5 free agents the St. Louis Cardinals shouldn’t bring back

With several free agents hitting the market this offseason, there are some the St Louis Cardinals should not bring back.

The St. Louis Cardinals used the argument that they could not make certain moves for free agents or trade due to budgetary restrictions. During this offseason, the Cardinals are assured to shred a lot of those restrictions.

The Cardinals no longer owe Dexter Fowler any money after paying $14.7 million this season as part of his trade to the Los Angeles Angels. The team will not exercise options for Matt Carpenter or Carlos Martinez. A payout for each would be much less expensive with $2 million going to Carpenter and $500,000 to Martinez.

The team goes into this offseason with a wish list that includes the possibility of getting a top-tier shortstop, starting pitching, a reliever or two and some bench help.

Fans enjoy keeping guys around that have had success with the team in hopes they will keep it up and be that hero they want them to be for the Cardinals. But this season, the Cardinals have a handful of players they should steer clear of bringing back into the fold.

John Mozeliak, president of baseball operations for the Cardinals, has a to-do list this offseason. The 2022 edition of the St. Louis Cardinals will have a focused goal to improve. Mozeliak will have to make good on this goal as he will finally have the money to make improvements.

Zero excuses.

That said, Mozeliak will have to do his best to not get sentimental and bring back certain players just because they are a fan favorite or he’s just a good guy or he’s been through so much. After a season that ended in heartbreak after so many struggles with injuries, some change is needed. Newer players are needed. Mozeliak will need to move along from certain players he has kept around.

Let’s discuss those players that shouldn’t return to the Cardinals in 2022.

JA Happ

J.A. Happ came to the Cardinals via trade at the perfect time. The team was able to trade away a pitcher in John Gant, who, while good, had grown ineffective. Happ came in and effectively gave the Cardinals innings and provided a break for a taxed bullpen.

Happ, a lefty, pitched 11 games for the Cardinals going 5-2 in 54 innings. He had 45 strikeouts and 17 walks in that time. Please note that between his time in St. Louis and Minnesota, Gant gave up 71 walks.

Happ was a tremendous help to the Cardinals. The team may not have been able to get through August and September without his arm. He should be thought of well by the Cardinal faithful.

That said, it would be best to go another route for the team’s pitching needs in 2022. While the team may look to one of their many pitching prospects, they could also use the money available to get a higher-end starter.

Happ was an excellent find and filled a huge need. But there is no sense in keeping him around for 2022 when other options are available.

Wade LeBlanc

Just a day after being released by the Texas Rangers, Wade LeBlanc signed a deal for the remainder of the season with the Cardinals on June 17.

Signed as a potential longer reliever, LeBlanc came up huge for the Cardinals as a starter. In 12 games with the team, he started eight games going 42.1 innings and striking out 23.

The Cardinals were able to make it through the roughest part of the season thanks in part to LeBlanc. Whatever the team needed, LeBlanc was willing to step up. The team was struggling offensively during his starts, so his record wasn’t that great and he did give up 17 earned runs.

LeBlanc’s season came to an end in early September with an elbow issue. This did not stop him from being there for his team as he was a huge cheerleader for the team during the 17-game winning streak in September. He was always there to listen to his younger teammates and pick the brain of veterans like Adam Wainwright and Jon Lester.

LeBlanc appeared grateful for the opportunity to be with the team and the team was grateful for what he was able to bring in their time of need.

It is unclear whether LeBlanc’s arm will allow him to go in 2022. Because of this, the Cardinals should not bring LeBlanc back and opt for a healthy arm.

Andrew Miller

With an array of injuries, Andrew Miller only pitched in 40 games for the Cardinals this season.

The 36-year-old lefty reliever pitched 36 innings with four holds for the bullpen. He threw 40 strikes, walked 16 batters, and hit five batters by pitch.  He did have a 31.7 swinging strike percentage, which indicates he did well in his outings.

Unfortunately, Miller was not what fans were hoping for from the reliever. Miller filled the requirement for his two-year contract that included a club option for 2021. The team gave him plenty of opportunities. The expectation of what he would bring to the bullpen outweighed what was brought. The Cardinals should move on from Miller.

Matt Carpenter

Matt Carpenter has been a favorite for Cardinals fans for many seasons. At one point he was a dependable infielder with a bat you would want up in critical situations. He was clutch. He was good.

And then he wasn’t.

Carpenter just completed the final year of a two-year contract worth $39 million. The team is not expected to pick up the team option for 2022, opting to pay the $2 million buyout instead. This contract was an extension awarded after an amazing 2018 season for Carpenter.

You could tell that extension was a mistake in 2019 and unfortunately, it only got worse from there for the former All-Star infielder.

In 2018, Carpenter played third base and hit .257/.374/.523 with 42 doubles, 36 home runs, and 111 runs scored. Since that highest of highs, Carpenter has been left without a regular position with the acquisitions of Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt and the rise of Tommy Edman.

Carpenter sank to the position of bench option in 2021 hitting .169/.305/.275 with a 70 wRC+ with 77 strikeouts, three homers, 21 RBIs,  one triple, 11 double, 20 singles, and 35 walks.

Carpenter, unfortunately, became a highly-priced bench option the team couldn’t even depend on because he was far from consistent, often looking frustrated at the plate and pouting at calls from umpires he didn’t agree with but were obviously correct.

Carpenter spent his entire career with St. Louis. He was a good player who had a dramatic decline. He is a fan favorite even with the overwhelming frustration. But even a fan will tell you it is time to move on from Matt Carpenter.

Carpenter still wants to play baseball and while it’s clear he shouldn’t return to St. Louis, where he does land should be interesting.