Former MLB executive links the Cardinals to intriguing free agent infielder J.P. Crawford

The St. Louis Cardinals have been quite outspoken regarding their hole at third base heading into 2027. Nolan Gorman, Ramon Urias, Thomas Saggese, and Blaze Jordan primarily played third base last year, and the Cardinals ranked 25th in MLB in bWAR from third base. The answer for the hot corner next year might be free agent J.P. Crawford.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic recently matched the top 40 free agents to various teams. Crawford, the 38th-ranked prospect according to Bowden, was matched with both the St. Louis Cardinals and Minnesota Twins as a good fit. Bowden's contract prediction for J.P. Crawford was $20 million over two years, a fair price for a player who will be 32 years old for all of 2027.

"Crawford moved from shortstop to third base this season to make room for rookie Colt Emerson and did so without complaining, showing great selflessness and leadership," wrote Bowden of Crawford. That leadership and experience could benefit a young and budding Cardinals team.

Free agent J.P. Crawford would be a reliable stopgap at third base for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2027.

Before I give my take on this free agent signing, I'd like to first recognize Gabe Simonds of VivaElBirdos, who was the first person to publish Crawford as a good fit for the Cardinals.

"If you want to improve at 3B, this will not exactly excite people. I’m trying to be realistic," wrote Simonds in early October. "Crawford could be the boring, but effective signing to vastly improve 3B, admittedly because of how low the bar is, but still. He’s left-handed and a career 110 wRC+ hitter against RHP."

Crawford finished the 2027 season with a .221/.335/.352 slash line with 14 home runs for a 105 wRC+ in 116 games (489 plate appearances). It's a solid albeit underwhelming overall line. Pair that with his sub-par defense at shortstop and developing defense at third base, and you have a very average veteran baseball player.

Crawford should not be a shortstop anymore. He hasn't been a positive defender there since 2024, and he's been a negative defender at short for his career. He has shown glimpses of hope at the hot corner, though. He played only 254.1 innings at third last year, but he was a neutral defender according to Defensive Runs Saved, Outs Above Average, and Fielding Run Value. The Cardinals could opt to shift him over to third.

Crawford would be a reliable platoon bat with either Thomas Saggese or Blaze Jordan at third. He had a 110 wRC+ last year against right-handed pitchers. That would pair nicely with the right-handed swings of Jordan and Saggese.

Beyond J.P. Crawford, the third base market isn't flush with talent. Alec Bohm's name has been tossed around related to the Cardinals. Japanese slugger Teruaki Sato could be a fit, but he will more than likely be too expensive and too long-term for the Cardinals to pull the trigger. After all, whoever plays third base in 2027 will probably be a filler until Jesus Baez is ready to go later in the year and in 2028 and beyond.

J.P. Crawford won't be a sexy or energizing signing for the fanbase. He could, however, be just what the 2027 Cardinals need at third base.

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