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Ryan Mountcastle
If the Cardinals don't want to sign a (former) Baltimore Oriole, they can possibly find one in the trade market this offseason. First baseman Ryan Mountcastle has already been mentioned as a player who could be traded from the Orioles this offseason.
Mountcastle, 27, isn't a free agent until 2026, so he has two more years of team control. He made $4.137 million last year through arbitration, and he's projected to see around $6.6 million this year according to MLB Trade Rumors. That would make him significantly cheaper than Paul Goldschmidt, Valdimir Guerrero Jr., Pete Alonso, and others on this list.
Since joining the league in August of 2020, Mountcastle has accrued 8.0 bWAR. He has a career .265/.316/.450 slash line with 91 home runs in just over four seasons. Mountcastle has seen some injuries limit him, so he has yet to eclipse 145 games in a season. He's only exceeded 600 plate appearances once in his career.
Camden Yards is not a field that benefits right-handed hitters. Busch Stadium, meanwhile, is neutral when it comes to right-handed hitters. PNC Park and Great American Ballpark both favor right-handed hitters, and the Cardinals play a fair amount of games each year there. Mountcastle could see even more offensive success in the National League Central.
The Orioles would trade Mountcastle to save some money, but they don't have a viable first base option behind him if Ryan O'Hearn's option is declined. O'Hearn's splits also make it difficult to roll him out there every day. Therefore, any trade the Cardinals make for him would have to include a prospect who can play first. Luken Baker is the clear choice, but Baltimore will absolutely ask for a top prospect in addition to Baker. Maybe Ryan Helsley would entice Baltimore enough, too.