With the latest acquisitions, the St. Louis Cardinals have successfully revived the rotation, and the focus is now on retooling the bullpen.
The Cardinals’ bullpen struggled last season, ranking 23rd in the league with a 4.47 ERA, and could benefit from a high-leverage pitcher or two, as well as some added depth.
According to recent reports, the Cardinals are looking to re-sign a hard-throwing reliever to help replenish their bullpen.
“(Jordan) Hicks is also drawing interest from his hometown (Houston) Astros, his former Cardinals team, and the (Texas) Rangers,” according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
In 65 2/3 innings pitched for the Cardinals and Toronto, Hicks went 3-9 with a 3.29 ERA, 81-to-32 strikeout-to-walk ratio,.231 batting average against, and 1.36 WHIP.
The 27-year-old was dealt to Toronto at the trade deadline last year in exchange for Double-A right-handers Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein, in part because of Hicks’ impending free agency.
The triple-digit velocity hurler was on fire before leaving St. Louis, but the team was unable to reach an agreement with Hicks, so he was traded.
Bringing back the right-hander would provide the Cardinals with a high-leverage arm on which to rely late in games.
Will the Cardinals be able to re-sign one of the hottest relievers on the market?
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