St. Louis Cardinals looking to bolster back of bullpen

The St. Louis Cardinals have plenty of work to do with their pitching staff. Although some moves have been made, with Steven Matz signing a four year deal and the announcement that Jordan Hicks will be moving into a multi-inning role, that may not be enough in what could be a winnable division.

The Cardinals are aware of this as well. According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Cardinals are set to target high leverage relievers once the lockout ends, although that does not necessarily mean that they are going after a closer.

St. Louis Cardinals to focus on bullpen

Instead, the Cardinals are looking for relievers that could handle the ninth if need be but would be able to make an impact in other innings. They even have a specific type of arm in mind – a high octane pitcher that can generate plenty of strikeouts and have a degree of versatility when it comes to their roles.

Goold went as far as to mention two possible candidates. He views Joe Kelly, who had previously pitched with the Cardinals, and Ryan Tepera as potential targets. They would certainly fit the desired type that St. Louis is looking for. Kelly, in particular, could be a good fit due to the attitude that he would add to the bullpen.

The problem is that the Cardinals are not going to be the only team targeting those arms. Virtually every team is looking to add to their bullpen. Kelly and Tepera are going to be in high demand, as are the remainder of the top relievers.

Nonetheless, it is clear that the Cardinals view the division as potentially winnable. They had to go on an unlikely run to reach the postseason last year and are looking to avoid the same fate this year. Shoring up the back of the bullpen could make a major difference.

The St. Louis Cardinals have some shopping to do when the lockout ends. Their quest for high leverage arms will begin as soon as it can.