Three moves the Cardinals could have made last offseason to prevent this disaster

Here we are again rehashing the disaster that was the 2023 Cardinals season. There's no way around the fact that the 2023 season was a complete and utter failure on so many levels.

The most frustrating aspect about all of this is that it was so preventable. The Cardinals front office shouldn't be surprised by this. There were plenty of opportunities for them to add pitching and fortify the starting rotation, yet they were all passed up.

Now, we're left waiting for them to have their end-of-season press conference and admit their mistakes, and that press conference has already been postponed. However, there would be no need to admit failure if pitching was added.

Again, this is what is most frustrating about the whole fiasco is how easily it could have been avoided. But the Cardinals were too set in their ways to spend the money necessary or trade the necessary prospects to add starting pitching.

Somehow, some way, they were satisfied with a starting rotation that featured Miles Mikolas, Jordan Montgomery, an oft-injured Steven Matz, a worn-down Adam Wainwright, and an inconsistent Jack Flaherty.

There were starters aplenty available on the trade and free agent markets, starters that were also quite affordable. But St. Louis passed on all of them, and a 71-91 season which sank them to last place in the NL Central was the result of such a failure.

In this piece, we will discuss three moves the Cardinals could have and should have made to prevent this disaster.

1. Sign Nathan Eovaldi

In the end, it was smart to pass on Jacob deGrom and Carlos Rodon, as they both dealt with injury-plagued seasons. Justin Verlander would have been a good fit, but there was another option available that could have really helped the Cardinals.

Nathan Eovaldi was signed by the Rangers to a two-year, $34 million deal, and he certainly didn't disappoint in his first year in Texas. He was limited to 25 starts this year due to a forearm strain, but his stats were still quite impressive. He won 12 games and posted a 3.63 ERA.

Eovaldi also has great postseason experience, which was on display in Game 3 of the ALDS against the Orioles when he pitched seven innings and struck out seven batters while allowing just one run. Eovaldi is the kind of pitcher that could have really transformed this rotation.

While he isn't necessarily an ace, he was affordable, and he's someone that a team can trust in a big game with the season on the line. Instead, the Cardinals passed and let Eovaldi sign in Texas. Eovaldi and The Rangers are now headed to the ALCS for the first time since 2011. Two years and $34 million was well within the Cardinals' so-called "price range."

2. Trade for Pablo Lopez

This was another opportunity that the Cardinals let pass. Pablo Lopez was of interest to them and the Cardinals had reportedly discussed a deal with the Marlins. While the asking price is unknown, it was deemed too high for the Cardinals.

This of course was back when Tyler O'Neill, Juan Yepez, and Dylan Carlson had some decent trade value. We don't know if this is what the Marlins were seeking, but the Cardinals had a chance to clear up their outfield logjam.

And per usual, St. Louis kept preaching faith in the same outfielders who continue to disappoint at the big-league level. Lopez was subsequently traded to the Twins for Luis Arraez.

The Twins season came to an end in the ALDS when they lost in Game 4 to the Astros. But Lopez pitched a seven-inning gem in Game 2 to even the series and give the Twins a chance to upset the defending champions.

Lopez fanned seven batters, scattered six hits, and allowed just one walk while holding the Astros scoreless through his seven innings of work. The Cardinals could have made a move to acquire him and fortify the rotation.