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

Who are the left-handed bats in free agency that the Cardinals could target?

St. Louis Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak identified a few different needs this offseason for the club, one of them being a left-handed bat that can do damage in their line-up.

Some of the names that could have fit the bill are already off the market. Joc Pederson accepted the qualifying offer from San Francisco and Anthony Rizzo re-signed with the New York Yankees. If the Cardinals want to bring in that left-handed bat through free agency, the options are beginning to thin out.

Still, there remains some intriguing options on the market for St. Louis if they desire to grab a left-handed bat for their lineup. Here are options they could pursue in the free agent market this offseason.

Michael Brantley

Michael Brantley has been a key member of the Houston Astros lineup since 2019 and could provide championship experience and a boost for the Cardinals lineup. His 2022 season was cut short due to injury, but the 35-year old has shown no signs of slowing down at the plate.

Before his injury, Brantley was slashing .288/.370/.416 with 5 HR and 26 RBI in 64 games for Houston. Brantley does not hit for much power, but he is an on-base machine and knows how to come up big when it matters most. His style of play feels like that of a Cardinal.

Brantley should be affordable in free agency due to his age and injury history, but is a talent that could make a major difference for the Cardinals. His mix of leadership, mentorship for the younger outfielders, and consistent left-handed bat would all draw major value for St. Louis.

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.

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.