According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the St. Louis Cardinals are exploring the free-agent market for a setup reliever. So far this offseason, the team has not signed any MLB-level free agents, and if they do make a move, it’s unlikely to involve one of the top-tier options.
Cardinals Eyeing New Addition for Setup Relief Role
Replacing Elite Setup Man
Andrew Kittredge served as the Cardinals’ primary setup man in 2024 and is now a free agent. He led the National League with 37 holds, trailing only Bryan Abreu for the MLB lead. His consistency in the eighth inning was instrumental in helping closer Ryan Helsley finish the season as the MLB leader in saves.
Kittredge appeared in a career-high 74 games in 2024, posting a 2.80 ERA, which outperformed his career average of 3.44. Over 70.2 innings, the right-hander struck out 67 batters while allowing just 60 hits, maintaining an impressive strikeout-to-hit ratio.
This marks Kittredge’s first experience in free agency, and he is expected to seek a contract that may exceed what the Cardinals are willing to offer. However, if his market develops slowly, the team has not ruled out the possibility of bringing him back.
Looking For Low-Cost Help
According to Derrick Goold, the Cardinals are “in the market for a setup reliever,” though their approach has been notably slow—if they’re actively pursuing one at all. So far this offseason, the team has made only three minor league signings, while allowing several players from their 2024 roster, including Paul Goldschmidt, Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson, Keynan Middleton, Matt Carpenter, and Andrew Kittredge, to enter free agency.
Additionally, the Cardinals are reportedly shopping high-cost players like Nolan Arenado and Steven Matz. The organization appears to be waiting to gain more clarity on potential trades to lower their payroll before committing to any free-agent signings. Despite their reluctance to use the term “rebuilding,” the focus remains on cutting costs and developing younger talent.
The Cardinals are likely to make their moves later in the offseason, targeting players who have been overlooked by more aggressive teams once the market has thinned out.
Hoping to Maintain Bullpen Success
The Cardinals’ 2024 bullpen was anchored by Ryan Helsley, the most prolific closer in baseball, who is entering his final year of club control amid trade rumors, though he has expressed a desire to remain with the team. The bullpen also included two reliable setup arms, Andrew Kittredge and JoJo Romero, both of whom recorded 30 or more holds.
The bullpen posted a 3.64 ERA in 2024, ranking seventh-best in the league. Much of this success was attributed to a strong starting rotation, as the bullpen logged the eighth-fewest innings in the league. This limited workload reduced the risk of overuse for key relievers and minimized the need to rely on inexperienced arms.
Heading into 2025, the Cardinals are retaining Helsley, Romero, and five other bullpen pitchers who each threw at least 30 innings in 2024. While the bullpen remains solid, a free-agent addition or two could bolster it further. Otherwise, the team will look to emerging talent from the minors to make meaningful contributions next season.
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