Cardinals: 3 best high-leverage free agent relievers to sign

1. Joe Kelly is an early favorite of Goold’s to sign with the Cardinals

Call me a sucker for things coming full circle. Joe Kelly began his big league career with the Cardinals way back in 2012. Early on, he was pitching as a starter and reliever before finally shifting to the bullpen full-time in 2017 with the Boston Red Sox. He became a stalwart reliever in the big leagues, winning the 2018 World Series with Boston and doing it again in 2020 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Cardinals fans who may remember his early days would be surprised what he has become. With a strong presence on the mound, Kelly is one of those true failed starters that successfully transitioned into a relief role and made the most of it.

Don’t get me wrong; he’s not perfect. But through 298.1 career major league innings as a reliever, he is 19-10 with an average of 9.4 strikeouts per nine. What gives him the edge over Chafin and Tepera is how many times he has seen the postseason.

Goold, the man who started these Cardinals rumors in the first place, names Kelly as a likely target for the Cardinals. It’s not just the familiarity either. From 2016-2021 he has seen at least one inning of playoff baseball. A hero for the Red Sox back in 2018 with 6 shutout innings in relief, the Cardinals would have to hope they’re getting that version of him if they, yet again, find themselves playing beyond game 162.

Bullpens are important. They can win or lose you a season. Whether it’s Chafin, Tepera, Kelly, or someone else, the Cardinals look to have a plan in mind with their bullpen.