Inside The Cardinals

1 Obvious Reunion Candidate Remains Available For Cardinals

The Cardinals should make a move...
Patrick McAvoy|
Feb 26, 2021; Jupiter, Florida, USA; A general view of the St. Louis Cardinals logo on the stadium at Roger Dean Stadium during spring training workouts. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images
Feb 26, 2021; Jupiter, Florida, USA; A general view of the St. Louis Cardinals logo on the stadium at Roger Dean Stadium during spring training workouts. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images | Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

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St. Louis Cardinals

We are just about three weeks away from Opening Day.

The St. Louis Cardinals clearly wanted to make big changes but it didn't work out. The Cardinals have a pretty similar roster to the 2024 season in which they won 83 games. The Cardinals were in the mix for a playoff spot well into the 2024 campaign and that could be the case as long as the club doesn't make any last-second trades involving stars like Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, or Ryan Helsley.

That doesn't seem likely. Opening Day is close and the Cardinals could compete in a vulnerable National League Central division.

While this is the case, there is a guy out there in free agency who would make a lot of sense to reunite with. The Cardinals signed Keynan Middleton to a $6 million deal but he missed the season and St. Louis opted to cut ties with him.

Middleton remains available now and with Andrew Kittredge no longer in town, why not extend a minor-league deal to the veteran hurler to see what he can do? The Cardinals signed Middleton last year because they wanted to bolster their bullpen and he was coming off a 2023 season in which he had 3.38 ERA across 51 appearances with the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox.

There isn't really a such thing a a bad minor league deal. If the Cardinals could bring him to town on a deal like this, they could see what he can do throughout the rest of Spring Training and send him to the minors. If he impresses, bring him up. If not, cut ties with him or leave him in the minors.

The Cardinals have a need in the bullpen and clearly likely Middleton before. They should give him a chance again.

More MLB: Cardinals 24-Year-Old Is Making St. Louis' Roster Battle Difficult

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Patrick McAvoy
PATRICK MCAVOY

Patrick McAvoy's experiences include local and national sports coverage at the New England Sports Network with a focus on baseball and basketball. Outside of journalism, Patrick also is pursuing an MBA at Brandeis University. After quickly rising as one of the most productive writers on the site, he expanded his reach to write for Baseball Essential, a national baseball site in Sports Illustrated Media Group. For all business/marketing inquiries regarding Inside The Cardinals, please reach out to Scott Neville: nevilles@merrimack.edu

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