Cyber Monday: Best bargain free agents for the St. Louis Cardinals

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 25: Christian Vazquez #9 of the Houston Astros in position during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 25, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 25: Christian Vazquez #9 of the Houston Astros in position during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 25, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 17: Ben Gamel #18 of the Pittsburgh Pirates at bat during the second inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 17, 2022 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 17: Ben Gamel #18 of the Pittsburgh Pirates at bat during the second inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field on September 17, 2022 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /

Left-handed bat – Ben Gamel

Before you laugh or groan, Brandon Kiley of 101 ESPN noted that Ben Gamel has had a .763 OPS against right-handed pitching over the last two years, and that would have ranked 6th on the Cardinals in 2022. This is not a game changing bat, nor the biggest bat the Cardinals should add this off-season, but would be a great value should the team invest more of their resources with other needs. B

Michael Brantley would be the best option on this list, and actually someone I would love for the Cardinals to grab this off-season, but he will cost a lot more on a one year deal than Gamel will. If the Cardinals spend big at catcher or to address their pitching, Gamel would be a nice under-the-radar pick up for the club.

Gamel also had a thing for mashing against the Cardinals last season posting a .858 OPS in 12 games. Maybe some of the 30-year old’s magic at Busch Stadium last season could continue in 2023 as a Cardinal. Again, this a good value pickup for the Cardinals, not some game changing bat. If they choose to go bargain in other areas, fans should be clamoring for a name like Brantley. If not, Gamel would be a nice name to add to their mix, especially if they lost someone like Juan Yepez, Alec Burleson, or Nolan Gorman to trade this winter.