5 St. Louis Cardinals players in line for contract extensions

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 15: Jack Flaherty #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches in the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on September 15, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 15: Jack Flaherty #22 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches in the third inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on September 15, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Tyler O’Neill #27 of the St. Louis Cardinals runs to first after hitting a RBI single during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day at Busch Stadium on April 7, 2022 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images)
Tyler O’Neill #27 of the St. Louis Cardinals runs to first after hitting a RBI single during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day at Busch Stadium on April 7, 2022 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Kane/Getty Images) /

Tyler O’Neill

Tyler O’Neill has struggled to find a groove this year, as injuries have forced him to miss significant time. His 2021 season was a breakout, where he hit .286 with 34 home runs, and I’m betting on the hope that it wasn’t an aberration. With Harrison Bader and Edmundo Sosa now gone, O’Neill is one of the last speed threats remaining on the team, and that’s an unteachable skill. He’s also a two-time Gold Glove winner in the outfield, which doesn’t hurt at all.

With a fully healthy season, O’Neill should be able to bounce back, and he’s been on a bit of a hot streak lately. I wouldn’t commit to giving O’Neill a multiple-year deal at this point, but if he and the Cardinals can avoid arbitration and come to terms with a contract, I believe O’Neill can reward the team’s faith in him.