The Cardinals have settled on some pitching roles for the start of the season, as St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Derrick Goold was one of those he covered on Twitter. Left-handed just inked Kwang-Hyun Kim Heading for a high-leverage relief role, while the right-handed Carlos Martinez will go back in rotation.
This represents one of those good problems that needs solving. Not having any health problems to make a decision, the Charts had to choose between two quite attractive options to complete the initial staff.
Kim signed a two-year, $ 8MM contract under which the club also released a $ 1.6MM fee to his former KBO team. Kim was strong in spring training, throwing eight scoreless frames with 11 strikeouts and just one walk. While leaving his mark as a starter in Korea, Kim will have to return to the rotation in St. Louis. Alternatively, you could engrave a prominent concert on the back of the pen, perhaps as a closer.
There is a role model for Martinez himself, who was a high-quality MLB initiator for years before health issues intervened. He ended up being transferred back to the corral, where he racked up saves in half of his 48 appearances in 2019. Now, the talented 28-year-old will have a chance to re-establish himself as a starter. It makes sense that the club chose to give him another shot in the rotation. Beyond his limit set in that role, Martinez is owed $ 11.5MM in 2021 with two high-priced club options to follow.
