By Kevin Reynolds, www.stlcardsnstuff.com
John Mozeliak took the podium early Saturday morning at the Cardinals’ annual Winter Warm-Up event and addressed a wide range of topics, perhaps most intriguing, the role of Jaime Garcia.
Garcia has been a staple of the St. Louis rotation — a rotation that has historically valued the presence of a left-handed hurler — since 2010. But injury forced him to the disabled list last season and could impact how he starts this one.
With multiple starters for just five spots, it could also affect his role on the Cardinals’ roster.
When asked if Garcia is a “starter only or is he fighting” for a job in the rotation, Mozeliak said, “That’s a great question. The real answer is we gotta’ optimize.”
It seems the influx of hard-throwing, mystifying arms in line for a Cardinal rotation spot has left Jaime’s spot at least up for debate. Perhaps the REAL, real question is this: If Jaime Garcia isn’t a starter, is it a better allocation of assets to move him in a deal later this season instead of burying him in a crowded bullpen?
