St. Louis Cardinals: In a world without Bryce Harper

The St. Louis Cardinals are in a good spot right now, but let’s take a look at where they’d be if they followed these moves.

Regardless of whether the team follows any or all of the plans laid out in this article, we should all thank Mozeliak for going out and snagging two players that make this team a lot better for 2019. Completing all three of these moves would leave the Cardinals with a solid starting rotation that would be better suited to compete with the rotations of the Cubs and the Brewers, a more fortified bullpen, and weapons on the bench.

In what seems like a switching of roles, the Cardinals have gone out and jumped in head first to making this team better in 2019. In years past, the Cardinals have (at least in part) sat back and watched as the Brewers and Cubs added pieces. They are clearly fed up with not making the playoffs for three straight years.

If you look at the Albert Pujols deal, the Giancarlo Stanton deal and even the Jason Heyward deal, it becomes clear that deals of 10 or more years for baseball players rarely end up being financially smart. Do you think the Cubs would’ve loved to go sign Bryce Harper this offseason? Of course! Giving large deals to players who didn’t warrant them have tied their hands in their ability to improve this offseason.

Yes there have been reports that the Cubs are going to make a run for Bryce Harper, but I personally don’t believe them. Scott Boras is a mastermind at getting teams to pay more money for his players than they want, and he has the ability to spread rumors that will drive up the price of his client.

The Cubs can’t go from barely being able to sign Daniel Descalso to suddenly signing Bryce Harper. It won’t happen. The Cardinals would be great with Harper and they will be fine without him.

These deals outlined probably won’t happen, but hopefully something that has the same framework will. The Cardinals likely aren’t done this offseason and are a more attractive club to free agents after signing Paul Goldschmidt and Andrew Miller. Trust in Mo, and let’s see what else they do.