3 under-the-radar players the St. Louis Cardinals could sign

While these moves might not be flashy, the St. Louis Cardinals could benefit from acquiring these three players.

It’s no secret that the St. Louis Cardinals have some holes on their roster. Catcher is the most glaring need, and Willson Contreras could be a fine replacement for the retired Yadier Molina. The outfield also needs help, as it performed poorly this year with Tyler O’Neill often injured and lacking in production when he did play, along with a disappointing season at the plate for Dylan Carlson.

The middle infield could be a spot in need of an upgrade too, at least for 2023. Paul DeJong is unlikely to be a Cardinal next year after his nightmare season, and it’s not clear yet if Nolan Gorman can hold down the second base job. Tommy Edman is a fixture in the lineup, however, and Brendan Donovan can play anywhere, including on the dirt.

It appears Adam Wainwright will come back for one more year, and the rotation is in decent shape, if not great. It could be quite a blow if Jose Quintana departs and the Cardinals don’t find a proper replacement if injuries strike.

While offseason trades could net some desired players, it’s always a good idea to look in the free-agent pool first so a team sacrifices less talent, if any at all. The free-agent class of 2023 has some big names. Jacob deGrom, Justin Verlander and Carlos Rodon all have player options, and Trea Turner will be an unrestricted free agent. They are among several players many teams will have their eyes on. But while the Cardinals likely won’t be in on the stars, there are a few players who would cost less but could still make an impact with the team.