Cardinals Could Help Fix Bullpen By Adding Intriguing Fireballer In Free Agency

St. Louis could use another reliever and one electric fireballer could be an option

The St. Louis Cardinals may not add many more players to the roster this offseason.

Spring Training surprisingly is creeping up and the Cardinals already are in a much better place than they were last year. The Cardinals improved the starting rotation by adding Sonny Gray, Lance Lyn, and Kyle Gibson. 

St. Louis also has added to the bullpen already this offseason, but if the club wanted to make another addition, this is the area it likely would. The Cardinals had one of the worst bullpens in 2023 and already have improved it this offseason, but it could never hurt to add more depth. 

One intriguing player who still is available in free agency who could make some sense is free-agent fireballer Shintaro Fujinami. 

The young righty made his big league debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2023 but was traded to the Baltimore Orioles during the campaign. He struggled to transition to the big league and logged an overall 7.18 ERA in 64 appearances with an 83-to-45 strikeout-to-walk ratio. 

Although this is the case, he looked much better with the Orioles down the stretch. After being acquired, he logged a 4.85 ERA in his final 30 appearances and certainly is a bounce-back candidate for the 2024 campaign.

His overall numbers may not have been pretty last season, but the fact that he was better down the stretch is at least a good sign that he can adjust at the big-league level. Plus, he was in the 97th percentile in fastball velocity and boasts a fastball that clears 100 miles per hour. 

Fujinami had a tough first season, but could be had for cheap in free agency and could be an intriguing player to take a chance on.

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