• Home
  • News
    • Business
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Legislature
    • Politics / Govt
  • Sports
    • The Bill Pollock Show
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Missourinet

Your source for Missouri News and Sports

You are here: Home / Sports / Who will close for the #STLCards beyond 2017? Rosenthal shut down, set for Tommy John surgery

Who will close for the #STLCards beyond 2017? Rosenthal shut down, set for Tommy John surgery

August 23, 2017 By Bill Pollock

Trevor Rosenthal will need Tommy John surgery to repair a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. The procedure will take place next week.

Not only does it cost Rosenthal the rest of this season, but most likely, all of 2018.  The Cardinals will be in search of a closer beyond this season.  It creates a challenge for GM Michael Girsch.

“It certainly creates a need where we previously had a pretty set answer,” Girsch said. “In the short term, there’s not a ton we can do about it, unfortunately, because of the time of year. We’re doing our best. In the longer term, it is something we’ll have to add to the things we’re trying to address this offseason.”

The Cardinals have lacked confidence in Seung-hwan Oh.  Left handed hitters are batting well over .300 against the 34-year old who has 19 saves this season, matching 2016’s output.  The issue is that the other numbers just haven’t been there.  Oh is also 1-5 opposed to 6-3 last season with an ERA that is close to a full two runs higher than a season ago.  Plus, Oh is a free agent after this season.

With the expected return on Alex Reyes to the starting rotation in 2018, perhaps it may be easier for the Cardinals to look to someone like Michael Wacha to become a closer.  There have been external questions about his ability to be a long term answer as a starter.  If a move to the bullpen is in his future, he could become a candidate.  With lefty Brett Cecil already in the pen as a specialist, could a healthy Kevin Siegrist be the answer?

For this season, it appears Mike Matheny will hold a closer by committee.

“We’ll figure it out as we go,” Matheny said. “We’ve got a lot of opportunity for somebody to step in and take over the spot, a few spots. We are going to let everybody see what they can do and see who looks the best to fill that spot.”

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Sports

Subscribe to our daily newsletter


Tweets by Missourinet

Sports

Girl hurt in crash with ex-Chiefs Coach “likely has permanent brain damage”

A girl … [Read More...]

Dru Smith’s after late layup secures Mizzou’s first win at Florida “It meant a lot to us.”

Dru … [Read More...]

Crunch time for Mizzou hoops. Eli the best at selling Tigers football (PODCAST)

Thanks for … [Read More...]

Royals building a winner, Chiefs will look different in 2021 (PODCAST)

Thanks for … [Read More...]

Rookie scores in debut as Blues beat Ducks

Zach … [Read More...]

More Sports

Tweets by missourisports

Archives

Opinion/Editorials

TwitterFacebook

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC