5 St. Louis Cardinals players in line for contract extensions

The St. Louis Cardinals should offer contract extensions to these five players.

The St. Louis Cardinals are in a good position for the 2023 season. Paul Goldschmidt is signed through 2024, and provided Nolan Arenado doesn’t opt out, the corners are set. Tommy Edman and Nolan Gorman look like long-term middle infield answers, although the current outfield is a bit of a question mark with Tyler O’Neill, Dylan Carlson and Lars Nootbaar holding down the starting jobs as of now. Catching could be an issue with Yadier Molina retiring. The rotation isn’t set in stone yet, but Jack Flaherty and Miles Mikolas will likely be its foundation. Ryan Helsley and Giovanny Gallegos should have the back end of the bullpen in good hands.

There are a couple of question marks after next year, though. While the Cardinals have most of their marquee players signed for a few more seasons, some other key pieces are set to come off the books for 2024. The Cardinals should consider offering contract extensions to some of these players before they become free agents or, in some cases, eligible for arbitration.

The five players in this list are either arbitration eligible or set to be free agents in 2023 or 2024.

Adam Wainwright

If Adam Wainwright decides to postpone his retirement and return for one more season, it seems like a natural choice to re-sign him. That’s not for sentimental reasons, either; he’s still a very productive pitcher at age 40. His guile and still-devastating curveball give many hitters fits, and I’ll hazard a guess that with hitters now preparing for upper-90s gas on every pitch, a crafty veteran like Wainwright who can sequence and locate his pitches expertly will only be more valuable with time.

There is a very real chance that Wainwright will ride off into the sunset with Yadier Molina after 2022, but if he does want to come back, I imagine he won’t take an offer with any other team. He said last year upon his re-signing that other teams offered him more money than the Cardinals. I don’t think he’d want to relocate at this point, so if the Cardinals don’t offer him another one-year deal, Wainwright will almost assuredly hang up the cleats without a regret.

Jack Flaherty

The injuries have piled up for Jack Flaherty, as shoulder issues have led to 2021 and 2022 being disappointments. The few games he has pitched this season haven’t inspired much confidence, as his five earned runs and nine walks in eight innings weren’t what the Cardinals and their fans wanted to see. He should be ready for another chance with the team later this month.

Despite his subpar season when he played, the thought of his recreating that second half in 2019 is so tantalizing. An 0.91 ERA in 99.1 innings probably would have made him the Cy Young favorite had he been able to display that dominance earlier in the season. If Flaherty hadn’t been a top prospect before, perhaps I would have been more skeptical of that performance, but the fact is that he has the talent to do it again, and I want to see him do it in a Cardinals uniform.

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.

Corey Dickerson

Probably the most unique addition to this list, Corey Dickerson is a free agent after 2022, but his recent surge is filling a need in an outfield that recently lost Harrison Bader. Lars Nootbaar has faded a bit as of late, and the outfield is in need of someone to step up. Dickerson has done that in his chances, hitting .344 since the All-Star break. He’s been a steady, consistent player in his 10-year career, and there’s nothing to suggest he can’t remain one even at age 34 next year.

The departure of Albert Pujols after this season will free up more spots for Dickerson to be the designated hitter, which would be the best place in the lineup for him, as his defense is not an asset. Although Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson are waiting in the wings to take over spots in the outfield, Dickerson would do just fine keeping the seat warm for them next year.

The Cardinals aren’t in trouble with contracts right now, and 2023 is lining up to be an exciting season, but if they believe these players can continue to be worthy contributors, the Cardinals might as well lock them up for a few more years.