Former All-Star Starting Pitcher Available; Cardinals Would Be Logical Landing Spot

St. Louis could buy low on an impactful player

Scott Neville | Feb 12, 2024

Former All-Star Starting Pitcher Available; Cardinals Would Be Logical Landing Spot /

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St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are not expected to make any big-money moves prior to finalizing their Opening Day roster but still could make some under-the-radar additions in the coming weeks.

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak appears to feel confident with a starting rotation featuring Sonny Gray, Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz, Kyle Gibson and Lance Lynn -- whether that is wise or not.

With that said, there are some intriguing arms on the market who could notably bolster the pitching staff without breaking the bank. One of those hurlers currently is seeking a new deal.

"Free agent right-handed pitcher Jake Odorizzi, an All-Star starter in 2019, is throwing without restrictions and looking to sign a major league deal in the coming weeks," MLB Network's Jon Morosi reported Monday. "Odorizzi, 33, has pitched off the mound this offseason in front of evaluators from 10 to 12 teams."

Odorizzi posted a 4.40 ERA with an 86-to-35 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .258 batting average against and a 1.33 WHIP in 106 1/3 innings between the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves in 2022.

The veteran had surgery on his throwing shoulder which took him out for the entirety of the 2023 season but could be an impactful addition if he could produce anywhere close to his career numbers -- 74-69 with a 3.99 ERA (103 ERA+) across 11 seasons.

The Cardinals would be wise to take a shot on Odorizzi on a team-friendly deal to improve upon their current depth with a player who could very realistically become a mainstay in the rotation this season.

More MLB: Cardinals Sign Hurler After Year Away From St. Louis To Add More Pitching Depth

Published Feb 12, 2024

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