The St. Louis Cardinals are actively shopping pitcher Kyle McClellan as they try to sort out their pitching staff for the 2012 season, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He notes that the Cardinals already have an abundance of options in the bullpen and could use the saved money to pursue another starting pitcher in free agency.
The Cardinals have attempted to engage a number of clubs in talks for McClellan. The Baltimore Orioles have emerged as one of the most promising trade partners for McClellan, according to industry sources, as the Cardinals are seeking little more than salary relief.
McClellan, 27, spilt the 2011 season between the bullpen and the rotation with St. Louis. Over 141 innings, he posted a 4.19 ERA with 76 strikeouts and 43 walks. The two sides agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract earlier this month, avoiding an arbitration hearing in the process.
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