Could these be their last games as a St. Louis Cardinals player?

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - AUGUST 13: Yadier Molina #4 of the St. Louis Cardinals bats during the 2nd inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on August 13, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - AUGUST 13: Yadier Molina #4 of the St. Louis Cardinals bats during the 2nd inning of the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on August 13, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 18: Brad Miller #15 of the St. Louis Cardinals in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 18, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 18: Brad Miller #15 of the St. Louis Cardinals in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on September 18, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

Brad Miller

How good has Brad Miller been for the St. Louis Cardinals? Signed in spring training, he was likely meant to serve as a utility guy for the team. As the season got going, however, he found his way in the lineup every day and usually in the cleanup spot. He is a free agent after this season and his production has slowed in recent weeks. I would advocate bringing him back as a cheap bench option but it is more than likely that he will depart as a free agent. Still, his role with the 2020 team has been hugely important and the team probably isn’t clinching a playoff spot without him.

Matt Wieters

Matt Wieters has been the St. Louis Cardinals backup catcher for the past two seasons. He has done a great job in that role, and his contract expires at season’s end.

Do the Cardinals bring him back for a third season in 2021? Doubtful. I’d be content if the Cardinals signed him again to back up Yadier Molina (more on him on a minute) for a third season, but the catching situation is a bit muddied at the moment and the team still has to determine what the plan is for Andrew Knizner.

Adam Wainwright

Adam Wainwright has been pitching like prime Waino. He’s been remarkable for the Cardinals and has been a franchise icon. Along with Molina, he’s been a face of the franchise. It would be difficult to imagine him on another team, but with an expiring contract, it is a possibility. My guess is that Wainwright re-signs for another year, but it might not be crazy to think he could retire as well. I don’t see it being likely that he would depart via free agency to join another team, but the combination of that and retirement being a possibility, it leads me to put him on this list just in case.

Yadier Molina

Imagining the St. Louis Cardinals without Yadier Molina is not easy. He has been the face of the franchise for a while. Adding to his hall of fame resume, he just achieved his 2,000th career hit. It has been a career that should earn him a spot in Cooperstown one day.

But will that career continue with the Cardinals? His contract is up after the season and he has made hints he is eager to keep playing. I personally think the Cardinals re-sign him and he finishes his fantastic career in the birds on the bat. I wonder if the Cardinals will ask him to take a pay cut from the $20 million he’s making this season. If so, would he want to?

I think the possibility of him departing the Cardinals in free agency is real. Not likely, but real. Thus, I am including Molina on the list just so that fans understand that it COULD happen.