St Louis Cardinals - Inside The Cardinals

Opening Day may be right around the corner, but that doesn't mean there won't be a flurry of free-agent signings in the near future.

There are a handful of solid options still out there in free agency and that number likely will increase as teams begin to cut Spring Training rosters down.

The St. Louis Cardinals are a club that could make sense to make an addition or two. St. Louis -- like many clubs -- already has dealt with injuries to the starting rotation.

Top free agent addition Sonny Gray has been hampered in camp with a hamstring injury. While things have been progressing nicely and he may not miss much time if any in the regular season, starting pitching depth remains a serious concern for St. Louis.

The Cardinals struggled in 2023 due to struggles in the starting rotation so the club should have even more motivation to add more depth. Gray may not miss much time but the Cardinals are one serious injury away from possibly having another season like last year.

St. Louis may not make another splashy signing -- like a reunion with Jordan Montgomery -- but a veteran depth signing should be in the cards. One player who could make a lot of sense is two-time All-Star Johnny Cueto. 

He's a 16-year big league veteran and is looking for his next opportunity. Cueto struggled last season with the Miami Marlins and had a 6.02 ERA in 13 appearances, but was much better in 2022. He had a 3.35 ERA in 2022 with the Chicago White Sox to go along with a 102-to-33 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Because of his struggles last season, he likely could be signed to a very cheap big-league deal or even a minor-league contract. St. Louis does seem to be in a better place, but it could never hurt to add more cheap, veteran depth.

More MLB: Yankees Reportedly Pursuing Ex-Cardinals Pitcher, Postseason Star After Strong Season

One former member of the St. Louis Cardinals surprisingly still is looking for his next opportunity.

The Cardinals dealt veteran lefty Jordan Montgomery to the Texas Rangers ahead of the 2023 trade deadline and he helped lead the club to the World Series. Montgomery had a great season and finished with an overall 3.20 ERA and 166-to-48 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 188 2/3 innings pitched. 

Montgomery somehow still is available and one club that reportedly is showing interest in him is the New York Yankees, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

"The Yankees seemed to prefer (Blake Snell) since their analytics folks have the same issues with Montgomery as when they traded him away, namely that he doesn’t throw especially hard, and doesn’t miss enough bats," Heyman said. "Plus, true or not, word got out that Montgomery preferred to go elsewhere.

"Anyway, if Montgomery and the Yankees aren’t each other’s first choices, they may have little choice now. Sources say they are back in contact. A gap exists, but at least they’re talking."

Montgomery was acquired by the Cardinals in a trade with the Yankees in 2022 and impressed. The big lefty was the club's top starter in 2023 before being traded to Texas and will play a major role for whichever team ends up signing him.

He has been looking for a massive deal, but with Opening Day right around the corner, it wouldn't be surprising to see Montgomery get his next opportunity soon. If his price tag continues to drop maybe a reunion with St. Louis could make sense. It sounds like there will be some competition for his services.

More MLB: Cardinals 'Touched Base' With Postseason Star; Could St. Louis Make Surprise Signing?

The St. Louis Cardinals could end up surprising some people in 2024.

St. Louis had a devastating 2023 campaign that saw the club end up being one of the biggest sellers ahead of the trade deadline. The Cardinals traded away Jordan Montgomery, Jack Flaherty, and Jordan Hicks ahead of the deadline and looked to regroup this offseason.

The Cardinals signed Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson but some have speculated one more signing could make sense in order to truly compete for a World Series title. 

St. Louis is in a much better spot and should be able to finish near the top of the National League Central standings but another pitcher could help.

Montgomery still is available in free agency and although a return to the Texas Rangers may be the most likely option, St. Louis at least has "checked in" with him, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

"While the (San Francisco Giants) always made sense for Blake Snell (who agreed to a $62M, two-year deal in San Francisco), this is the obvious team for Montgomery, who not only is believed to want to return but is recalled as one of the most key reasons this team won its first championship," Heyman said. "The (Boston Red Sox) held a Zoom call a month ago with Montgomery. But Boston doesn’t feel like it’s doing much of anything at the moment (or all winter for that matter).

"The (Chicago Cubs) checked in, but they haven’t seemed to be at the forefront of talks, either. The Cardinals touched base, and while they look like they can use another pitcher, there’s no word of any involvement there."

Montgomery still may be unlikely for the Cardinals, but with each day he remains available, his price tag could drop. St. Louis is in a better spot than it was in, but a reunion with Montgomery could go a long way.

More MLB: Blue Jays Sign Ex-Cardinals, Royals Pitcher After Inconsistent Season

The Toronto Blue Jays are taking a chance on a former member of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Toronto officially signed former Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels, and Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher Mike Mayers to a minor league deal with an invite to Spring Training, according to the club.

"Official: We’ve signed (right-handed pitcher) Mike Mayers to a 2024 Minor League contract with an invite to Spring Training," the Blue Jays said.

Mayers was selected in the third round of the 2013 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft by the Cardinals and eventually made his big league debut with St. Louis in 2016. 

The righty appeared in four games in 2016 and allowed 16 earned runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched. Overall, he appeared in 73 games for the Cardinals throughout four big league seasons and had a 7.03 ERA and 70-to-33 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 80 2/3 innings pitched. 

Mayers was claimed off waivers by the Angels in 2019 and spent three seasons with the club and was much more impressive. He had a 2.10 ERA in 29 appearances in 2020 and a 3.84 ERA in a career-high 72 appearances in 2021. Overall, he had a 4.10 ERA in 125 total appearances with the Angels. 

He signed a minor league deal with the Royals ahead of the 2023 campaign. Mayers appeared in six games at the big league level with the Royals before being traded to the Chicago White Sox. He elected free agency at the end of the season and now will attempt to work his way back to the big leagues with the Blue Jays.

More MLB: Cardinals Phenom Seen As Breakout Candidate By MLB Insider, Former Executive

The 2024 season is just about to kick off and St. Louis Cardinals fans should be excited.

St. Louis has a disastrous 2023 season but should be significantly better in 2024. The Cardinals' biggest problems last season were the starting rotation and bullpen and the club made multiple additions to help improve both areas. 

The Cardinals' offense was in a good spot last season and should be even better. One player Cardinals fans certainly should be excited about is young outfielder Jordan Walker. 

Walker made his big league debut and impressed in his rookie season. His potential is limitless and The Athletic's Jim Bowden placed him on his 2024 All-MLB Breakout Team and expects a big season.

"Last year I predicted Walker would be a breakout candidate and win National League Rookie of the Year," Bowden said. "I was wrong on both counts, but that's not going to stop me from going back to the well. Why? Because I think I was just a year early and I feel the Cardinals mishandled Walker at the start of last season, demoting him to the minors in April when he didn't deserve it and making him learn a new position, right field, at the major-league level. 

"However, I really believe in this player and think he will hit for both average and power and eventually become at least adequate defensively in right field."

The 21-year-old appeared in 117 games with the Cardinals last season and clubbed 16 home runs, drove in 51 runs, and slashed .276/.342/.445. If he can take a step forward in 2024, the Cardinals should be in good shape.

More MLB: Ex-Cardinals Outfielder 'Moving Closer' To Signing With Padres According To Insider

The St. Louis Cardinals are hopeful for a brighter future after a last-place National League Central finish in 2023.

Not only do the Cardinals have a retooled pitching staff, along with a veteran-studded roster but the club also has a promising farm system to look forward to.

Among the plethora of talent St. Louis has in the minors, there is one prospect whom Cardinals manager Oli Marmol holds in high regard.

"His (Thomas Saggese) bat is big league ready," said Marmol as transcribed by St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Ben Frederickson. "He knows what he's doing when he's in the box. He's aware of the type of hitter he needs to be. His approach is really good. His bat-to-ball skills are pretty good as well. It's been impressive. He's shown well. Pretty advanced."

Saggese batted .306 with 66 extra-base hits including 26 home runs, 111 RBIs and a .904 OPS in 139 games played between Double-A Frisco, Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis last season.

The 21-year-old is a versatile infielder who could earn himself a role as a backup to third base, shortstop or second base if he continues to produce at the rate he's been slugging.

The utility man has recorded a .361/.425/.500 slash line with 13 hits, four walks and only five strikeouts in 36 at-bats during this year's spring training. Saggese is tied with Alec Burleson for the highest OPS (.925) among any Cardinals player with 30-plus at-bats this spring.

A young talent like Saggese is a treasure to any team and it's only a matter of time before we see him step up to the plate at Busch Stadium. We likely won't see Saggese get called up unless an injury occurs to one of the starting infielders but with Marmol's latest comment, we can infer that the rising prospect is on the verge of making his debut.

More MLB: Ex-Cardinals Outfielder 'Moving Closer' To Signing With Padres According To Insider

One former member of the St. Louis Cardinals could end up finding his next home very soon.

Opening Day somehow is right around the corner. It was a long offseason, but the 2024 season is just about to kick off but there are a handful of impact free agents still looking for jobs.

It's unclear why free agency was so disjointed this year, but signings should start popping up left and right because Opening Day is so close. 

One player who could end up signing very soon is veteran outfielder Tommy Pham. The 36-year-old has been looking for his next opportunity and reportedly is "moving closer" to a deal with the San Diego Padres, according to USA Today Sports' Bob Nightengale.

"The San Diego Padres and outfielder Tommy Pham are moving closer to reuniting on a one-year, $3 million to $4 million deal," Nightengale said. "Pham earned $8 million last season, including incentives, while helping lead the Arizona Diamondbacks to the World Series. He played for the Padres in 2020 and 2021."

Pham was selected by the Cardinals in the 16th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft and began his big league career with the club in 2014. He spent the first four-plus seasons of his career with St. Louis before being traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018. 

There still are plenty of free agents out there who could help clubs out at the big league level and Pham certainly is one after a strong 2023 campaign with the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks. It sounds like he will come off the board very soon.

More MLB: Veteran Starter Looking For Deal In Cardinals' Range; Could St. Louis Swoop In?

The St. Louis Cardinals should be able to compete for a postseason spot in 2024, but the club still has some question marks.

St. Louis made a serious effort to add pitching this offseason, but the starting rotation still is thin.

The Cardinals recently have been dealing with an injury to ace Sonny Gray which has illuminated this problem even more. Luckily, Gray is progressing well and won't miss much time.

Although this is the case, the Cardinals don't have much depth and any injury could be devastating to the club's success. The Cardinals could still fix this in free agency, though, if they wanted to.

There are multiple players still available who could help while not breaking the bank. One player who fits this description well is veteran starter Mike Clevinger. The righty reportedly is looking for a two-year deal worth around $20 million, according to USA Today Sport's Bob Nightengale. 

"Veteran free-agent starter Mike Clevinger has informed teams that he is seeking a two-year deal in excess of $20 million," Nightengale said.

Clevinger has a career 3.45 ERA in seven seasons and had a 3.77 ERA last season with the Chicago White Sox in 24 starts to go along with a 110-to-40 strikeout-to-walk ratio. 

St. Louis still has some wiggle room financially and could make a lot of sense for Clevinger. Luckily, Gray should return soon, but the club is one injury away from disaster again. 

It could never hurt to add more depth -- especially someone of Clevinger's caliber -- if the club truly wants to get back on track in 2024.

More MLB: Cardinals Star Officially Will Miss Opening Day Due To Unfortunate Injury

The St. Louis Cardinals officially will be without the services of their top pitcher on Opening Day.

St. Louis boosted its starting rotation by signing three-time All-Star Sonny Gray but he recently suffered an unfortunate hamstring injury.

The Cardinals' rotation still is thin despite making three additions this offseason and if Gray ends up missing a lot of time, the perception around the club will completely change.

On the bright side, this doesn't sound like it's going to be the case. St. Louis recently received a promising update on Gray and he's making significant progress. While this is the case, he officially has been ruled out for Opening Day but may not go on the Injured List, according to The Athletic's Katie Woo. 

"Sonny Gray will not be cleared before Opening Day, Oli Marmol says, but a path remains to where he won’t require an (Injured List) stint and could potentially pitch later in the first road trip of the season," Woo said. "Miles Mikolas is your Cardinals Opening Day starter."

If Gray can return to the mound and not miss much time, that would be great for St. Louis. The Cardinals have high expectations for the 2024 season despite an abysmal 2023 campaign. St. Louis is considered by many to be the top team in the National League Central but will only have a chance to do so if Gray is healthy.

St. Louis already is dealing with a handful of injuries and Gray certainly is the most prominent. It's disappointing he won't be ready for Opening Day, but it sounds like he will be back soon.

More MLB: Cardinals Top Bullpen Addition Reportedly Will Miss Opening Day

The St. Louis Cardinals got some bad news Saturday morning. 

St. Louis made some intriguing additions this offseason and should be better in 2024. The 2023 season was a disaster but things should look different next season. While this is the case, St. Louis already is dealing with multiple injuries that could negatively impact the club.

Ace Sonny Gray is dealing with an injury and the club still is waiting to see if he will be ready to go for the first series of the 2024 campaign. The Cardinals got some other bad news Saturday as top bullpen addition Keynan Middleton reportedly will miss Opening Day and begin the season on the Injured List, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold.

"Keynan Middleton will start the year on (Injured List)," Goold said. "Forearm soreness means 10 days without throwing. Opens spot in bullpen."

Middleton joined the Cardinals in free agency after spending the 2023 season with the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees. He began the season with the White Sox and had a 3.96 ERA in 39 appearances before being traded to New York.

The righty shined with the Yankees and had an eye-popping 1.88 ERA in 12 appearances to go along with a 17-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 14 1/3 innings pitched.

Hopefully, Middleton won't miss much more time than the 10 days and get back on the mound quickly. St. Louis had one of the worst bullpens in baseball last season and Middleton is supposed to help fix the issue.

More MLB: Ex-Cardinals Outfielder Available; Should Club Reunite After Tommy Edman News?

The St. Louis Cardinals are less than two weeks away from opening their season against the Los Angeles Dodgers and fans are hopeful that 2024 will be different from last year's disappointing outcome.

Cardinals manager Oli Marmol faced harsh criticism this winter after leading his club to a last-place National League Central finish with a 71-91 record -- 13 games back from a wild card spot.

Despite managing St. Louis to the franchise's worst record in 33 seasons last year, it looks like Marmol won't be going elsewhere anytime soon.

"We (Cardinals) have signed manager Oliver Marmol to a two-year contract extension through the 2026 season," the team announced Friday.

Marmol joined the Cardinals organization in 2017 where he started as a first base coach and was then promoted to bench coach two seasons later.

Following the dismissal of former St. Louis skipper Mike Shildt at the end of the 2021 season, Marmol was appointed to manage the Cardinals -- becoming the youngest manager in Major League Baseball history at the age of 35.

In his first season managing St. Louis, Marmol led his team to a first-place NL Central finish with an impressive 93-69 record but fell short of glory after succumbing to the Philadelphia Phillies two games to none in the NL Wild Card Series.

There have been rumors that a pair of St. Louis legends might supplant Marmol as manager but it doesn't look like that's going to happen -- at least not for now.

It's great to see the Cardinals decide on Marmol's contract before the season starts because it avoided what would have been season-long drama as the skipper was entering his final season under contract. Hopefully, he will find a way to lead St. Louis back to the playoffs in 2024.

More MLB: Ex-Cardinals Outfielder Available; Should Club Reunite After Tommy Edman News?

View the original article to see embedded media.

The St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins are set to take part in the first-ever Spring Breakout exhibition games down in Jupiter, Fla., part of a four-day showcase of the best prospects in the game.

Watch the Marlins at Cardinals starting at 2:05 p.m. ET for free right here on Inside The Cardinals (no external links or sign-ups required)

Who can we expect to see appear in this game?

St. Louis' lineup will be led by their top prospect and projected Opening Day shortstop Masyn Winn and center fielder Victor Scott II (Cardinals' No. 4 prospect according to MLB.com) -- who also is pushing to make the big-league roster out of camp.

The position player group will also include middle infielder Thomas Saggese (No. 5), outfielder Chase Davis (No. 6 and St. Louis' most recent first-round pick), catcher Leonardo Bernal (No. 8) and outfielder Won-Bin Cho (No. 10) among other organizational standouts.

As for the pitching, that group is just as stacked. Both of the Cardinals top-100 pitching prospects -- right-handers Tink Hence (MLB No. 64, STL No. 2) and Tekoah Roby (MLB No. 99, STL No. 3) are set to take the mound in the star-studded prospect showcase.

Cardinals fans can also expect to see left-hander Cooper Hjerpe (No. 7) and right-hander Gordon Graceffo (No. 9), topping a list of 10 Cardinals pitching prospects set to participate in the festivities -- all of which are ranked as organizational top-30 prospects.

As for the opposition, Miami will trot out their lone top-100 prospect, right-hander Noble Meyer. The 19-year-old is MLB's No. 57 prospect after being selected No. 10 overall in the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft. 

The Marlins will also send southpaw Thomas White (No. 2) -- another 19-year-old hurler from the 2023 draft class, as well as right-hander Karson Milbrandt (No. 6).

As for the Marlins lineup, outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. (No. 4) will headline a group that also includes corner infielder Jacob Berry (No. 5), middle infielders Yiddi Cappe (No. 7) and Jacob Amaya (No. 9) plus outfielder Kemp Alderman (No. 8).

In total, there will be 21 top-30 Cardinals prospects and 21 top-30 Marlins prospects set to participate in an event built to showcase the next wave of future big-league stars. There will also be five unranked prospects from each side aiming to prove their worth should they sneak into the game.

More MLB: Cardinals Legend Reportedly Wants To Become MLB Manager In Near Future

The St. Louis Cardinals got some bad news Thursday.

St. Louis has been monitoring the health of utility man Tommy Edman throughout Spring Training as he's been recovering from wrist surgery.

The 28-year-old is expected to be the club's everyday center fielder in 2024 but things haven't worked out so far. He's been dealing with pain in his wrist and officially will miss Opening Day and begin the 2024 season on the Injured List. 

St. Louis still has some options in the outfield, but a depth signing still could make some sense if Edman isn't able to get back on track quickly.

One former member of the Cardinals still is looking for his next opportunity in free agency. Veteran outfielder Tommy Pham had a solid season with the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks in 2023 but somehow hasn't found his next opportunity.

Pham was selected in the 16th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft and began his big league career with St. Louis in 2014 and spent the first four-plus seasons of his career in town. 

The 36-year-old likely could be signed for a cheap deal with Opening Day right around the corner. Pham clubbed 16 home runs and drove in 68 runs last season in 129 games played. He saw time at all three outfield spots as well. 

St. Louis still is loaded in the outfield but if Edman is going to miss significant time it may make sense to add a little more veteran depth.

More MLB: Cardinals Rising Star Will Miss Opening Day; Begin 2024 Season On Injured List

The St. Louis Cardinals got some rough news Thursday. 

Opening Day is just about two weeks away and the Cardinals won't have one of their rising stars when the season kicks off. 

Rising star Tommy Edman is expected to be the club's everyday center fielder in 2024 but officially will begin the season on the Injured List, according to The Athletic's Katie Woo.

"Tommy Edman has been shut down from hitting activities for a minimum of one week," Woo said. "He will not be cleared before Opening Day and will start the season on the Injured List."

Edman's health has been a question throughout Spring Training so far. The 28-year-old has been recovering after undergoing surgery on his right wrist but still has been dealing with pain.

The utility man was an important piece for St. Louis in 2023 and is expected to take on an even larger role this season. Edman landed a new deal with the Cardinals this past offseason after being mentioned in trade rumors throughout the 2023 season.

It's unclear exactly what the club will do in response to Edman missing the beginning of the season but it seems like speedster Victor Scott II could end up getting an opportunity at the big league level after an exceptional spring. 

So far in Spring Training, Scott is batting .367 in 30 at-bats and has stolen four bases. The 23-year-old stole an eye-popping 94 bases last season in the minor leagues and could be a very interesting player to look out for.

More MLB: Dodgers Hurler Elects Free Agency; Cardinals Could Pursue Reliever To Bolster Bullpen

The St. Louis Cardinals spent the whole offseason attempting to revamp the pitching staff after their first last-place finish in the National League Central since 1990.

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak largely accomplished his goal, adding three new starting pitchers and a pair of high-leverage arms.

The expectation is that St. Louis has all the pieces in-house to build their 26-man roster, but could they be open to one more external addition? A player with a strong track record recently became available. 

"Left-handed pitcher Justin Wilson, who impressed scouts this spring, opts out of his (Los Angeles) Dodgers’ minor league contract and becomes a free agent. He’ll be on someone’s Opening-Day roster," USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Tuesday.

Wilson could provide some added depth, stability and veteran leadership to a Cardinals bullpen that ranked No. 23 with a 4.47 ERA last season.

The 36-year-old has had a tough go of it in recent years, undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2022 only to suffer a lat injury that ended his 2023 season before it began. 

Wilson has a career 3.41 ERA with a 25.9% strikeout rate, 10.7% walk rate, .225 batting average against and a 1.29 WHIP in 467 innings across 11 seasons.

It would be wise of the Cardinals to take a chance on Wilson to shore up the lower half of the bullpen for an affordable price.

Mozeliak is set on not expanding the budget in any meaningful way but could reasonably afford Wilson as a potential low-risk, high-reward option.

More MLB: Cardinals Legend Reportedly Wants To Become MLB Manager In Near Future

The St. Louis Cardinals had a major scare recently.

Opening Day is right around the corner and the St. Louis Cardinals are considered by many to be the favorites in the National League Central despite a disappointing 2023 campaign. 

One of the biggest reasons why many expect a better season from the Cardinals is the fact that they were able to improve their rotation by signing three-time All-Star Sonny Gray early in free agency.

Gray recently suffered a hamstring injury which immediately made people nervous. If Gray misses significant time this season, the perception around the club completely changes. Some even have wondered if the club will make another addition.

While this is the case, Gray seems to have avoided serious injury and has been making great progress, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold.  

"Sonny Gray (hamstring) recovered well from throwing off the mound Monday," Goold said. "He'll throw a side session -- similar to what he would do between starts -- on Thursday in Jupiter and depending on how he feels after it, the Cardinals will make a call on game, live batting practice, next outing."

The fact that Gray has recovered well from his recent throwing session at least gives hope that he could be back very quickly. He still has milestones he needs to reach in his recovery but he seems to be on track.

There's certainly a chance he misses Opening Day, but it doesn't sound like he will miss much time after that if all things continue to move in the direction they have so far.

More MLB: Ex-Dodgers Veteran Could Be Much-Needed Depth Piece For Cardinals

Opening Day quickly is approaching.

The St. Louis Cardinals seemingly are in a better spot right now than they were at the end of the 2023 season, but there still is room for growth. 

St. Louis has significantly boosted its starting rotation by signing Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson early in free agency. Gray is dealing with an injury, though, and it's unclear exactly how much time he will miss. 

Many have speculated that another pickup could make sense for the Cardinals to add even more depth. One player who still is available and could make a lot of sense for St. Louis is one-time All-Star Noah Syndergaard.

He has thrown for clubs and has been offered at least one minor league contract, but is looking for a big league deal. 

Syndergaard struggled last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians but is just 31 years old and has a career 3.71 ERA in eight big league seasons.

The fireballer certainly could be a cheap, insurance option to add more depth to the Cardinals' rotation. If St. Louis wants to make another move, it certainly has the money to afford Syndergaard. 

Syndergaard was much more impressive in 2022 with the Los Angeles Angels and Philadelphia Phillies and had a 3.94 ERA in 25 total appearances to go along with a 95-to-31 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 134 2/3 innings pitched.

The veteran righty certainly is a bounce-back candidate and could make sense for St. Louis. The Cardinals are considered by many to be the top team in the National League Central but any injuries to the starting rotation completely could change things. Why not add some more depth?

More MLB: Cardinals Surprisingly Mentioned As Option For Superstar Pitcher To Bolster Rotation

The St. Louis Cardinals recently got some rough news.

Cardinals ace Sonny Gray recently suffered a hamstring injury which has raised questions about his possible availability for Opening Day. Gray is progressing, but it's still unclear how much time he will miss. 

Even before the injury to Gray, some have speculated that the club should make another addition to the rotation. St. Louis added Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson but still could use another top-of-the-rotation arm.

Opening Day is right around the corner but there still are some interesting options available in free agency. The top option out there certainly is two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell.

It's unclear where he will land, but the New York Post's Jon Heyman surprisingly floated the Cardinals as an option for the superstar.

"The (San Francisco Giants) probably need Snell most," Heyman said. "They recently lost 40 percent of their rotation (camp injuries to Keaton Winn, and Tristan Beck), and despite nice pickups, still appear in over their heads in the ultra-tough (National League) West. They already spent a quarter of a billion this winter, but that was dwarfed by the rival Dodgers' $1B plus, so the Giants have an extra incentive, not to mention plenty of loot.

"Plenty of other teams could make sense, including the Cardinals (their rotation looks pretty underwhelming even after some early adds), (the Philadelphia Phillies) (their rotation is excellent, but Taijuan Walker is hurting and they want to win as much as anyone), (Seattle Mariners) (Snell’s hometown team), and whatever team suffers the next injury scare."

Snell was linked to the Cardinals at the beginning of the offseason but nothing has come from it to this point. A move certainly should be considered unlikely, but it's interesting an insider like Heyman is giving St. Louis a chance.

More MLB: Cardinals Star Sonny Gray Reportedly Makes Progress After Tough Injury

The St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol is on the hot seat after leading his club through one of the worst seasons in franchise history in 2023.

In what was anticipated to be a contending season for the Cardinals, the club finished last place in the National League Central with a 71-91 record and 13 games back from a wild card spot.

If Marmol can't rally his squad back to success in 2024, we could potentially be looking at a retired Cardinals legend to lead the franchise soon.

"Future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols, 44, continues to say he wants to manage one day, perhaps joining former teammate and close friend Yadier Molina," USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Sunday.

Pujols joins Molina as a possible candidate to supplant Marmol as manager if the Cardinals continue to perform poorly. 

Both Cardinals World Series Champions have continued to participate in the game since retiring from Major League Baseball as players -- most recently Molina as a manager for Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Series and Pujols as an instructor for the Los Angeles Angels at this year's spring training.

The Dominican Republic native is also taking on the role of manager for the Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Professional Baseball League this upcoming season.

The accolades of Pujols are extensive -- Rookie of the Year, two-time World Series champion, three-time Most Valuable Player, 11-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner, six-time Silver Slugger recipient and ranking No. 4 on the all-time home run list with 703 dingers.

Bringing in a former St. Louis slugger who spent 12 seasons with the club as a player and understands what is required to bring the club back to victory is certainly intriguing.

Could Pujols prove his worth as manager in the Dominican League this upcoming season and land himself the role of manager for St. Louis in 2025?

More MLB: Impact Infielder Made Available; Would Cardinals Claim Veteran After Strong Season?

Could the St. Louis Cardinals add one more impact player to the roster before setting their Opening Day roster?

Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has all but ensured that the current roster will look very similar in just a few weeks when the season begins.

The final external piece appeared to be former San Francisco Giants three-time All-Star shortstop Brandon Crawford. Could his former teammate become a last-second addition?

"J.D. Davis has been placed on waivers after the Giants couldn’t find a taker on the trade market (teams also knew San Francisco had no spot for him after signing Matt Chapman and Jorge Soler)," the New York Post's Jon Heyman wrote Saturday. "His $6.9 million salary after arbitration win isn’t unreasonable."

Davis hit .248 with 42 extra-base hits including  18 home runs, 69 RBIs and a .738 OPS (103 OPS+) in 144 games last season. 

The 30-year-old is a career .261 hitter with a .775 OPS (113 OPS+) across seven seasons. While the Cardinals do not have a starting spot for the slugger at the moment, his versatility would prove to be extremely valuable and land him consistent playing time.

Davis has spent the majority of his time at third base but has logged 94 career games in left field and 48 at first base.

Given the injuries to both Tommy Edman and Lars Nootbar, St. Louis could use someone who could slide into a corner outfield spot and produce. It's also good to have some corner infield insurance seeing as the superstars manning those positions are 36 and 32 years old respectively.

Considering all it takes for the Cardinals to acquire Davis is to place a waiver claim and absorb a moderate salary, it makes a lot of sense to make this move.

Crawford taking up a roster spot to possibly just be deployed as a backup shortstop makes Davis' fit a little less clear but there will be plenty of injuries over the course of a 162-game season and the veteran would add a starting-caliber player to be plugged in off the bench when those aforementioned ailments occur. 

It would be wise for the Cardinals to make a play for Davis, who could help stabilize this young core of position players.

More MLB: Cardinals Fan Favorite Suffers Notable Injury, Placing Opening Day Status In Jeopardy