Ex-Cardinals First-Rounder Inks Deal With Tigers To Bolster Bullpen

The St. Louis Cardinals have been on a mission this winter to retool their pitching staff after a poor performance in 2023.

The Cardinals have done a decent job at replenishing the rotation after landing two veteran starters and the reigning American League Cy Young runner-up, Sonny Gray.

Since landing three new starters, the focus has shifted to finding bullpen relief, however, the Cardinals missed an opportunity to reunite with a former first-round draft pick who would've been a great addition to their arsenal.

"The (Detroit) Tigers are signing right-handed reliever Shelby Miller to a one-year contract with an option, pending physical," Detroit Free Press's Evan Petzold reported Friday.

Miller posted a 26-18 record with a 3.33 ERA, 312-to-134 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .218 batting average against, and 1.23 WHIP throughout his career as a starting pitcher with the Cardinals from 2012-2014.

The 33-year-old eventually transitioned to a relieving pitcher role with the Arizona Diamondbacks but has struggled since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2017.

The former All-Star had a resurgent season in 2023 -- recording a 1.71 ERA, .171 batting average against, and 0.90 WHIP in 42 innings pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Cardinals missed a chance to capitalize on signing the free-agent reliever who will be looking to continue his success next season and would've given St. Louis much-needed depth in the bullpen.

It's been said that the Cardinals would be extremely competitive in the relief pitching market, so hopefully not signing Miller will prove to be irrelevant.