Cardinals: Pros and cons of free agent targets for St. Louis

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Trea Turner #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws out Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres on an infield grounder during the second inning of a game at PETCO Park on September 28, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Trea Turner #6 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws out Jake Cronenworth #9 of the San Diego Padres on an infield grounder during the second inning of a game at PETCO Park on September 28, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 5: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox salutes the fans as he exits the game. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 5: Xander Bogaerts #2 of the Boston Red Sox salutes the fans as he exits the game. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /

Xander Bogaerts

Pros

  • Xander Bogaerts is what will like to call a professional hitter. In 2022, he slashed .307/.377/.456 with 15 HR and 73 RBI for a struggling Red Sox club. After finishing 12th in MVP voting in 2021, he finished 9th in 2022 and won his second straight sliver slugger at shortstop, over Carlos Correa.
  • Speaking of Correa, Bogaerts will cost significantly less than him and Trea Turner, with MLB Trade Rumors projecting him to receive 7 years, $189 million, opposed to the close to, if not more than, $300 million that the other two will receive.
  • Bogaerts is a high-character player and fits what St. Louis needs, another big bat in the lineup, and has done this for World Series championship teams.

Cons

  • He is probably the weakest defender of the star shortstops, and will likely need moved off of shortstop within the next few years, either to second base, third base, or designated hitter. So you’ll be paying him shortstop money knowing he will not stick there.
  • At 30-years old, any long term commitment is a bit risky, and the Cardinals would be locking him in until his age-37 season.