If there is one weakness with the 2026 St. Louis Cardinals, it's the bullpen. St. Louis currently has the 20th-ranked bullpen ERA in baseball at 4.43. It hasn't stopped the Cardinals in the standings. Right now, the Cardinals are tied for second place in the National League Central with the Chicago Cubs with a 28-19 record. The young Cardinals are firing on all cylinders and have been the most fun team for the franchise since at least 2022. With the Cardinals trading a handful of veterans away ahead of the season, it's hard to believe that the club will now go out and spend heavily this season or swing some sort of blockbuster deal involving cutting ties with prospects. It's just not the strategy the club should take. But the Cardinals are playing so well that they shouldn't be broken up as well. If the Cardinals keep playing like this, the front office should be looking for cheap ways to improve around the edges without tearing things down. The easiest way would be to improve the bullpen with a cheap arm. It just so happens that an old friend just became available who could do just that. On Wednesday, Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported that Cardinals old friend Matt Bowman was granted his release by the Minnesota Twins after logging a 1.69 ERA in 14 appearances down in the minors at the Triple-A level. The Cardinals Should Reunite With Matt BowmanFeb 19, 2026; Lee County, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins right-handed pitcher Matt Bowman (51) poses for a portrait during photo day at Hammond Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images