Cardinals Have Had 'Ongoing Talks' With Ex-Astros Hurler To Bolster Rotation

The St. Louis Cardinals have made a handful of moves this offseason but still could use some more help.

The biggest area of need for the Cardinals right now still is in the bullpen. St. Louis has made some intriguing additions to the bullpen, but another addition or two could make sense. 

St. Louis had one of the worst bullpens in baseball last season and there still are some interesting options out there who could be brought in on inexpensive deals. One player St. Louis reportedly has had "ongoing talks" with is former Houston Astros hurler Phil Maton, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold.

"I can only stick with the previous reports from the Post-Dispatch, ones that I've put in the paper previously because I've had sources confirm the Cardinals' interest to the level required for reporting in the Post-Dispatch," Goold said. "The Cardinals have had ongoing talks with Maton, an Illinois native, and they are one of several teams that have engaged in talks for right-handed reliever Ryan Brasier."

Maton has spent the last two-plus seasons with the Astros and has been impressive. He had a 3.00 ERA in 68 total appearances in Houston in 2023 with a 74-to-25 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

If the Cardinals could land Maton, he could go a long way in helping out the club's bullpen. He is a seven-year big league veteran with a 4.25 career ERA and a 398-to-136 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

St. Louis already is in a better place, but adding a reliever of Maton's caliber certainly would help.