These 3 2027-2028 free agents could aid the Cardinals' first foray back into competition

The St. Louis Cardinals didn't have big aspirations in 2026, as their rebuild was in full swing. And while they outperformed many analysts' expectations, that isn't going to dissuade President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom from remaining on the slow and steady path back to contention. He has been adamant about not taking shortcuts on the route, so fans shouldn't see 2027 as a realistic year to compete for the playoffs.

2028 is where it may start getting interesting. The Cardinals are flush with talented prospects who may be ready to contribute at the major league level by that time, and the team could begin to shift its priorities from selling to buying. This may include perusing the free agent market for veterans who could help hoist the club over the top. Therefore, while the Cardinals are unlikely to dip their toes into the high end of the 2026-2027 free agent class, there's a possibility that they will dive headfirst into the 2027-2028 pool.

These three potential free agents make sense for the Cardinals to pursue for the 2028 season.

Tanner Houck

The Cardinals' plethora of pitching prospects would ideally put the team in a strong position regarding its rotation in 2028, but it would be foolish to believe that every single prospect is going to reach his ideal projection. Injuries are nearly unavoidable for pitchers, especially in today's era of flamethrowers. You've heard it before: You can never have too much pitching. Therefore, if the Cardinals end up without their dream rotation in two years' time, Tanner Houck could provide veteran stability to a young pitching staff.

Houck is coming off of a major operation: Not only did he receive Tommy John surgery, but he also underwent a flexor tendon procedure, which knocked him out for nearly all of 2026. He's a giant wild card regarding health, but he's proven to be an effective starter. holding a career 4.00 ERA and earning an All-Star nod in 2024.

Bloom is unlikely to pursue an especially high-profile starting pitcher given the aforementioned risk involved with them — ESPN's suggestion that the Cardinals could be in on Tarik Skubal was ridiculous — so Houck, who played for Boston while Bloom was in charge there, could be a more budget-friendly and familiar fit for Bloom.

The familiarity goes both ways, as Houck is a St. Louis-area native who went to high school in Collinsville, Illinois, and attended the University of Missouri. Over the last several seasons, the Cardinals have targeted players from their backyard, such as Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson, Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek.

With the Cardinals potentially becoming more competitive, they should be able to attract free agents from other areas more easily than before, but in 2028, there is likely to still be plenty of trepidation among players about whether the Cardinals are truly in a window of contention. With that in mind, Houck seems to check all the boxes as a starting pitcher for St. Louis to target.

Jhoan Duran

Relief pitching is notoriously volatile, but as of now, right-handed pitcher Jhoan Duran is among the most dominant bullpen arms in the sport. He held a 1.82 ERA in 2026 and a 35.6% strikeout rate. The Cardinals would need to shell out a pretty penny for his services, but they might be necessary come 2028.

The Cardinals' incumbent closer, Riley O'Brien, performed exceptionally in the first half of 2026 and ended up tying for the National League lead in saves, with 38. However, he took a nosedive down the stretch and created plenty of questions regarding his future role. O'Brien won't be a free agent until after the 2030 season, but he will be 33 when the 2028 season rolls around, and if he's already on shaky ground as a closer, it's difficult to believe that he will be able to grab that role two years down the road.

Assuming O'Brien isn't the Cardinals closer in 2028, the team may have a sneaky weak spot that it will need to address by that point. If St. Louis expects to compete by then, they will ideally have more save situations and will thus need to possess a respectable closer who can nail down the final three outs.

Josh Jacobs' projected 2028 Opening Day roster features some potential studs, but O'Brien is still slotted into the closer's role, and it's unclear who within the organization would the best fit to take that spot. Brandon Clarke's triple-digit gas could work, and some insiders have projected Liam Doyle to eventually settle into a late-inning role rather than starting.

The potential dealbreaker, though, is the arm they pitch with. Left-handers generally occupy more fluid roles so they can oppose left-handed batters more often, and the Cardinals haven't had a left-handed pitcher lead their team in saves since Al Hrabosky in 1977.

Duran will be 30 for the 2028 season and should still be in his prime at that point, and he'd likely be the pick of the litter for free agent closing options if he can somehow maintain this level of production. He's armed with the fiery heat that St. Louis now covets, averaging 100.5 mph with his fastball in 2026, and if the Cardinals are ready to go for gold in 2028 and they haven't found an internal closer option, Duran could be worth the risk.

Isaac Paredes

Nolan Gorman's continued struggles made it clear that the Cardinals have a gaping hole at third base, and rumor has it that St. Louis is searching for outside options for 2027 to keep the seat warm for the next long-term solution, which might be Jesús Báez. But if Báez isn't ready to claim the role full time in 2028, the Cardinals may need to scour free agency again, and Isaac Paredes is an enticing option at the position.

Paredes hit .262 with an .806 OPS with the Houston Astros in 2026, and he has a strong eye at the plate that has allowed him to accrue a career 11% walk rate. He is less of a sure thing defensively, and that could be where the Cardinals balk, but some of Bloom's recent actions and comments, such as playing Blaze Jordan at third base and suggesting that Báez could even potentially play shortstop at some point, suggest that he is less defensively inclined than manager Oli Marmol.

If Báez were to slide over to shortstop, it would likely be because of injury or a trade of Masyn Winn, who has been the subject of a few rumblings. Winn has provided elite defense at a premium position, but his hitting production has declined each season. However, Paredes at third base and Báez at shortstop might be swinging the pendulum too far the other way, leading to the left side of the infield becoming a defensive liability.

Another trait of Paredes' that could give the Cardinals pause is his low hard-hit rate despite his respectable 25 home runs on the season. But although he may have utilized Houston's short left-field porch to poke balls out that might not have left other parks, he was still solid on the road, hitting 11 home runs away from Houston, and in 2025, he hit nine of his 20 home runs on the road. His success isn't just a result of his ballpark.

Paredes would likely come with an ample price tag, but the Cardinals should have plenty of money available to sign him or either of the other two potential free agents on this list. Plenty of surprises and changes of plans could pop up between now and the start of the 2028 season, but it's worth glancing at which players could fit the Cardinals once they are prepared to fight for the postseason again.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow