5 best things to happen to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022

The 2022 calendar year was one of the more eventful in the history of the St. Louis Cardinals, something that I am not sure many of us expected back in January. Whether it was saying goodbye to legends, impact acquisitions, or incredible play of the field, there was a lot to be grateful for this last year.

As we close out 2022 and go full steam ahead on preparing for the 2023 season, let's take a moment to reflect on the 5 best things to happen to the St. Louis Cardinals during 2022.

Honorable mention: Oli Marmol proving to be the perfect manager for St. Louis. As I was writing this, I kept feeling like this needed to be mentioned. The Cardinals seem to have found their clubhouse leader for the next decade.

#5 - The Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina partnership makes history

None of us wanted to see the battery mates of Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina end their legendary partnership this last year, but all good things come to an end, and we were treated to history being made during the 2022 season.

Wainwright and Molina broke the record for starts together as battery mates, making their 325th start together in September and setting a record that, in all honestly, will probably never be broken again. The longevity that the duo had is already the best in baseball history, but with the way the game is trending, it'll be nearly impossible for a starting pitcher and catcher to play that long together ever again.

In a season filled with so many other individual accomplishments on the team (more on that later), this one just cannot be overlooked, and may even hold the most meaning to Cardinals fans. Sure, MVP campaigns and elite home run categories are the stuff people tend to hold onto, but being able to watch two of the best to ever do it, trot out together year after year, is something none of us will ever forget.

#4 - The Cardinals got the perfect replacement for Yadier Molina

Now, replacing one-half of that historic battery was going to be a tall task for St. Louis. How do you replace a legend like Yadier Molina? He not only will go down as one of the best catchers in baseball history, but he is one of the single most beloved Cardinals. The pressure that comes with being "the next" guy is something few people have the ability to step into. That's why getting a guy like Willson Contreras was so important for the Cardinals.

John Mozeliak has gone on record to say that one of the things that drew them to Contreras was his desire to replace the legend. Contreras holds so much respect and love for Yadier Molina, and yet, he is not afraid to take on the mantle of catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. Other catchers like Sean Murphy may have been great fits talent-wise, but I do not think there is another catcher who has the mentality needed to take over as Contreras has.

Let's be honest, the Cardinals had to go big with this position. Could you imagine if they had grabbed a stopgap option for 2023 or relied on their internal options? The tone of this off-season would be an utter disaster. The whole league knew St. Louis needed a catcher, and yet they were able to grab the perfect guy at a reasonable deal.

We all will miss Molina, Contreras can't change that. But I don't think it will be long before we all fall in love with the kind of player Contreras is, and he ushers in a new era behind the plate in St. Louis.

#2 - Nolan Arenado opting into his contract

Sure, for most people who follow the Cardinals, it was not much of a surprise that Nolan Arenado decided to opt into the rest of his contract. But after finishing top 3 in MVP voting this year, no one would have blamed him for looking for a raise this off-season.

Then as the off-season began to unfold, the amount of money being thrown out there makes you wonder just how much money Arenado left on the table to remain in St. Louis. In today's game, it is rare for a player to give a discount to their club on the open market. In the case of Arenado, he may have left upwards of $100 million dollars on the table.

It's clear that the future Hall of Famer is going to be the leader for the Cardinals for the rest of his contract. His fiery personality, dedication to winning, and high character are exactly what St. Louis wants from their star players. As Pujols, Molina, and Wainwright walk away from the game, having Arenado and Goldschmidt ready to carry the torch is a huge blessing to this city.

Had Arenado opted out, the Cardinals would have had a franchise-altering decision to make, and with how this off-season has gone, I would not have been surprised if the Mets or Padres swooped in and grabbed Arenado. Even if he had resigned, what are the chances they go out and sign Contreras as well?

#1 - Albert Pujols' farewell season

You could not have written a more magical season for Albert Pujols in 2022. After the Cardinals passed on a reunion with Pujols in 2021 when he was released by the Angels, many thought they would pass on him once again after beginning Spring Training without him. And then, the entrance happened.

I remember watching this clip for the first time and the chills that accompanied it. Honestly, whatever Pujols was able to provide would be enough for me. Just seeing him in a Cardinal uniform one last time was a dream come true.

But once again, The Machine defied all expections and gave Cardinals fans an amazing farewell.

There was a ton of risk in bringing back Pujols. If he had flopped, how on earth would the club handle their legend? The beginning of his 2022 season wasn't quite a flop, but it was not good either. During the second half of the season though, Pujols slashed .323/.388/.715 with 18 HR and 48 RBI. He was legitimately as good as his prime self during that stretch and joined the historic 700-home run club.

The only thing that could have made the season better would have been a World Series title for Pujols. Regardless, we were treated to maybe the most memorable single season by a Cardinal in franchise history and got to bring the legend back home for one more ride.

What were some of your favorite moments of 2022 for St. Louis? Comment below!