The St. Louis Cardinals are in a challenging position as a franchise. They have enough veteran talent to maintain hope of being contenders, but not enough depth to perform when it truly matters. Their young prospects show promise, yet they’ve been slower to develop into major league contributors than anticipated.
The Cardinals face two paths: they could enter a rebuild and overhaul the roster or continue pushing to contend. The front office hasn’t taken decisive action to clarify their direction, though a rebuild seems likely.
However, there’s still a chance they aim for contention. This could be John Mozeliak’s final effort as President of Baseball Operations to get the Cardinals to the playoffs. Here, we’ll examine three potential World Series-caliber players St. Louis could target if they pursue contention in 2024.
These signings wouldn’t align with a full rebuild; they’d only be relevant if the Cardinals choose to compete next season.
3 looming World Series champions the Cardinals should sign in free agency and why
3. 1B Anthony Rizzo, New York Yankees
This might be an unexpected suggestion, but it could be a great match. Anthony Rizzo is in line for a big payday if the New York Yankees pick up his club option for 2025. However, given that he played through injuries this season, it’s likely the Yankees will decline the option, making him an unrestricted free agent and allowing him to choose his next team.
The Cardinals are expected to let Paul Goldschmidt enter free agency, leaving a significant gap at first base. With players like Pete Alonso and Christian Walker likely out of their price range, St. Louis might consider adding an affordable veteran like Rizzo.
While Rizzo’s performance has dipped, injuries have been a consistent issue for him the past two seasons. If he can regain his health, he still has the potential to return to an .800+ OPS level. Rizzo’s experience and leadership could be a strong asset, and if he finds his rhythm, he might rediscover the form he showed in recent years. If the Cardinals can bring him in at a reasonable cost, this could be a great fit.
2. RHP Clay Holmes, New York Yankees
Building a competitive team hinges on constructing a dominant bullpen. A weak bullpen can nearly eliminate a team’s chances at a World Series title, while a strong one can significantly improve those odds. In 2024, the Cleveland Guardians exemplified this, structuring their entire pitching strategy around a powerful bullpen that effectively shortened games to seven or eight innings by utilizing multiple high-impact relievers.
The Cardinals already have their reliable closer in Ryan Helsley, who is set to manage ninth-inning duties for the foreseeable future. However, if St. Louis were to add an elite setup arm like Clay Holmes from the Yankees, it could elevate their bullpen even further.
Holmes was excellent in the first half of 2024, securing a spot at the MLB All-Star Game, though he struggled in the second half and ultimately lost his role as closer, drawing significant criticism from New York fans and media. Given this, he may be open to a fresh start away from the Bronx.
Bringing him in as the eighth-inning setup man for St. Louis could be transformative, helping to secure the back end of games and adding depth to the Cardinals’ bullpen.
1. RHP Jack Flaherty, Los Angeles Dodgers
In this offseason’s free-agent pool, one name stands out to St. Louis Cardinals fans: Jack Flaherty, currently with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Flaherty began his season with the Detroit Tigers before a last-minute trade sent him to the Dodgers. He excelled for both teams, but with the Dodgers, he emerged as their ace. Now, heading into the World Series, he faces a high-stakes matchup against Yankees ace Gerrit Cole.
A return of Flaherty to St. Louis would provide the Cardinals with the ace they need to compete against the league’s best. Over the past year, he’s shown he has what it takes to be a frontline starter.
However, Flaherty’s departure from St. Louis wasn’t entirely smooth, and fan criticism in recent seasons might make a return less appealing. Still, as the team that drafted and developed him, the Cardinals likely hold a special place in his heart.
If St. Louis is serious about contending, Flaherty would be the ideal target.
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