The St. Louis Cardinals have been actively retooling the pitching staff this winter to help turn things around next season.
It's safe to say that St. Louis is poised to bounce back in 2024 after landing three veteran starters, trading for right-hander reliever Andrew Kittredge and signing free-agent hurler Kenyan Middleton this offseason.
The Cardinals accomplished their offseason goals of replenishing the rotation and adding two high-leverage relievers. The club might be done adding relievers after a coveted hurler signs with a National League foe.
"Free-agent reliever Ryan Brasier in agreement with (Los Angeles) Dodgers on two-year, $9 million contract," The Atheltic's Ken Rosenthal reported Monday. "Chance to reach $13 million total through incentives."
Brasier was reportedly on St. Louis' radar this offseason as a potential bullpen-bolstering opportunity but after trading for Kittredge and landing Middleton, it became unlikely to see the Cardinals spend the money to sign him.
The 36-year-old posted an atrocious 7.29 ERA with an 18-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .286 batting average against and a 1.57 WHIP in 21 innings with the Boston Red Sox in the first half of 2023 before being released.
The Los Angeles Dodgers picked up Brasier following his release from Boston, made a few adjustments to his pitch usage -- which included the addition of a cutter -- and helped him completely turn things around.
The right-handed pitcher posted a 0.70 ERA with a 38-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .140 batting average against and a 0.72 WHIP in 38 2/3 innings to finish the latter half of his 2023 campaign.
Although it's disappointing to see Brasier sign a deal with the Dodgers that would have been in the Cardinals' price range, fans can reside in the fact that St. Louis should have a top-10 bullpen after a successful retooling.
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