Cardinals Pursuing Bullpen Help; Ex-Red Sox All-Star Could Be Intriguing Bounce-Back Candidate
The St. Louis Cardinals are looking to improve their bullpen this offseason.
St. Louis had one of the worst bullpens in baseball last season and it didn't help that the Cardinals traded away arguably their best reliever ahead of the trade deadline in fireballer Jordan Hicks.
There have been some rumblings that Hicks could be a reunion candidate this offseason in free agency. Landing him would go a long way in fixing St. Louis' bullpen. Even if they were to sign him, though, they would need to add more reinforcements.
St. Louis needs multiple arms -- both high-leverage as well as depth pieces -- if they want to shore up the bullpen. One player who could be an intriguing option in free agency could be former Boston Red Sox and Miami Marlins hurler Matt Barnes.
Barnes spent the first nine years of his career in Boston before being traded to the Marlins ahead of the 2023 campaign. He struggled last year with a 5.48 ERA but made just 24 appearances due to injuries.
The 33-year-old is a 10-year veteran and has a career 4.13 ERA. He earned his lone All-Star nod with the Red Sox in 2021 but has been inconsistent over the last two seasons. Although this is the case, he could be an intriguing depth addition.
Barnes won't cost much -- he's projected to receive a contract just north of $2 million in annual value -- and could be a low-leverage option for St. Louis. If he's able to return to form, the Cardinals could use him in more important situations.
The Cardinals need to add arms to the bullpen. Why not take a chance on a former All-Star?
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