Inside The Cardinals

Cardinals Should Consider Signing Ex-Phillies Hurler To Bolster Weak Pitching Staff

St. Louis' pitching staff is in trouble
Nate Hagerty|
Apr 8, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Spencer Turnbull (22) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Apr 8, 2024; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Spencer Turnbull (22) pitches against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

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The St. Louis Cardinals could easily be at the top of the National League Central if it weren't for their lackluster pitching staff failing to hold their end of the bargain.

Shockingly, the Cardinals' offense is among the league's best as youngsters Lars Nootbaar, Brendan Donovan, Victor Scott II and Iván Herrera have stepped up their game.

Sadly, the club's rotation and bullpen have significantly underperformed. However, perhaps St. Louis' front office could sign a former Philadelphia Phillies hurler to bolster the Cardinals' weak pitching staff.

Former Phillies and Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher Spencer Turnbull remains an available free agent. The Cardinals could sign him as a starter or reliever, depending on where they need him the most.

Turnbull posted a 3-0 record with a 2.65 ERA, 58-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .188 batting average against and a 1.05 WHIP in 54 1/3 innings pitched for the Phillies last season.

The 32-year-old has battled through several injuries over the past few seasons. Since 2020, Turnbull hasn't logged more than 56 2/3 innings pitched in a single season, despite pitching primarily out of the rotation -- 10/17 games pitched for the Phillies last year were out of the bullpen.

When healthy, Turnbull could be a solid back-end-of-the-rotation pitcher, which the Cardinals could desperately use as their starter core ranks 28th with a 6.52 ERA and 17th with a 1.31 WHIP in 49 2/3 innings pitched (23rd).

Considering that Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak signed one free agent -- RHP Phil Maton -- over the offseason, it's unlikely he'd consider signing Turnbull, especially this early in the season. Hopefully, veterans Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde and Miles Mikolas figure things out quickly or St. Louis fans could be looking at another long season full of frustration and disappointment.

More MLB: Cardinals Might've Just Berthed Beginning Of Cinderella Story In 8-4 Loss To Pirates

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Nate Hagerty
NATE HAGERTY

Nate Hagerty joined “Inside The Cardinals” as a content creator to spread knowledge about his favorite childhood team. A hometown native of Boston, Hagerty chose at an early age of six years old to follow the St. Louis Cardinals. The miraculous season of 04’ for the Red Sox did not deter Hagerty from rooting against his hometown team, nor did it in 2013 against the Red Birds. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu 

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