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The St. Louis Cardinals have limited time to fill roster gaps before the impending lockout, and several clear options exist as they seek the right fits. The most pressing concern is the bullpen, which recorded a 4.40 ERA this season—the fifth-worst in the National League. After trading JoJo Romero at the deadline, the team could benefit from adding a left-handed pitcher to strengthen the relief corps.
In a recent analysis by The Athletic's Tim Britton, Johnny Flores Jr., and Chad Jennings, left-hander Adrian Morejon was identified as a possible fit for St. Louis. The trio ranked the top 40 free agents and matched them with suitable teams. Morejon, described as the top relief pitcher on the market, has been overshadowed in his own bullpen but has quietly amassed the third-most fWAR and seventh-most strikeouts among relievers over the past three seasons while pitching in front of star closer Mason Miller. In 2026, he tied Guardians closer Cade Smith for the most shutdowns and threw the third-most relief innings—just one fewer than Brewers multi-inning lefty Aaron Ashby—while only Miller, Louis Varland, and Jhoan Duran posted a higher fWAR.
Morejon's Fit with the Cardinals
This past season, the 27-year-old left-hander went 9-3 with a 2.83 ERA in 76 appearances, notching three saves and a 1.9 WAR. The former All-Star also averaged 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings. However, the primary obstacle is his likely demand for a long-term contract. Britton, Flores, and Jennings project Morejon to land a five-year, $110 million deal—a type of contract the Cardinals typically avoid. While Morejon would undoubtedly bolster the bullpen, St. Louis is unlikely to commit to such a hefty deal. Instead, the team will likely pursue short-term additions that can be flipped at the trade deadline for prospects, similar to their approach with Dustin May this season.
Fans should temper expectations regarding a potential Morejon signing, as helpful as he would be. He is expected to command a price beyond the Cardinals' comfort zone, and signing such deals does not align with Chaim Bloom's modus operandi. The team could still add a capable closer-type arm to alleviate pressure on Riley O'Brien as the season progresses.