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.

#3 - Paul Goldschmidt MVP season

I mean, come on. How awesome was it to watch Paul Goldschmidt in 2022? .317/.404/.578 with 35 HR and 115 RBI. Imagine if he had not hit a cold streak in September. He could have easily hit closer to .330/.420/.590 with over 40 HR and 130 RBI.

For a long stretch this year, it felt like no one could get Goldschmidt out. During the month of May, the reigning National League Most Valuable Player had a 1.288 OPS with 10 HR and 33 RBI. In the months of June and August, he eclipsed the 1.000 OPS mark as well.

Aside from a few Yadier Molina MVP campaigns, Goldschmidt's 2022 was the best season by a Cardinal since Pujols' prime. This season should cement Goldy as a Hall of Famer, and although he is getting up there in age, I would expect him to continue to mash for at least a few more seasons 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?