Cardinals: Left-handed bat options on the free agent market

Brandon Nimmo

One of the best bats available on the free agent market, Brandon Nimmo will not come cheap, but would provide the Cardinals with a rich man’s version of Michael Brantley.

In 2022, Nimmo slashed .274/.367/.433 with 16 HR and 64 RBI in 151 games. From 2018-2021, Nimmo finished all but one of those seasons with an OBP above .400. Nimmo is one of the best in the business at getting on base. He would likely hit toward the top of the St. Louis order and give Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado someone to drive in consistently.

On top of that, Nimmo plays quality defense in center field, which would provide great value for the Cardinals. Like Brantley, one of the major concerns to have would be Nimmo’s injury history. He managed to play in 151 games in 2022, but since debuting in 2016, he has only managed to play over 100 games just one other time in 2018. Not a great track record at all.

Investing in Nimmo would be trusting that he can remain healthy and produce at a high level for years to come. He is only 29-years old, but that injury bug raises a lot of questions for any potential suitors.

Matt Carpenter

After an incredible run before his injury during the 2022 season, Matt Carpenter has revived his career and could be an asset to the Cardinals lineup for the 2023 season.

While I suggested the idea recently as a complementary bat for the lineup, many fans are turned off by the idea due to his, frankly, terrible finish to his Cardinal career. Some have used the argument that he was aided by Yankee Stadium’s short porch, but that just does not prove to be true, per Baseball Savant metrics.

Not only would 13 of his 15 HRs have gone out in Busch Stadium, but the ban of the shift will greatly improve his wOBA, and he is one of the players most impacted by the shift in baseball. Carpenter showed during his 47 game stretch with the Yankees that he still has stuff left in the tank, and a reunion with St. Louis could benefit both sides.

Josh Bell

Josh Bell is hitting free agency after a two-year stretch where he emerged as one of the best switch-hitters in baseball, spending time at first base, the corner outfield spots, and designated hitter. His bat profiles really well in the Cardinals lineup, but his second half stats from 2022 are a bit concerning.

Before being dealt to the Padres, Bell has a .877 OPS with 14 HR and 57 RBI in 103 games for the Nationals. After the trade, his OPS fell to .587 and he his just 3 HR with 14 RBI in 53 games. The Padres second half as a whole was a bit of a mess, but it should still concern fans at least a little bit.

Bell won’t command a huge deal in free agency due to his limited abilities defensively, but he would profile really well as the number 5 hitter in the Cardinals lineup. His mix of power and on-base skills as a switch hitter makes him a dangerous matchup, and would be a welcomed addition, assuming the 2022 second-half was not a sign of things to come. The Cardinals should seriously consider Bell if they want to upgrade their offense, but his awkward defensive fit is worth considering as well.

Andrew Benintendi

Traded to the New York Yankees at the trade deadline, Andrew Benintendi made his first All-Star appearance in 2022, playing great defense in left field and becoming an on-base machine.

The 28-year old slashed .304/.373/.399 with 5 HR and 51 RBI this past season, and would have been a core member of the Yankees lineup in the postseason had he not gotten injured prior to that. Benintendi has more power in him as well, hitting 17 HR in 2021 and having a career slugging percentage of .431.

Benintendi is a former Gold Glove winner as well, making him a two-way threat for St. Louis should they decide to bring him in. His steady presence at the plate mixed with his elite defense fits a lot of the profile of what the Cardinals look for in their players.

Benintendi will be more expensive than guys like Carpenter and Brantley, but should not draw nearly the same amount of money that a Nimmo would. Having played in Kansas City for the last few years, Benintendi would fit right back in Missouri.