With Spring Training is full gear the Cardinals are looking out some young talent and who can fit their play style. With the Cardinals coming off another great season the fans and the front office look to make some moves during this time period.
The only problem I see in the roster is the pitching rotation. With the first three or four spots being filled with guaranteed starters we look at who can fill that fifth spot. There are many way the Cards can go with this, they can try to go out and re-sign Kyle Lohse, or look at three big young players to fill that position. The re-signing of Lohse is really slim at the moment, but is still in the picture. There is other players that can fit the picture with: Joe Kelly, Trevor Rosenthal, and Shelby Miller.
Shelby Miller diffidently has a bright future with the Cardinals and will be in the rotation for years to come. He did have some good outings in 2012. He even took a no-hitter into the 6th in one. In my book he is for sure in the top players to be that fifth spot, but I think that he could use just a little more time in the Minors. He will be in the talk if someone get hurt and needs to be called up real quick during the season.
Joe Kelly, right now is leading most talk of being the last starter. Of course he has more experience in the Majors than any of the other players I mentioned, so he will be the top guy for me to see out there for the last spot. I think he may need a little more work in Spring Training, but I think that Kelly is the leader in this conversation.
Rosenthal dazzled with his 100-mile-per-hour fastball out of the bullpen in late 2012. He has the qualities of a starter. But he, too, is young. I don’t see him getting the starting this early, maybe later, but not now. He is a big threat in the bullpen and could be there most of the season. I need to see more of him starting in the Minors to have my OK on him.
Lastly, the guy who I think will win this battle and be that fifth starter the Cardinals need is Joe Kelly. Like I said earlier, I think that he has the most experience out of any of these pitchers and be a big piece to the Cardinals playoff hopes.
