Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch laid out the situation on Monday. The team shipped Dustin May to the Milwaukee Brewers at the trade deadline. Now, May is a free agent fresh off a World Series title. The Cardinals want him back, but the terms won’t match his hopes.
The Money Problem
May is looking for a multi-year contract to rebuild his value after his injury history. The Cardinals are in year two of a rebuild under Chaim Bloom. They simply cannot offer the years May demands. Goold stated the right-hander will first check for a multi-year offer, which the Cardinals are unlikely to provide. This creates a waiting game. May might test the market, see if other teams bid, and then return to St. Louis if the offers dry up. May’s potential return to St. Louis could happen later in the offseason or even after the lockout.
They need to fill holes without breaking the bank for the future. A one-year deal makes sense for both sides. May gets a chance to prove he is healthy again. The Cardinals get a high-upside arm at a reasonable cost. But the team cannot wait forever. If May holds out, St. Louis must look elsewhere for immediate help.
Other Options on the Table
Goold named specific pitchers who fit the one-year profile better than May. Goold wrote that Casey Mize, a right-hander, is perhaps the next best option for short-term upside. He is looking to rebound and sign a short deal. The list does not stop there. Other starters seeking rebound chances include Shane Bieber alongside Jack Flaherty and Zac Gallen, both having past Cardinals ties. All four names offer a similar path to May but without the baggage of a long contract expectation.
Bieber stands out as the top target. He is a former Cy Young winner who could thrive at Busch Stadium. The park favors pitchers, which might help him rediscover his old form. The Cardinals have the money to sign him for one year. They do not have the budget for a five-year pact for a pitcher coming off a rough season.
The JoJo Romero Factor
While the starters get the attention, the bullpen needs work too. Sports Illustrated reported that the team is interested in reuniting with JoJo Romero. Goold announced on Monday that [JoJo Romero], recently a World Series champion with Milwaukee, is entering free agency for the first time, with the Cardinals showing interest in a reunion. Insiders aware of the team’s offseason perspective suggest they wish to talk about Romero’s return only months after trading him to the Brewers.
Romero was great and dependable in St. Louis before the trade. During his tenure in the red bird uniform, he recorded a 3.07 ERA along with a 207-to-80 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 214 innings pitched. The team cashed in by flipping him and May for prospects. Now they might need to pay a fair price to get him back. A four-year deal is too long for a 30-year-old reliever. A two or three-year deal at $6 million a year makes more sense.
