The top 5 free agent relief pitchers of 2015

Oct 15, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Pat Neshek (37) pitches during the eighth inning against the San Francisco Giants in game four of the 2014 NLCS playoff baseball game at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

4. Pat Neshek, RHP

If you had asked Pat Neshek what kind of contract he wanted last year, he would have said any contract.

The Cardinals scooped up the unconventional hurler on a minor league contract only to have him outperform every young bullpen arm on the team. He had a 1.87 ERA with a K/BB ratio of 7.56 and a WHIP of 0.787.

He was awarded his first All-Star nomination, held down the eighth inning for most of the season and pitched admirably in the playoffs.

He got jumped for a pair of home runs against Matt Kemp and Mike Morse in the playoffs, but was one of the only pitchers to pitch a 1-2-3 inning in the series against the Giants.

According to Jenifer Langosch, the Cardinals are unlikely to bring Neshek back this offseason, so the righty will be hitting the open market after the best year of his career.