St. Louis Cardinals Hot Stove: 4 Under-the-Radar FA, Trade Targets

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Mark Trumbo, 1B

Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

While everyone is buzzing about Chris Davis, a less expensive alternative was just put on the market. As the NBC Sports report reads, Mark Trumbo has two main drawbacks. One, his $9 million salary and two, his defense. Not that Davis is a wizard at first base, either, BTW.

But what the acquiring team will almost certainly get from Trumbo is big-time power, something the St. Louis Cardinals lacked in 2016. A fractured foot scuttled his 2014 season, but he returned to hit 22 homers for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners last year. The Mariners acquired him and lefthander Vidal Nuno last June for a trio of prospects and catcher Wellington Castillo.

I know I’m going to get killed for including Trumbo. Sabremathletes hate him. He strikes out a lot, which was a big reason why Mariners GM Jerry DiPoto ran him out of town two years ago when he was GM of the Angels. But I think Trumbo, like Cabrera, could flourish with the St. Louis Cardinals. The guy has never been part of a stable environment before.

Next: Ender Inciarte, CF