Cardinals: 5 big free agent targets for St. Louis entering offseason

Sep 9, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak looks on from the dugout before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak looks on from the dugout before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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Los Angeles Dodgers Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches during the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Clayton Kershaw

It is a little hard to imagine Clayton Kershaw pitching for any team other than the Los Angeles Dodgers, but if Kershaw still wants to be paid and play for a contender, St. Louis becomes a very real option for the left hander.

Just this year alone, the Dodgers have Kershaw, Trea Turner, Joey Gallo, Tyler Anderson, Andrew Heaney, and Craig Kimbrel hitting free agency, alongside some of their young core coming up on new contracts here soon. The Dodgers have willing to pay top dollar to resign Kershaw to short-term deals recently, but another team could swoop in this time around.

Kershaw was excellent in his age 34-season for the Dodgers, posting a 12-3 record with a 2.28 ERA and 137 SO in 126.1 innings of work. The injury concerns are real, but it’s hard to find this level of performance, especially one from a battle tested veteran like Kershaw. The recent success of older pitchers like Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Adam Wainwright could open up his market even more.

Kershaw would be the ideal ace for St. Louis if he is truly wiling to leave Los Angeles.

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