The Cardinals are working to re-sign late-inning reliever Luis Garcia after the hard-throwing righty’s breakout season in St. Louis, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Even if the Cardinals do bring back Garcia, they will still target at least one additional potential high leverage reliever. Alex Reyes handled much of the high leverage workload last year, but they’d like to give Reyes an opportunity to claim a rotation spot.
As for Garcia, he has long struggled with his command, but he held it together for a career-low 5.9 percent walk rate in his 34 appearances with the Cardinals last season. That kind of control with a sinking fastball averaging more than 98 mph is a killer combination that helped Garcia notch a 25.2 percent strikeout rate and 3.24 ERA/2.72 FIP in 33 1/3 innings. His innings weren’t cheap ones either, as Garcia managed to save a pair of games and preserve leads enough to earn 12 holds.
Along with Garcia and another late inning arm, Goold also mentions sinkerballing starters like Steven Matz or Alex Cobb as a potential target for the Cardinals. Both are coming off relatively strong seasons and would likely benefit from pitching in front of the Gold Glove laden infield in St. Louis. The Cardinals have starting options with Dakota Hudson coming back from Tommy John and Reyes potentially moving into the rotation, but with deadline acquisitions Jon Lester and J.A. Happ now free agents, there are a fair number of innings to go around.
Dude is gas, hardly any effort in throwing that ball over 100mph.
I heard he doesn’t wanna play for the Mets either.
Yeah, just like gas on an open fire
Him and Gaterol have one of the fastest fastballs with break, both are flat nasty. Gaterol throws a running fastball though. Luis Garcia’s Sinker breaks like a screwball. I was like Whoa am I seeing Dave Veres here the first time I saw him? I’d love to see him back with the Cardinals, hopefully he keeps that command he found.
Wow, a Dave Veres reference. True. Similar movement, but Garcia throws about 10 mph faster. I’ve said before and I’ll say again, Garcia needs to be re-signed.
I’d love to see him back. 1 year deal most likely for a few million, can’t go wrong with that for a potential setup man or even closer. Hopefully he keeps his command in check.
Lol
I’d much rather have Matz than Cobb. We don’t have a lefty in our rotation and he has a much better track record of health.
I’d almost rather have Happ or Lester over Matz
Lester? Sub 100 ERA plus, negative WAR? GOT to be kidding. Happ was not as bad, but nowhere near good. https://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2021/10/mike-shildt-part-3-cards-fans-kissing.html
I really enjoyed watching Garcia pitch for the Cardinals this year. However this pitcher is sort of a enigma. He has been pitching for a while now and every good year is followed by a drop in performance. If we resign Luis I hope we know how to break this trend. Good luck Luis.
Luis Garcia thrived for the Phillies in odd numbered years (2013, 2015, 2017) and was rocked in even numbered years. Maybe he’s turned a corner, or buyer beware in 2022…
Cobb is the better fit because Matthew Liberatore is nearly ready for an MLB call up and Cobb would be a shorter term move.
Mathew Liberatore has under whelmed his Hype in both AA & AAA. HE’s still a year away if not 2.
I agree with 17dizzy, they gonna resign a former veteran, use an internal option, or sign a different free agent before Libratore is called up in 2022, it would take some massive depth issues to cause it, or extreme over performance. He needs at least another year to avoid over exposure like we saw with Oviedo
17Dizzy…Libertore underwhelmed at AA? Don’t just make stuff up. And at AAA, in super hitter friendly environment he posted 4.04 ERA. Oh yeah, after he skipped AA entirely. And his 2nd half of season was dominant so he showed he can adjust. I don’t know what you expecting, maybe the second coming of Ankiel, but Libertore put in a very promising season.
Exactly! DO NOT GET so many fans touting Liberatore. He was decent-good but NOT “great,” and he’s had exactly one year at AAA.
A longer term commitment won’t hurt no matter what happens with Liberatore. This is Waino’s last season and Mikolas’ contract expires after ’23. 3 yrs for Matz or whoever they target will work fine.
For a guy who has pitched as long as Garcia, he has pretty much established to have decent season every three years. Still, it can’t hurt to give him a shot and maybe he will have a full season with decent results. This is just Mo doing his typical bargain basement shopping from the discount rack. Another wait and see situation with nothing to truly hope for. Good luck Mo and Luis.
Sign Garcia. Sign Matz for the No. 3 spot in the rotation, and make Reyes the swing pitcher – and upgrade over Woodford. Reyes could spot start if needed – and will be stretched out in the Spring – but would remain in the bullpen but not close – Gallegos has earned that spot.
Garcia is fine. Add McHugh too to the pen. Woodford in AAA as a starter. Reyes as long man/spot starter. Use Oviedo, A. Rondon and whatever prospects not named Liberatore, Gorman to trade for a SP.
Add Thompson to your no trade list and I agree.
Woodford, rondon, oviedo, even luken baker could be nice trade chips. I’d like baker for a dh spot, but yepez has emerged as a guy who could dh, back up 3rd, 1st and left field so it makes baker unneedable. Also dh could be used for gorman or to spell the starters. If the cards keep dejong and sosa I’d add Robertson to that list. Alot of trade chips to either bring in some double a prospects or a reliever. Cards are in good shape. I agree that libertore, Thompson, gorman and I’d even put Burleson and brendan Donavan on that do not trade list. Donovan looks like a prime time player as well. Forgot pallante on that list. Future is bright
Jordan Walker is the most untouchable. He looks like a cant miss star. We will be trading or moving someone over for him in a year or 2.,
I would like to see a Barnhardt signing. Give a left-handed option to Yadi, and move Knizner. Nice guy but I no longer believe in his offense. A Nootbar/Rondon DH role is also an option. But the RedBirds need to add a dominant lefty reliever, unless they believe Waddel can be that guy, which I doubt.
A six-man rotation makes some sense. Waino is 40, Hudson and Flaherty are coming off serious injuries, Mikolas might be healthier, and with Cabrera, Hicks, and Reyes all capable of starting. Not to mention a Martinez/Matz signing or even a re-upping with either Lester or Happ. Not a lot of holes, not only for 2022 but a few years beyond. Please no crazy SS signing, unless Story can come reasonably cheap, which I doubt. A couple of guys need to come off the 40 man roster but Knizner, Fernandez, Oviedo, Whitley,or Helsley could be moved to open up space for the necessary additions.
Barnhart was traded to the Tigers and they already exercised his option for next season
OK, thanks for the correction. That said a lefty backup catcher, especially one with good defensive skills would be sweet!
Steven Vogt isn’t terrible. Alex Avila would have been a good choice but he retired
Cardinals could probably fix Dylan Bundy
But NOT fix Al, Ted or Peg.
I’ve thought about this too. It’s worth a shot if the price is right.
With Luis Castillo apparently available in trade talks, I’d go after him if Reds willing to move him within the division. He had the best GB/FB ratio of any starter with more than 150 innings in 2021 and his career 53.9% groundball rate would be PERFECT for the STL infield defense. He’d also offer more reliable innings, something esp. important given the other members of the projected Cardinals staff.
Alex Reyes, Jake Woodford, SS Masyn Wynn (Card #4 prospect) and LHP Zack Thompson (Cardinals #8 prospect) for Luis Castillo? It’s a lot to give up but you have to give to get, and a rotation of Flaherty, Castillo, Wainwright, Hudson and Mikolas could be excellent, and SP depth would still include Oviedo and Liberatore.
That is far too much! The Cards probably don’t want to part with Reyes, and the Reds most likely aren’t interested in Woodford.
Why wouldn’t the Cardinals want to part with Reyes? Especially for someone like Castillo…Reyes has been hurt and not all that great…I don’t like giving up Thompson…maybe another position player prospect to replace him…but I don’t think the Reds would trade within the division
Ya, swap out Woodford for Oviedo. I also don’t know about trading Thompson. We’re going to need young starting pitching in the very near future.
Jocketty will not trade with us. Hasnt happened. Wont happen. beyond trading in the division which never happens. Jocketty hates Mo.
That actually sounds pretty fair from this Cardinals fan. Thompson doesn’t look to be anything too special, despite a few nice outings in the AFL. Reyes is an enigma, and an injury risk especially as he piles on the innings. Woodford is fine, looks to be 4.50 ERA innings eater. The wild card cards fans are averse to parting with is Wynn, who could end up as a dynamo if he puts in the time. But you gotta give something to get quality. Thumbs up from me. Reds fan comment?
NO to Cobb
I would take Matz first. Cobb would likely be higher priced, while at the same time having more recent durability issues.
Surprised to see Garcia being talked about.. before the 2019 season Eppler traded Jose Alvarez for Garcia. I thought bad trade as Alvarez was the only lefty in the pen and both were getting paid the same. Garcia walked too many that season and Alvarez has been solid even with the 3 batter minimum rule
Matz would be a great fit