Padres High-End Hurler Available; Cardinals Would Be Logical Trade Partners

The main focus for the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason is to bolster their pitching staff, which significantly underperformed in 2023.

All eyes will be on who the Cardinals can acquire to fill the missing links in the rotation, however, the bullpen is also in need of a slight retooling.

The Cardinals cannot disregard pursuing one of the top relievers about to hit the market.

"Scott Barlow: San Diego (Padres) is actively trying to move Barlow ahead of the Friday non-tender deadline," ESPN's Jeff Passan wrote Tuesday. "While he was very good in 25 appearances for the Padres after his trade from Kansas City (Royals), Barlow's stuff has regressed, and the estimated $6 million he is owed in arbitration could be prohibitive."

With Barlow entering his final year of arbitration and the Padres looking to clear out payroll, San Diego likely sees this "regressing" reliever as not being worth the money.

Barlow struggled in the first half of the season with the Kansas City Royals but turned it up a notch once he was traded to the Padres. The veteran posted a 3.07 ERA, 32-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .223 batting average against, and 1.19 WHIP in 29 1/3 innings to close out the year in San Diego.

Not only does Barlow's track record prove his worth, but his analytics give testimony to his eliteness. He's in the 74th percentile for strikeout rate and 96th percentile for average exit velocity -- meaning he does not give up hard contact.

The Padres certainly don't want to keep Barlow but are looking to acquire something before Friday's non-tender deadline. If a trade doesn't happen, then the Padres lose out and gain nothing for non-tendering Barlow.

St. Louis could trade a low-level prospect in exchange for Barlow -- supplying the Cardinals with a proven reliever who can give St. Louis depth in the bullpen and the Padres with a prospect so they at least get something in return.

The Cardinals could wait till after Friday and bid for Barlow with other teams, but I think it would be in the best interest of St. Louis to pursue this solid reliever while he's readily available.