3 Biggest Questions Surrounding the Cardinals Bullpen for 2020

The St. Louis Cardinals did not make any major changes this offseason. The team heads into 2020 with much of the roster remaining the same, except for the loss of Marcell Ozuna to the Atlanta Braves in free agency. If there's one spot worthy of concern, however, it's the bullpen. There are still several question marks surrounding this group that may induce anxiety among Redbirds fans until well into the season, starting with these three.

3. What is Carlos Martinez's Role?

St Louis Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez has been both a starter and a reliever. / Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Carlos Martinez spent all of 2019 in the bullpen. He appeared in 48 games and led the team with 24 saves. Martinez is now competing for a spot in the rotation once again, as he was primarily a starter from 2015-2017 before first splitting his time between roles by 2018. If he's to become a starter once again on a full-time basis, that opens up a late-game role for someone else to fill. It's not clear at the moment who that someone would be.

2. Will Andrew Miller Rebound in 2020?

St. Louis Cardinals reliever Andrew Miller had a rough first season in town. / Scott Kane/Getty Images

Andrew Miller signed a two-year, $25 million contract with the Cardinals last offseason. He proceeded to post a 4.45 ERA and unsightly -0.5 WAR in 2019. He did strike out 70 batters in 54.2 innings, but he was not as dominant as he had been during his days in Cleveland. Martinez potentially being a starter puts even more pressure on Miller to be a late-inning shutdown guy. He can also no longer come in for just one batter due to the new three-batter minimum rule; another bad year from Miller could derail this entire bullpen.

1. Who is the Closer?

St Louis Cardinals pitcher Jordan Hicks could return in 2020. / Scott Kane/Getty Images

Plain and simple, the Cardinals need to figure out who's going to close out games in 2020. Jordan Hicks is still recovering from Tommy John surgery, though he could return this summer (assuming games are even happening then). Even if he's back, he will certainly need time to build up his arm again after missing a year. Martinez is next in line, but he may end up being a starter. That could leave a committee of Miller, John Brebbia, and Giovanny Gallegos competing for back-end role. Either that, the Cardinals may just not have a true closer and roll with the hot hand until Hicks is ready to return.