Cards may look to add bullpen help

ST. LOUIS -- Jason Motte is enduring another rough month, and it has the St. Louis Cardinals in the market for some right-handed depth in their bullpen.

Motte gave up a run Tuesday night in the Cardinals' 5-4 loss to Cincinnati, boosting his ERA to 5.75. After his first game in June, Motte's ERA was 2.78.

Motte claims he's feeling fine --physically and emotionally.

"I go out there the same way every single time," he said. "I'm not like, 'Oh, OK, whatever.' You can't go out there and be down at all. You've got to go out there and stay up. If you go out there and you're down, you're going to end up giving it up. You've got to go out there with your head up and keep doing it."

Motte has given up nine runs in his last 10 outings, a span of 7 1/3 innings. His ERA soared after he allowed four hits and five runs July 25 at Philadelphia.

"He's capable of pitching like he has when he's pitched at his best," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "It's a tough role because he comes into a lot of key spots. I'm careful how I use Jason, but I'm not hesitant to use him."

But La Russa also said the Cardinals are looking at options.

"We've said that another quality right-hander in our bullpen would have an effect on our bullpen --just like a position player makes us deeper," he said.

The Cardinals might have interest in two pitchers who have recently become available: right-handers John Smoltz and reliever Justin Speier.

Smoltz, 42, who was designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, has cleared waivers and refused an assignment to the minors. The Red Sox are left with two options: trade or release Smoltz.

Smoltz, who was 2-5 in eight starts with the Red Sox, walked nine and struck out 33 in 40 innings. He intrigues the Cardinals as a reliever.

"His name has to get your attention," La Russa said.

Speier, 35, was released Tuesday by the Los Angeles Angels. He was 4-2 with a 5.18 ERA in 41 games, with 15 walks and 39 strikeouts in 40 innings.

"I noticed he was released," La Russa said. "There again, you have to get reports from people who were seeing him."

Of course, if Motte can manage to rediscover the effectiveness he had in the first two months of the season, the point could be mute.

"I'm trying to go out there and attack the hitters, throw strikes and get outs," Motte said. "I'm going to keep plugging away. I've got to go out there and relax and just have fun. If I go out there and think about it, it's going to make everything worse. I've got to go out there and relax and let it happen."

La Russa doesn't believe Motte's modest workload of 40 2/3 innings is contributing in any way to his ineffectiveness.

"His velocity is best when he comes in with a day of rest or two days' rest," La Russa said. "Motte's been protected pretty well."