3 moves for the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason
By David Hill
The St. Louis Cardinals had an interesting month. They went on a tear in September, winning 17 games in a row at one point to shock the baseball universe and reach the postseason. Then, after losing to the Dodgers in the Wild Card Game, manager Mike Shildt was fired despite an impressive run on the bench.
Now, with a new manager in place, the Cardinals can begin focusing on improving the roster. Despite winning 90 games last season, there are plenty of question marks and holes that need to be addressed. The Cardinals will be relying on several aging veterans, hoping that they have one more year left in the tank as they look to return to the playoffs.
Three moves for the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason
That mix leaves the Cardinals in a strange spot. They have to balance competing this season with setting themselves up for the future, especially as key members of the organization are likely to retire after the 2022 campaign. It is a fine line that they will have to walk.
The St. Louis Cardinals have their work cut out for them. Let’s look at three moves they should make this offseason.
Find another piece for the rotation
The St. Louis Cardinals rotation was supposed to be a strength in 2021. Then, because of injuries and ineffectiveness, they were forced to trade for Jon Lester and J.A. Happ at the deadline just to have enough arms.
As the Cardinals look to 2022, the rotation is a question mark. Adam Wainwright may have turned the clock back, but can he continue to be effective in his final year? Will Jack Flaherty return to form? Can Miles Mikolas be healthy? Are the prospects ready for the majors? There are more questions than answers.
With that being the case, the Cardinals need to address the rotation. Although they may not have the financial wherewithal to land one of the top free agent starters, they could add an intriguing piece from the second or third tier. A pitcher such as Jon Gray could be a great fit.
There is always the trade market as well. The A’s and Reds have already waved the white flag on the upcoming season and are selling. They may not be the only teams to do so, giving the Cardinals another option to land that needed arm.
The St. Louis Cardinals have plenty of question marks in their rotation. That needs to be one of the areas they address during the offseason.