MLB Rumors: Greg Holland to the St. Louis Cardinals?
The St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly very interested in adding closer Greg Holland for 2018 should he become available.
Coming off the Colorado Rockies’ shell-shocking loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL Wild Card Game last week, the St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly interested in having closer Greg Holland join them for the 2018 season – and perhaps longer. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tells us all that needs to proceed in order for him to don the Redbird gear next season.
That player option for is for a cool $15 million, which I’m sure he could get the Redbirds to match, with a multi-year term to go with it. After missing the entire 2016 season from the pains of Tommy John surgery, Holland did not miss a step, returning to All-Star form for (most) of the 2017 campaign.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
At the mid-season break, Holland had a 1.62 ERA, an impressive feat while hurling the rock within the thin mile-high air of Colorado. That ERA did raise to 3.61 ERA by the end of the season, but converting an impressive 41 out of 45 save opportunities is no easy feat with a good portion of those chances at Coors Field.
After that near-disastrous second half during the dog days of summer, Holland did an about-face in September, going 5-5 in save opportunities, posting a 1.13 ERA and 0.50 WHIP in the process, showing that he still has much value moving forward, even after his disastrous appearance against the Diamondbacks on the big stage.
Once #Rockies closer Greg Holland formally declines his player option, the #STLCards plan to pounce as they search for closer
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 12, 2017
This is a double-edged sword for the teams involved, with the Rockies taking a (potentially) huge hit to their up-and-coming team, while the Cardinals may receive the piece to the puzzle they desperately need in order to take down the hated Cubbies from the top spot in the NL Central. The Rockies would have to rebuild that bullpen, with effective pitching at a premium during the 81-game slate at Coors Field.
If the St. Louis Cardinals are able to sign Holland to a long-term deal, as well as lock up Juan Nicasio for the set-up role, they would be in the driver’s seat not only in the NL Central but possibly the National League as a whole.
Next: Cardinals 2017 Season Review
When Trevor Rosenthal returns from Tommy John surgery sometime around the All-Star break, their bullpen will be absolutely lethal. If they can do some addition by subtraction – by getting the A’s or someone else to take Seung-hwan Oh off their hands – the Cardinals could be in business in 2018.
Greg Holland would benefit as well, playing in more friendly confines, lowering that ERA in the process, accompanied by his postseason success with the Kansas City Royals.