Cardinals Target Romero for Lefty Relief Help — Here's Why It Works

The St. Louis Cardinals' Strategy for the Future

The St. Louis Cardinals are actively searching for a free-agent left-handed relief pitcher who has major league experience. They want someone they can rely on to secure crucial outs in their bullpen and also take on some of the veteran responsibilities that come with guiding younger teammates through the early stages of their careers.

JoJo Romero fits the bill perfectly. He is left-handed, has spent six years in the majors, and has been one of the most productive bullpen lefties over the last three seasons. His ability to build camaraderie in the bullpen has earned praise from both teammates and coaches.

It seems like the Cardinals have found their ideal candidate right within their own organization. Yet, they are considering trading him, which may seem contradictory at first glance. However, this decision has not caused much concern among the team's leadership.

President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom was asked about the situation. "Are we speaking generically," he responded with a smile, "or talking about the guy that we have?"

Strategic Moves for Long-Term Gain

By trading Romero now, the Cardinals aim to capitalize on a market that is eager for left-handed relievers. This move offers them two potential opportunities. First, they can receive assets for Romero in the short term, which could become long-term pieces for the organization. Second, any free agent signed by the Cardinals is likely to be on a one-year deal or at most, one year with an option for a second. These players could then become valuable trade assets during the August deadline.

While it might seem unusual to prioritize trade deadline value before the new year, this approach reflects a reality the Cardinals have not fully embraced in more than a generation. The seeds of success at the end of July are sown in the winter. To reap the rewards later, they must first plant.

"We're not going to discriminate in terms of handedness when it comes to both talent and then the ability to lead guys, especially when it comes to younger pitchers," Bloom said. "Sometimes those guys are getting their feet wet in the ‘pen. That can be really helpful. But you want someone that can help show them the ropes."

Building on Past Success

In each of the last two years, veteran right-handers Andrew Kittredge (by trade) and Phil Maton (as a free agent) joined the Cardinals in the winter and spent one season—less, in Maton's case, after his own deadline trade—putting up strong numbers and setting strong examples. They then spun those seasons into further success in free agency.

Kittredge signed a one-year deal with a team option with Baltimore ahead of the 2025 season, then performed well enough to be traded to the Chicago Cubs and later shipped back to the Orioles before his option was exercised; he'll make $18 million on his deal. Maton, traded to the Texas Rangers at the most recent deadline, signed a two-year contract with a team option for a third year with the Cubs this winter, guaranteeing $14.5 million with the possibility of earning as much as $20 million.

These are the largest paydays of each of their careers, and they serve as proof of concept for other veterans seeking a soft landing spot to reestablish themselves before reentering the market next winter. Romero will also be in that free-agent market, and his singular remaining year of team control is not one in which the Cardinals anticipate being true contenders—which feeds the desire to move on from him, even though he embodies all the characteristics they seek.

A Proven Track Record

"You look at the progression of JoJo's career," Bloom said. "He at one point was that guy trying to find his footing and figure it out. You could see year over year as he does that, not only is there more trust and reliability there from the standpoint of the staff using him, but also something other players can feed off of."

Bloom, speaking into a bank of microphones, is well aware he is making a sales pitch. Among full-time lefty relievers who have thrown at least 100 innings over the last three seasons, Romero ranks fourth in the majors in ERA+, which measures pitchers against league average. The three southpaws ahead of him—Josh Hader, Tanner Scott and Aroldis Chapman—have all been big-money free agents considered among the elite of the game's bullpen arms.

Navigating the Market

Other lefties have come off the board in recent days. Caleb Ferguson, Foster Griffin, Drew Pomeranz and Caleb Thielbar all agreed to one-year deals this week. Teams are sorting through their options and beginning to settle for the relievers they're most comfortable with. The Cardinals are walking a fine line with Romero between holding too long and not waiting long enough to find interested clubs.

That is part of the art of dealmaking. There is both art and science to it, even when it looks disjointed. Yes, the Cardinals want a Romero type. Yes, they want to trade Romero himself. Squint hard enough, and it starts to make sense.