3 free-agent targets for St. Louis Cardinals after the lockout

In hopes of reaching a new CBA being agreed to soon, let’s take a further look at the three biggest names the Cardinals should target.

The St. Louis Cardinals are coming off a historic 17-game win streak that solidified them a playoff game against the Los Angles Dodgers. Looking back to even just a couple months before, those odds couldn’t have been much lower, but they found a way. However, after doing the impossible to get there, they were knocked off in the wild card game.

So now that the offseason is upon us, you would think there has to be some ambition to go out and acquire some more fire-power. Last season, the Cardinals were at the mercy of many horrendous contracts on the roster, but those contracts are no longer there. In fact, getting rid of some of those contracts helps instead of trying to force a couple to play. Additionally, the Cardinals should be looking to use those extra finances to load up on some help in order to bring a World Series win back to St. Louis.

The Three Biggest Names the Cardinals Should Target

The Cardinals are in a position that makes them a dangerous team, but not scary enough to lock them in as a World Series contender. To some fellow baseball fans, that may not really seem as though it’s that bad, but it’s actually the opposite.

The Cardinals are generally recognized as a historic organization. But with great power comes great responsibility and in this case, that means there are high standards. For example, look back to last year.

The Cardinals had a one percent chance to make the playoffs in July, and I feel that it’s safe to say, that was less than acceptable by the Cardinals fan base. This team, although with different players, pretty much ran the 2006-2014 era. So, with it being the same fans within reason, adjusting to the fact that they were out of the playoffs made a lot of people irate.

So what do they need to do in order to get back to the team that ran the NL? Well let’s take a look at some signing they need to make.

Trevor Story

The Cardinals have been tied to short stop, Trevor Story, for awhile now. Well, if we’re being honest, It’s more appropriate to say that fans have been calling for Trevor Story for awhile now. However, we have solid grounds as to why we should sign him.

The Cardinals were tied to Nolan Arenado as a trade partner for awhile before general manager Mike Girsch pulled the trigger this past January. That trade was the biggest trade the Cardinals had made since trading for Paul Goldschmidt back in the 2018-19 offseason.  However, we are getting slightly off-track with that. So, let’s go ahead and look at the first reason.

The first reason is that the Cardinals traded for Nolan Arenado from the Colorado Rockies. The same team that Trevor Story played for. Not that it means anything to the organizations per say, but I’m sure it would have some weight with Story if Arenado and him were good friends.

The second reason the Cardinals should go after him is because it’s a position of need. Now, the St. Louis Cardinals front office has reiterated themselves multiple times saying that they feel Paul Dejong still has a lot to offer this Cardinals organization. However, that statement feels a little overconfident and a couple years past-due. If anything, based upon the last couple seasons, It’s more likely that Edmundo Sosa get’s the starting short-stop nod.

The question that needs to be asked when talking about that topic is: When you look around the league at some of the most dangerous teams, are you guys really okay with giving a short-stop like Paul Dejong the nod while players like Carlos Correa and/or Trevor Story, are still out there and available?

Personally, I feel as though if they answer they are okay with it, I’m going to lose faith in this front office. Yes, they’ve made some very good moves, but they’ve also made some rather underwhelming signings that don’t ever pan out. So, go big or go home. Because the answer to this teams prayers are right there in free-agency. Now, go make something happen.

Archie Bradley

The Cardinals have a ton of pitching depth when it comes to their ability to find bullpen help, but what they need is someone who can be a buy low, high-upside player. Which, lucky for the Cardinals, there’s one out there.

After putting on a show in 2020 for both the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Cincinnati Reds, Bradley signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. After signing a one year contract for $6,000,000, he is now a unrestricted free agent. Now, although he definitely did not perform quite to the standard that the Phillies were hoping for, it does work in the Cardinals favor.

The Cardinals let one of their most reliable relievers, Luis Garcia, walk in free agency which means they have to replace him. However, knowing the Cardinals, they probably won’t go after one of the bigger names out there. So that leaves it to one of the buy low, high upside guys like: Archie Bradley.

Bradley in his career has pitched in 308 games in which he has posted a 3.89 ERA, collected 30 saves, a 1.36 WHIP, and 465 strikeouts to only 191 walks. No to mention that in his career he has a WAR of 6.3.

Now, it’s unlikely that he’ll make a huge impact for the Cardinals bullpen, but he would help to add MLB depth which was a struggle last season. With Jordan Hicks hopefully coming back, get fresh arms back in the bullpen the stress to be put on his shoulders wouldn’t be anything too stressful either which hopefully would allow the Cardinals to maximize his talents next season.