Cardinals Reportedly Explored Reunion With Former St. Louis Reliever

The St. Louis Cardinals have been on a mission this winter to retool their pitching staff after a disappointing 2023 season.

The club has landed three proven starters and added two notable relievers by trading for right-hander Andrew Kittredge and recently signing free agent Keynan Middleton.

Before making the latest addition to the bullpen, the Cardinals were reportedly exploring a reunion with a former reliever.

"During the Cardinals' ongoing talks with free-agent relievers, they explored a reunion with right-hander John Brebbia before he signed with the (Chicago) White Sox, per a source," the St. Louis Dispatch's Derrick Goold reported Friday.

Brebbia posted a 6-7 record with a 3.14 ERA, 198-to-54 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .212 batting average against and a 1.10 WHIP throughout three seasons pitched for the Cardinals.

The 33-year-old made his Major League Baseball debut with St. Louis in 2017 and has been fairly consistent throughout his career -- 2021 being the only year he recorded and ERA+ below league average.

The former Cardinals hurler held a 3-5 record with a 3.99 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 38 1/3 innings pitched for the San Francisco Giants last season.

Adding Brebbia to St. Louis' pitching arsenal would have been a solid move, but the latest signing of Middleton should certainly prove to be impactful. The Cardinals needed another high-leverage hurler and found what they were looking for.

Pitchers and catchers report to spring training in less than two weeks and it appears that the Cardinals pitching staff is locked and loaded to bounce back in 2024.