Since the 2023 season concluded, the St. Louis Cardinals have been among the most active teams in baseball.
After an unexpectedly poor season, St. Louis added several players to fill up the roster gaps for the team. Even though the Cardinals
are in a much better position now, the team should still make additions.
The Cardinals signed Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn, and Sonny Gray, but they might benefit greatly from adding another pitcher. The St.
Louis rotation lacked depth and had trouble playing together last season.
There are still free agents that could be of assistance without going over budget. Jim Bowden of The Athletic reports that Hyun-Jin
Ryu, a former pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers, is one guy who might be a possibility.
“Ryu returned from Tommy John surgery last August and impressed the rest of the way, making a total of 11 starts and allowing three
runs or fewer in nine of them,” Bowden stated. “In six of those games, he pitched five innings; in one start, he pitched a season-high
six innings. His typical fastball velocity ranged from 87 to 89 mph. .238 against his cutter and.276 versus his changeup are the
opponents’ strengths.
“Despite his seeming health, Ryu will only be able to play for a year due to the possibility of injuries. If he pitches in the first half as
well as he did at the conclusion of 2023, it would be prudent for him to sign with a non-contending team that might deal him at the
deadline. Perhaps Oakland Athletics, the Washington Nationals, or the Pittsburgh Pirates would be good fits. Perhaps a team that is in
contention and has several starters who are prone to injuries, aging, or declining could consider using him as depth in the rotation; the
New York Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, or Cardinals could be suitable candidates in that regard.”
In his ten years in the major leagues, Ryu has amassed a 3.27 ERA and was a one-time All-Star. Why not give him a go if he’s healthy?
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