Cardinals Could Sign Ex-Rays Hurler, Former All-Star After Recent Release

St. Louis could still use another starter and one former All-Star now is available

Oct 4, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi (12) delivers in the / Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Although we now are a few weeks into the 2024 season, the St. Louis Cardinals could still use a little more depth.

The Cardinals have shown flashes at times this season, but still are in last place in the National League Central with a disappointing 6-7 record. St. Louis fans should still have hope, though, as the club has plenty of talent. They just need to get back on track.

St. Louis made a big effort to improve the starting rotation this past offseason and did so by signing Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson. While this is the case, the club's depth has been tested with Gray missing the first few weeks of the season. He's now back, but it's always possible injuries pop up again for the staff.

Because of this, the club should consider making another move. One player who recently became available and could be a solid option is veteran starter Jake Odorizzi. He recently was released by the the Tampa Bay Rays, according to the Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin.

"Rays grant release to (right-handed pitcher) Jake Odorizzi, veteran of 11 (Major League Baseball) seasons who signed a minor-league deal with them in mid-March and made two Triple-A starts in hoping to get back to majors," Topkin said. "Sat out 2023 recovering from shoulder surgery."

Odorizzi is an 11-year big league veteran with a career 3.99 ERA in 241 total appearances. He's a one-time All-Star and still is just 34 years old. If the Cardinals want more depth, they likely could sign Odorizzi for cheap to a minor league deal and call him up if he can impress.

At this point, why not add some more veteran depth?

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