RetroSimba

Forced into action out of desperation, the Cardinals went looking for a starting pitcher three weeks before the opening of the 2008 season and, in a stroke of good luck, found someone who would become the staff ace.

On March 13, 2008, the Cardinals, moving reluctantly but out of necessity, signed free agent Kyle Lohse to a one-year contract for $4.25 million.

The Cardinals didn’t want to invest in a free agent at that point in the year, but with four potential starters (Chris Carpenter, Matt Clement, Mark Mulder and Joel Pineiro) unavailable to open the season because of injuries, the club needed a veteran to bolster an unimposing rotation of Adam Wainwright, Todd Wellemeyer, Braden Looper and Brad Thompson.

Lohse, 29, wasn’t a sure bet, but he was the best available option.

Pricey pitcher

A right-hander, Lohse pitched for the Twins (2001-2006), Reds (2006-2007) and Phillies (2007) before becoming a free agent in October 2007.

A year earlier, in July 2006, the Cardinals expressed interest in acquiring Lohse for the pennant stretch, but the Twins traded him to the Reds instead. Lohse was a combined 9-12 with a 4.62 ERA for the Reds and Phillies in 2007, but against the Cardinals that season he was 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA.

After Lohse became a free agent, the Cardinals, like all other clubs, were scared off by his contract demands. Lohse’s agent, Scott Boras, sought a five-year, $50 million contract for the pitcher, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

With less expensive free-agent pitchers such as Jon Lieber and Bartolo Colon on the market, Lohse remained unsigned when spring training games began.

Help wanted

The Cardinals thought they had enough depth in their rotation, but Carpenter, Clement and Mulder still were not recovered from major surgeries, and when Pineiro developed tightness in his right shoulder, setting back his spring training work, manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan pleaded for help.

Initially, the Cardinals considered bringing back Sidney Ponson, who pitched for them in 2006, but when the free agent signed with the Rangers on March 10, Lohse became the target.

Duncan met with Cardinals owner Bill DeWitt Jr. and explained to him why signing Lohse was necessary rather than looking to the bullpen or to the minor leagues for help.

“I don’t think we have to worry about having too much pitching,” La Russa said.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak added, “If it were a perfect world, we wouldn’t have had to go down this road, but it’s not and we’re going to need someone to pitch every fifth day.”

Good arsenal

Though Lohse was considered a Band-Aid for a tattered rotation _ “Lohse isn’t a star, but he can probably help prevent the destruction of your bullpen,” wrote columnist Bernie Miklasz _ he quickly impressed after arriving at Cardinals camp in Jupiter, Fla.

“He’s got a nice assortment, a lot of different ways to approach a hitter,” Duncan said after seeing Lohse pitch.

Said Lohse: “My slider has pretty much always been my go-to pitch. I can throw it for a strike at any count, or run it off the plate a little bit.”

When the regular season began, Lohse posted a 3-0 record and 2.36 ERA in April.

He finished 2008 as the Cardinals leader in wins (15) and innings pitched (200) and was second on the club in strikeouts (119). He had a 15-6 record and 3.78 ERA in 33 starts.

In five seasons (2008-2012) with the Cardinals, Lohse was 55-35. His best season was in 2012 when he had a 16-3 mark and led the National League in winning percentage (.842).