching market is thinning out.
There is less than a month left in the 2023 season.
Soon, the nightmare will be over for the Cardinals and their fans. And once it does end, the front office will have one singular focus, which is how to improve the pitching staff.
In my opinion, starting pitching should take precedence, and I don't think I'm alone in that school of thought. The Cardinals are in desperate need of starting pitching, but not just any starting pitching. St. Louis needs legitimate ace-level pitching and pitchers who have swing-and-miss stuff. The free agent market will be full of solid starting pitching options ranging from Aaron Nola, Sonny Gray, and Blake Snell to Lucas Giolito and Eduardo Rodriguez.
All of these pitchers could be great additions to a starting staff that is desperate for improvement. However, that doesn't mean that the Cardinals shouldn't be careful when evaluating what is out there on the market.
In free agency, red flags are common, whether it has to do with injuries, performance, or other issues. While the Cardinals need to be bold, they also can't afford to be reckless and must closely evaluate each of their options to determine if they are good fits for the team.
In this piece, we will be looking at three free-agent starting pitchers and issues that could pose a problem for the Cardinals as they evaluate their needs for the 2024 season.
We'll discuss what those issues are and how they could cause the Cardinals to think twice before jumping in headfirst.
Julio Urias
On Sunday, the Dodgers received bad news on Julio Urias.
Jeff Passan of ESPN revealed that the left-hander had been arrested for domestic violence. Sadly, this is not the first time that something like this has reared its ugly head with Urias, and there are several issues that the Cardinals will want to have a closer look at.
Firstly, the off-the-field issues are something that the Cardinals are going to have to consider. The charges against Urias are very serious and should be treated as so. Situations like this are bigger than baseball.
Another issue that could present itself is the effect that this situation has on the rest of the free agent market. These issues could turn off several of Urias' suitors and cause teams to look elsewhere. This means that the demand for pitchers such as Nola and Snell will be higher.
More teams will be in on them, and the prices will go up, which could pose a problem for the Cardinals, a team that generally doesn't like to get into bidding wars for top-level free agents. The David Price situation from 2015 is a perfect example.
Lucas Giolito
Giolito possesses frontline stuff as a starter and can strike guys out. He also might come at a more reasonable price than someone like Nola or Snell.
He pitched well for the White Sox before being traded to the Angels, posting a 3.79 ERA in 21 starts. However, he posted a 6.89 mark with the Halos and gave up nine runs in just three innings of work in his Guardians debut. He now has a 4.88 ERA.
Giolito posted a 4.90 mark last season, and these recent struggles are just a tad concerning. That's not to say that the Cardinals won't be able to fix him, especially given that he is only 28 years old. But the Cards need certainty with the pitchers they acquire, either via trade or free agency, and Giolito bouncing back is far from a sure thing.
Eduardo Rodriguez
Rodriguez has been quite solid for the Tigers this year, as he owns a 10-7 record and an ERA of 3.11 over his 21 starts.
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But even he does not come without a few risks. He spent a good deal of time on the injured list with a finger rupture. People may not realize it, but finger issues are a big deal for any pitcher. Back in 2008, Adam Wainwright was limited to just 20 starts with a blister on his finger, so the Cardinals certainly understand the risks.
Rodriguez also missed considerable time last season due to a ribcage issue. When healthy, Rodriguez can be a frontline starter, but injuries are an issue that the Cardinals are going to need to be cognizant of.