What’s next for the St. Louis Cardinals?

After the St. Louis Cardinals sent David Freese to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, I do not think that John Mozeliak is done dealing. The Winter Meetings will take place soon after Thanksgiving Weekend and the Cards still need a shortstop.
Jun 22, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Peter Bourjos (25) makes a catch against the wall in the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Angel Stadium.Pirates won 6-1. Image Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Trading away Freese takes care of how to get both Matt Carpenter and Kolten Wong in the lineup together. Acquiring Peter Bourjos makes the Cardinals better defensively. He’s a centerfielder and should be playing just about every day. It also makes things interesting when it comes to the bench.

Because I don’t know where Randal Grichuk fits into the minor league system, it’s harder to see how he changes things at the big league level. As for Bourjos, there’s something being seen already.

The Cardinals will now have Jon Jay and Shane Robinson coming off the bench in all likelihood. Robinson can spell Holliday on days off in left field. Robinson played 101 games in left as a minor leaguer and 43 games with the Cardinals. Jay has played 28 games in left field since coming up to the league. In the minors, Jay played 167 games at left and 189 in center. Both players are versatile at at all the outfield positions. As far as which players are better defensively at the position remains to be seen. Mozeliak could opt to keep both as bench players or he could move one of them to get a shortstop.

CardinalsFarm breaks down which prospects are affected the most by the trade.

It’s possible that come Cardinals outfield prospects, in addition to pitching, could be used as bait for a shortstop along with Matt Adams.