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The Cardinals have plenty to sort out following a 71-91 finish in 2023. With the Hot Stove season nearing, let’s take an early look at five of the most pressing questions:
How much has the pain of 2023 fueled the Cards' plans to rebound in 2024?
Upon cleaning out their lockers following the final game, St. Louis' players said all the right things about using the past season as motivation to take with them into the offseason. There is also a sense of urgency from president of baseball operations John Mozeliak and manager Oliver Marmol. They don’t want this to be a two-to-three-year rebuild, and measurable change must come quickly for a franchise that demands success.
However, all the motivation in the world won’t matter if the Cardinals don’t have the players -- or, more specifically, the arms -- with which to compete in a rugged National League.
As for that aforementioned pitching, will the Cardinals adjust their model and pay the price needed to acquire it?
St. Louis has mostly tried to stay away from spending lavishly for pitching considering the volatility at the position, the long-term commitments needed and its lack of success in winning pricey bidding wars, but that strategy got the Cards in the position they are in now.
With just two starting pitchers under contract for 2024 in Miles Mikolas and Steven Matz, the Cardinals have no choice but to spend on “pitching, pitching, pitching,” as Mozeliak said. Undoubtedly, it’s going to be a costly proposition -- both in terms of free-agent dollars and prospect personnel used in trades.
Blake Snell, Aaron Nola, Sonny Gray, Jordan Montgomery, and Japanese players Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shota Imanaga will be at the top of the free-agent shopping list. Look for St. Louis to pursue several within that group.
If not via free agency, where else can the Cards acquire pitching?
The Cardinals could explore the trade market where maybe they could find a fit in someone like Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow, former Guardians ace Shane Bieber, White Sox star Dylan Cease or rising Mariners hurler Logan Gilbert.
But just like in free agency, those options will prove to be costly. To acquire an elite arm, St. Louis almost assuredly will have to ponder the pain of dealing superstar Nolan Arenado, young sluggers Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker, defensive aces Brendan Donovan and Tommy Edman, Lars Nootbaar or Masyn Winn.
Well, how about fixing the bullpen?
While most of the focus remains on fortifying the starting staff, the Cardinals also need to address their bullpen after trading three pieces in late July and converting just 36 of 64 save chances.
While they won’t be pursuing Josh Hader or Craig Kimbrel, these familiar bullpen names might be available: Jordan Hicks, Shelby Miller, John Brebbia, Joe Kelly, Alex Reyes and Chris Stratton.
What are some key dates ahead in the coming weeks?
Rarely do many transactions come out of the GM Meetings, but that event in Scottsdale, Ariz., from Nov. 7-9, will allow Mozeliak to meet with other teams and agents to start laying the groundwork for the Cardinals’ pursuit of pitching.
November 14 is the deadline for clubs to protect prospects from the Rule 5 Draft, while Nov. 17 is the non-tender deadline. Despite struggling through another injury-filled season, arbitration-eligible Tyler O’Neill will almost certainly be tendered a contract. The same can’t be said for pitchers Dakota Hudson and Jake Woodford.
The MLB Winter Meetings will be held Dec. 4-7 in Nashville, Tenn.