Cards consider all options for pitching help

The Cardinals -- like many teams across MLB -- are hurting. They have two of their top starting pitchers, their starting center fielder, their starting shortstop and plenty of depth behind them -- both on the Major and Minor League level -- on the injured list.

As a result, St. Louis’ focus is turned to adding to the organization from outside, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said prior to Thursday’s series opener against the Reds. How that comes, though, is a major work in progress, especially with eight 40-man players either on the big league 10-day injured list or the 7-day IL in the Minors.

“Our hands are a little bit tied at the moment, so roster creativity is going to be something that we have to take a deep dive in,” Mozeliak said. “If there are ways that we can add some depth, not only to the big league club but to our system in general, it’s something that we're going to have to explore, and it's going to start right away.”

Pitching is the Cards’ big emphasis, with absences resulting from injuries to Jack Flaherty, Miles Mikolas and Jordan Hicks all being thought of more in terms of months than weeks. Positionally, Paul DeJong and Harrison Bader are inching their way closer to rehab assignments.

Some help has already come. Left-hander Andrew Miller was activated on Thursday, with Tyler Webb designated for assignment as a collateral move after an incredibly trying two months (13.22 ERA in 22 appearances).

But if the Cardinals want additional pitching help, here’s where they may be able to turn:

The outside options

Think unsigned free agents. Think Rick Porcello, Cole Hamels, Aníbal Sánchez, Jeff Samardzija.

But the Cardinals are not necessarily thinking that.

Complicating such a desire is that should such free-agent pitchers need a build-up period, it’d likely run right up to when the Cards’ internal options are either back to or nearing full health. Flaherty’s outlook is still being evaluated, but both he and Mikolas are hoping to be ready come August in a best-case scenario.

“It's not really practical for us to go out and have someone spend a month to ramp up at this point, because by then you're looking at the true Trade Deadline period, and you could likely acquire someone that's ready to go then,” Mozeliak said.

The internal options

Think top prospects Matthew Liberatore and Zack Thompson.

But expectations for Liberatore and Thompson may need to be tempered here, too. As much as the Cardinals are excited for their young and talented prospects to have a Minor League season back at their disposal, they’re not going to accelerate their development based solely on injuries ahead of them.

“I just want to be very careful that we don't try to just do something as a knee-jerk reaction to what's happening here at the big league level,” Mozeliak said.

There are some other internal options, though, such as Bernando Flores Jr., who’s made a one-game cameo, but Mozeliak acknowledged the arms at Triple-A skew young, without many healthy ones “knocking at the door.”

What’s more, Liberatore is with Team USA attempting to qualify for the Olympics next month. He’s scheduled to return to Triple-A Memphis on Sunday after one more start in the qualifiers, Mozelaik said, but should the United States punch their ticket to Tokyo, the club would have to make a decision on Liberatore’s availability.

“With all candor, I've got to always side with the Major League organization,” Mozeliak said. “Based on how we're trending, it would seem like it'd be a really difficult decision for us.”

The dark-horse options

Think teams perhaps falling out of contention by the end of July, with quality pitchers featuring a year or two of team control remaining. Think the Rangers’ Kyle Gibson, the Royals’ Brad Keller, the Reds’ Sonny Gray, the Tigers’ Matthew Boyd.

This is the meat of where the Cardinals are targeting (with prices to complete a deal a large question mark). Pitchers who can slot seamlessly into their rotation not just to paper over the current rash of injuries but provide a jolt to a rotation that could use a steady hand -- even after Flaherty and Mikolas return.

“It's not like you can simply say, ‘Let's just be patient and try to muddle through this,” Mozeliak said. “We're going to have to look at ways to strengthen our club, and obviously, there is no timeout in this business, so we got to keep going.”

Truth be told, the Cardinals could have easily found themselves in the market for another starter even if the entire rotation was at full health. The trade market is still normalizing, but the Cardinals have put down the baton that they intend -- and are already -- to explore all options.

So is it crazy to think about the Nationals’ Max Scherzer, the hometown kid who’s said to perhaps be available should Washington fall out of contention?

The next two months should provide plenty to think about.