Cardinals Rumors: John Mozeliak makes no promises to improve bullpen
The St. Louis Cardinals made an early splash in free agency, signing American League Cy Young runner-up Sonny Gray to a three-year, $75 million contract. John Mozeliak also wrangled Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson on one-year deals, completely reshaping St. Louis' starting rotation.
Gray is a tremendous talent who will comfortably man the No. 1 spot in the Cards' rotation. That said, St. Louis cannot rest on its laurels. Lynn and Gibson are limited veterans who posted ERAs of 5.73 and 4.73 last season, respectively. The Cardinals still lack the starting depth of a true contender after cleaning house at the 2023 trade deadline.
One would expect Mozeliak and the front office to continue pounding the market, but recent comments from the GM could leave the fanbase a bit queasy. Speaking with Spectrum News, Mozeliak said the Cards are content with their current group.
"We feel like we have a strong five right now. We feel like we have three or four guys that could give us depth throughout the season as well, so it's not like a front-line priority but you never say never because something may pop up and make sense."
This feels like Mozeliak hedging his bets for the remainder of the offseason. He probably doesn't want to set expectations for another move, only for the Cards to whiff on key targets. That said, there's plenty of buzz tying St. Louis to aces on the market. St. Louis fans shouldn't lose hope — yet. If Mozeliak and the Cardinals sit on their hands the rest of the way, however, the wrath will be extensive.
Cardinals Rumors: Jordan Hicks, Yuki Matsui, Phil Maton listed as potential targets
Speaking of potential targets...
The Cardinals are looking to upgrade the bullpen as well as the starters. Several names have been tied to St. Louis, per MLB Trade Rumors. Two names of consequence are Jordan Hicks and Yuki Matsui, while Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch names Phil Maton as an object of intrigue for the Cardinals' front office.
Maton has been an integral middle reliever for the Houston Astros over their last few years of contention. He posted a 3.00 ERA and 1.121 WHIP last season, netting 74 strikeouts in 66.0 innings of work. Known for expertly pitching to contact, hits off Maton averaged an exit velocity of 84.5 MPH last season, per Baseball Savant. That lands in the 99th percentile. He won't come cheap, but he would be a meaningful addition to the Cards'
Jordan Hicks started last season with the Cards, but was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline. Blessed with 100.1 MPH velocity on his fastball, Hicks landed in the 96th percentile for groundball percentage (58.9) and the 83rd percentile for strikeout rate (28.4). In 65 appearances between St. Louis and Toronto, he pitched 65.2 innings with 81 strikeouts, registering 12 saves. There's a reason the Cards want him back in the closer spot.
Yuki Matsui spent last season with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan, posting a 1.57 ERA in 57.1 innings across 59 appearances. He registered 72 strikeouts, profiling as one of the best international pitchers not named Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
The attention will naturally be focused on St. Louis' pursuit of another ace starter, but bolstering the bullpen with multiple quality arms would be quite beneficial.
Cardinals Rumors: Front office has discussed possibility of Tyler Glasnow trade
The Cardinals have "discussed internally what a potential trade for Tampa Bay ace Tyler Glasnow would look like," according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Glasnow has been a frequent flier on the rumor mill lately. He is due $25 million next season before hitting free agency in the winter of 2024. The Rays are unlikely to extend him. FanSided's Robert Murray puts the odds of a Glasnow trade at 98 percent.
It's not difficult to understand why the Cards want Glasnow. He's right in the middle of his prime window at 30 years old, coming off a successful 10-7 on the mound for the 99-win Rays. There are health concerns, as Glasnow has never pitched more than 120 innings in a season — his total in 2023 — but he registered 162 K's with a 3.53 ERA and 1.083 WHIP. When he's right, Glasnow blasts batters with 96.4 MPH heat and lands in the MLB's 95th percentile for whiff percentage (35.2).
The Cardinals need a long-term plan to keep Glasnow around, but he would immediately join Gray atop the rotation. St. Louis requires more reliable, postseason-proven arms if the goal is to contend next season. Glasnow fits the bill. He's one of the best starters being tossed around in offseason rumors.
St. Louis isn't the only team in the hunt for Glasnow — the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs feel like particularly strong threats. It will take genuine effort from John Mozeliak. He can't play it conservatively. If the Cards' front office can pull it off, however, the fanbase should feel good about the starting rotation heading into next season.