Cardinals Reportedly Discussed Signing Surprisingly Recently Available All-Star Pitcher
The St. Louis Cardinals are going to be one of the most active teams in the starting pitching free agent market this upcoming offseason.
St. Louis will be looking to add at least three starters this offseason and had the opportunity to claim a rumored target recently, but didn't end up making a move. Former All-Star Lucas Giolito was placed on waivers by the Los Angeles Angels and many speculated the Cardinals could have interest. St. Louis has been linked to Giolito in the past and has been listed as a possible landing spot for the righty in free agency.
St. Louis reportedly discussed the possibility of adding Giolito, but ultimately decided against the move, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold.
"They gave it discussion," Goold said. "They did not do it. They did not put in a claim on him. That either tells us that he is not high on their list as a free agent this winter (that's what I would take from it) or that they didn't want to bother with the test drive because they didn't think this month would win anyone over the contest of don't you want to stay here? I'm going with the first part. They had the talk. They didn't make the claim. That, to me, reveals where they have him in their priorities to pursue this winter.
"We'll see. Maybe he's a free agent who they sign when the music stops. But, we can tell that they plans to pursue others."
Giolito may end up being a solid free agent option, but at this point in the season, it didn't really make sense to add more salary. St. Louis will be busy and the rotation will look different next year -- maybe even with Giolito in it -- but a move didn't make sense, yet.
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