Although the three voids in their rotation have been filled this summer, the St. Louis Cardinals can still do better.
John Mozeliak, president of baseball operations for the Cardinals, has stated that while the team is focusing on restocking the bullpen, he is still open to suggestions for starting pitchers.
A seasoned pitcher who is prepared to take the mound again next season could be an additional option for the Cardinals to bolster their rotation.
Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported on Thursday that Johnny Cueto, who turns 38 in February, plans to throw in Major League Baseball for the 17th time in 2024.
Cueto had a challenging 2023 season that was riddled with injuries, resulting in an uncharacteristic stat sheet. He can be a vital weapon for an organization’s rotation when healthy.
The 37-year-old posted a 15-17 record with a 3.66 ERA, a 200-to-63 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a.276 batting average against, and a 1.29 WHIP in 273 innings pitched for the San Francisco Giants and Chicago White Sox throughout the 2021–2022 seasons.
The Cardinals’ rotation is solid with the latest additions but there is speculation that St. Louis still needs to add one more arm.
Signing Cueto to a short-term contract would be ideal for the Cardinals, given the flexibility they have with the heavily backloaded contract of reigning American League Cy Young runner-up Sonny Gray.
The right-handed pitcher is a proven talent who would provide St. Louis with a respectable amount of innings at a fairly low cost. Acquiring Cueto might be worth pursuing for the Cardinals this winter.
