Inside The Cardinals

Should Cardinals Re-Sign Former 1st Rounder Being Toyed With By Yankees?

St. Louis could make a quick move to bolster the bullpen
Nate Hagerty|
Apr 7, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Yankees baseball hats and gloves in the dugout out in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
Apr 7, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; New York Yankees baseball hats and gloves in the dugout out in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images | David Reginek-Imagn Images

In this story:

St. Louis CardinalsNew York Yankees

The St. Louis Cardinals have a 5-6 record but most of their losses could've been easily won if it weren't for the lackluster pitching staff.

After not making any moves to upgrade the lineup over the offseason, the Cardinals' offense is surprisingly among baseball's best to start the year. Unfortunately, St. Louis' rotation ranks 29th with a 6.09 ERA and the bullpen 25th with a 5.64 ERA.

Although the Cardinals are committed to creating opportunities for younger talent to gain big-league experience in 2025, perhaps the front office should consider reuniting with a former top pitching prospect to bolster the underperforming bullpen.

Cardinals 2006 first-round draft pick Adam Ottavino has been designated for assignment twice this month (April) by the New York Yankees after being released by the Boston Red Sox in March shortly before the season began. The Bronx Bombers signed the veteran hurler to a one-year, $2 million contract but have changed their minds and are desperately hoping for some other club to give the 15-year veteran another chance.

Ottavino spent most of his time with the Cardinals pitching in their farm system before being claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies in April 2012.

What makes the Yankees' recent decisions about Ottavino's future peculiar is that he pitched only 1 2/3 innings without sacrificing any runs or a hit on three strikeouts and four walks in three appearances for the Bronx Bombers this April.

The Yankees signing Ottavino, a 39-year-old reliever, was a bold move but agreeing to a $2 million contract without giving him much chance to prove himself is logically challenging to comprehend.

Considering that the Cardinals have a youth-laden bullpen, perhaps reuniting with Ottavino wouldn't be such a bad idea. If St. Louis' offense continues to stay red hot, this year's team could be competitive, so making a relatively inexpensive move to bolster the bullpen this early in the season could go a long way.

Based on how inactive Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak was over the offseason, it seems doubtful he'd re-sign Ottavino after all these years. Still, it might be worth considering.

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

Published
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 

Home/St. Louis Cardinals News