The Cardinals are “available in the market” for a setup reliever who may also help substitute right-hander Andrew Kittredge close to the again of their bullpen after he hit free company again in November, in accordance with Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Publish-Dispatch.
It’s not essentially shocking that the Cardinals would have curiosity in including to their bullpen. Apart from the void left by Kittredge within the late innings, nearer Ryan Helsley has discovered his title within the rumor mill regularly this winter. Whereas all indicators level to the membership maintaining him within the fold for no less than the beginning of the 2025 season, the addition of a veteran reliever with expertise within the late innings might present cowl for St. Louis that will permit them to extra severely weigh dealing Helsley within the occasion that they obtain the form of overwhelming provide that will compel them to rethink their stance. Whereas the lack of Helsley could be a troublesome blow for the membership’s bullpen no matter what pitcher (or pitchers) they add to their aid corps this winter, it will actually be simpler for the Playing cards to aim to remain aggressive in 2025 with out Helsley within the fold if they’ve an skilled veteran who might step into the nearer’s position in Helsley’s stead.
The extra possible state of affairs, in fact, is that the membership will persist with its obvious plan to retain Helsley headed into the season. Even in that case, nevertheless, it’s straightforward to see why the membership would wish to bolster its bullpen as a option to hold Helsley firmly in his present position because the membership’s nearer. 2024 was the primary yr of Helsley’s profession the place he was utilized solely within the ninth inning or later, and he responded with a 206 ERA+ and an MLB-best 49 saves. Goold means that the regular presence of Kittredge, who posted a 2.80 ERA and picked up 37 holds with the Cardinals final yr, was a key a part of the rationale the Cardinals have been capable of be extra considered of their deployment of Helsley compared to years’ previous.
As a lot sense because it might make for the Cardinals so as to add no less than one veteran reliever to their bullpen this winter, it’s a path that isn’t with out obstacles. It’s been made abundantly clear via quite a few experiences and even president of baseball operations John Mozeliak’s feedback this winter that reducing payroll is a precedence for St. Louis this winter. The obvious manner to do this, and the Cardinals’ clear choice, is to discover a commerce accomplice for Nolan Arenado. Latest reporting has steered a quiet marketplace for Arenado ever since a possible take care of the Astros final month fell via, nevertheless, and for his half Goold signifies that the Cardinals could also be finest served ready out fellow third baseman Alex Bregman’s market given the potential for overlapping suitors between the 2 infielders.
With no public indications that Bregman is particularly near signing, that would imply the Cardinals might want to look ahead to fairly a while earlier than they will severely think about including extra payroll of actual significance. Fortuitously for St. Louis, the aid market has been very gradual shifting this winter with Aroldis Chapman, Blake Treinen, and Yimi García standing out as the one gamers to signal for greater than $10MM so far in that nook of the market. Whether or not the Cardinals could be excited by enjoying in that mid-tier of the aid market will certainly rely upon how a lot (if any) of Arenado’s contract they handle to maneuver, in addition to whether or not or not they half methods with hurlers like Steven Matz and Erick Fedde this winter after each starters garnered curiosity earlier this winter. Even when Matz or Fedde is moved, Goold means that the membership might think about circling again to veteran right-hander Kyle Gibson quite than signing a pricier aid arm like David Robertson.
Given the gradual tempo of the aid market this winter, the Cardinals ought to nonetheless have quantity of flexibility to make an addition to their bullpen at any time when their payroll state of affairs is correctly resolved. Goold speculatively suggests former Rangers righty José Leclerc as a possible match for the Playing cards, and gamers like Kyle Finnegan, Chris Martin, and Paul Sewald might are amongst a handful of different choices for late-inning veterans who might feasibly be had on one-year offers—as is a reunion with Kittredge himself. Every of these choices will certainly safe a fairly wholesome massive league assure, nevertheless, and if the Cardinals discover themselves unable to maneuver any of their dear veterans on the commerce promote it’s attainable they gained’t have curiosity in including that form of wage. In that case, Héctor Neris, Scott Barlow, and Joe Kelly are a handful of the veteran relievers with late-inning expertise coming off tough seasons in 2024 who might be accessible for a membership on a good price range like St. Louis.
