This offseason, the St. Louis Cardinals will be looking for starting pitchers, but they will not be alone.
Many teams will be looking for starting pitchers, and the Cardinals may have to get inventive in order to add depth to their rotation.
One such acquisition may come from an international talent looking to make a comeback in Major League Baseball.
“Adam Plutko is a free agent looking to return to MLB after two excellent years in Korea,” John Heyman of the New York Post tweeted on Wednesday.
Plutko pitched 285 1/3 innings for the LG Twins, compiling a 26-8 record, 2.40 ERA, 250-to-69 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 1.08 WHIP.
Since posting a 6.71 ERA for the Baltimore Orioles in 2021, which led to his departure to the Korean Baseball Organization, the 32-year-old appears to have improved his skills.
Plutko’s recent success could be attributed to pitching in a lower-level league, but according to Heyman, his slider spin rate increased from 2,486 to 2,592 with greater break.
In his five-year MLB career, the right-handed pitcher posted an abysmal 14-14 record with a 5.39 ERA, 200-to-85 strikeout-to-walk ratio,.273 batting average against, and 1.38 WHIP in 273 2/3 innings pitched.
Plutko isn’t a high-caliber starter, but his addition to the Cardinals’ depth gives them alternatives they wouldn’t have otherwise. A 162-game season requires around 10 starters, and while he might not make the starting five, he could likely qualify as a spot starter with a potential to earn a larger role down the line.
Signing a veteran trying to prove himself again could be beneficial to St. Louis.
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