Ex-Cardinals All-Star Closer Contacted St. Louis About Potential Reunion

St. Louis could use some back-end help

Scott Neville | Dec 2, 2023

Ex-Cardinals All-Star Closer Contacted St. Louis About Potential Reunion /

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St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals spent the first half of the offseason targeting starting pitching help -- which was their obvious top need.

Now it appears that Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak is in the process of prioritizing bullpen help -- while hopefully still being open to the idea of adding another impact starter but that debate is for another story.

One of the most intriguing low-risk, high-reward candidates this winter happens to be a former homegrown Cardinals closer who has interest in a reunion.

Trevor Rosenthal is not only rooting for a return to Busch Stadium but is actively trying to make it happen. The 33-year-old was asked if he would like to come back and gave an encouraging answer.

"That would be great, I did see (Lance Lynn and Daniel Descalso return to the organization)," Rosenthal said on the Noot News Podcast. "I'm excited to see how this all plays out. When I saw that news -- I'm good friends with Oliver Marmol -- (I) just sent him a message. I said, 'Hey, let's get the gang back together, let's do this,' so you never know.

"I still have a lot of time left in my rehab schedule but pitching is always in need and if I'm ready to go, I'd be more than happy to come spend some time in St. Louis."

Rosenthal posted a 1.90 ERA with a 38-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .148 batting average against and 0.85 WHIP in 23 2/3 innings between the Kansas City Royals and San Diego Padres during the shortened 2020 season -- which was the last time he pitched.

The right-hander's post-Cardinals career has been decimated by injuries. Rosenthal currently is recovering from elbow surgery and has pitched just 39 innings since throwing his last pitch for St. Louis in 2018.

Rosenthal has always been dominant when healthy, however, with a 3.36 career ERA in 373 appearances across eight seasons.

The Cardinals would be wise to offer Rosenthal a non-roster invite to spring training to see if he can provide meaningful innings for St. Louis. If he's not healthy in time, a minor-league deal down the road could be in play.

More MLB: Orioles ‘Have Contacted’ Ex-Cardinals Hurler, Potentially Blocking Reunion

Published Dec 2, 2023

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the St. Louis Cardinals for FanNation's "Inside The Cardinals" on Sports Illustrated. Before starting "Inside The Cardinals", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join FanNation and the Sports Illustrated Media Group as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." After a few months as the top Major League Baseball site in the program, Neville sought expansion and pitched "Inside The Cardinals," one of the newest additions to FanNation and the Sports Illustrated Media Group. The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Cardinals" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu