MLB free agents 2018: St. Louis Cardinals wish list must include a closer

MLB free agents 2018: The St. Louis Cardinals are looking to dethrone the Chicago Cubs next season if this Christmas wishlist comes true.

MLB free agents 2018 are quickly disappearing, with the St. Louis Cardinals looking to snag up a handful of those remaining players.

So far, their “Christmas wishlist” has partially come true, with the “gift” of Marcell Ozuna, but, there are many more “presents” that would bring even more holiday cheer to the Arch City.

If the St. Louis Cardinals are looking to be real contenders during the 2018 MLB postseason, they need their Christmas wishlist to come true.

A lock-down closer.

A position of need for 2018, the backend of the bullpen needs to tighten up, or the Cardinals will give away needed games as they did in 2017. The addition of Juan Nicasio helped weather the storm after Trevor Rosenthal‘s season-ending injury, but it was too little, too late.

With Juan Nicasio joining the Seattle Mariners in free agency, the Cardinals must snag another one of the talented free agent studs.

The best options remaining are Wade Davis and Greg Holland, ironically both key aspects of the Kansas City Royals World Series title team from 2015.

However, both are quite pricey on the Christmas shopping market, so the Cardinals need to find a cheaper, more viable option.

Acquiring Alex Colome in a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays would be the best bet, where they could even kill two “birds” with one stone.

If the price is right, the Cardinals could snag Chris Archer and Colome in the same deal, but, would have to give away some of the “Farm” to do so.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

However, it’s worth the risk, with the Cardinals having a loaded Minor League system, so they can afford to part ways with a few talented prospects.

Archer and Colome would be the perfect one-two combo within their pitching staff — solidifying both the starting rotation and back end of the pen.

With Lance Lynn walking in Free Agency and Alex Reyes not due back until around the All-Star break, adding some starting pitching depth is vital.

Also, Adam Wainwright is not getting any younger and no longer an ace pitcher, so ideally, he would be a good 5th starter or even long relief type role.

Next: Cardinals future depends on Paul DeJong

MLB free agents 2018 are quickly disappearing, with the St. Louis Cardinals already making all the right moves. Adding Colome and Archer would be a nice belated Christmas present for the Redbirds in 2018.