Predictions for the St. Louis Cardinals at the Winter Meetings

The Cardinals’ other targets will become clear

As has been said numerous times, how the Cardinals choose to address the catcher position will have a lot to do with how they address other parts of their roster this off-season. Assuming we get answers on the catcher position, St. Louis will be quick to turn their attention to supplementing their pitching and/or their starting lineup

If the Cardinals end up trading for a catcher, they will have money to spend that could be used to bring in a starting pitcher or bullpen help, which both seem very possible based on reporting around the club and their current roster construction. A trade for a catcher likely means some of their young bats have been dealt, increasingly the likelihood they add a left-handed bat. Whether that is a guy like Cody Bellinger or any of the other left-handed bats that may be good fits.

If St. Louis signs Willson Contreras, I think that pretty much ends their pursuit of any significant free agent bat outside of some potential bench options, especially since they’d still have their young bats on the roster. They could decide then to trade for some pitching help, and maybe add one arm through free agency.

If they sign a different catcher, this is where things get weird, as they could go in a number of directions with the remaining money and prospect capital.

Whatever happens with catcher this week, expect the rest of the off-season picture to open up quickly after for the Cardinals.