AL Central Teams Eyeing Cardinals’ Starting Pitchers

Title: AL Central Teams Interested in Cardinals Starting Pitchers AL Central teams, specifically the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians, are showing interest in acquiring St. Louis Cardinals starting pitchers Steven Matz and Erick Fedde. The Cardinals are transitioning from veteran players to focusing on developing younger talent, having had one of the oldest pitching staffs in 2024. Two rotation spots have opened for the Cardinals after declining options on veteran pitchers Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson. Steven Matz, in the final year of his contract with a $12.5 million salary, is seen as a candidate for trade due to his lack of trade protections. Erick Fedde, 31 years old and slated to make $7.5 million in 2025, is not as eager to trade as Matz, but his potential return could be higher. Matz had a challenging 2024 season, limited to only 44.1 innings due to injury, resulting in a 5.08 ERA. Fedde performed better in 2024 after returning from the Korean League, posting a 3.72 ERA with the Cardinals after a successful stint with the White Sox. The Tigers finished 2024 with the fourth-best starter ERA in the league (3.38), while the Guardians struggled with a higher ERA (4.40) but had more wins. Both teams are seeking to bolster their rotations; the Guardians have made moves like re-signing Shane Bieber and trading for Luis Ortiz, while the Tigers signed Alex Cobb. The Cardinals' strategy involves offloading veterans like Matz to cut payroll and potentially acquire prospects, aligning with their long-term development goals.

Original Article: https://lastwordonsports.com/baseball/2024/12/22/al-central-teams-interested-cardinals/

Original Article Author: Jeff Dahdah