JUPITER, Fla. -- One member of the quartet of St. Louis' potential closers has already sustained a setback.
Riley O'Brien incurred what he called a mild right calf strain while throwing a live bullpen session on Saturday. He hasn't thrown off a mound since.
“It felt better today than it did yesterday,” O'Brien said Tuesday. “Hopefully it's nothing too long-term.”
Even if the injury isn't long-term, O'Brien's injury could have significant short-term implications. For starters, his availability to pitch for Korea in the upcoming World Baseball Classic is in doubt.
O'Brien notched six saves while posting a 2.06 ERA last season, allowing just eight earned runs -- three of which came Sept. 13 against Milwaukee -- following his June 9 return from Triple-A Memphis.
Among Cardinals still on the roster, JoJo Romero led St. Louis with eight saves last season, all coming after the Redbirds traded closer Ryan Helsley to the Mets at the Trade Deadline.
This winter, the left-handed Romero, 29, became a popular name in trade speculation as the Cardinals continue their rebuild.
“I heard stuff here and there; mostly people sending me stuff and asking me,” Romero said of the rumors. “I think the biggest thing was not really caring about it at all.”
It would not be surprising to see St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol vacillate between Romero and O'Brien for ninth-inning duties this season, depending on matchups.
Fireballer Matt Svanson might profile as the most traditional closing candidate. The 27-year-old righty primarily employed a mix of sinkers and sliders to convert 39 consecutive Minor League save opportunities, beginning in May 2023, while he was still a member of the Blue Jays' organization. Svanson posted a 4-0 record without recording a save during 39 MLB appearances with St. Louis last season.
Marmol also wanted to include free-agent signee Ryne Stanek in the closer mix, despite the right-hander pitching to a 5.30 ERA with the Mets last season. At 34, Stanek is the lone player older than age 30 on the Cardinals' roster.
“There are different ways of mixing and matching with what we have on the back end that could be effective,” Marmol said. “I think you can look at a combination of those guys, including Stanek, and know that you've got some real stuff coming at you, and you have different ways you can deploy it.”
Even if Stanek doesn't become a ninth-inning threat, his presence adds value to the roster.
“Getting Stanek in the offseason, it will be nice to have kind of a veteran presence in the bullpen,” O'Brien said. “I think there's a lot of talent. I think there are going to be a lot of opportunities. I think it's going to be a fun year for the bullpen.”