The offseason is already underway for the Cardinals. They missed the playoffs again after going 78-84 during the regular season. I can’t really say I’m surprised this is how it turned out for them, and
it’s hard to be super disappointed about it when the expectations were so low.
Chaim Bloom is now in charge, and he didn’t rule anything out when it came to what he might do with the Cardinals roster. Obviously, players are going to be traded and they won’t be trying to contend, but Bloom did not sound opposed to adding some pieces.
I will say that fans hoping for a Kyle Tucker signing should temper their expectations, but here are some bargain moves I’d like to see the Cardinals make this winter that could boost the roster but also allow them to stay true to their rebuild.
Sign Walker Buehler
Walker Buehler is a guy that would fit in great with a pitching coach like Dave Duncan. The Cardinals used to be great and finding reclamation projects and turning them back into solid players. They would do this a lot with pitchers. Jeff Weaver is a perfect example.
Buehler fits the bill. He has had two bad regular seasons in a row. Last year, he salvaged it with a great postseason run and even closed out the World Series for the Dodgers. This year, he went 10-7 with a 4.93 ERA between the Red Sox and Phillies. Boston cut him loose, but he’s looked better with the Phillies.
He’s probably a guy that could be had on a relatively cheap one-year deal and could be given some sort of option. If Sonny Gray is going to be traded, then this would make sense
Bring back Andrew Kittredge
The Cardinals bullpen looked great this year, even after they traded Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton and Steven Matz. But why not supplement that group with another solid veteran that has been here before? Kittredge is now with the Cubs, and he posted a 3.40 ERA in 54 appearances with Chicago and the Orioles.
He’s still good for high-leverage spots and shouldn’t be too expensive. Bloom’s fingerprints were all over the trade the Cardinals made to acquire him from the Rays, so he has familiarity with the veteran right-hander. I’d be on board with a one-year deal to bring him back.
Ryan Helsley reunion, anyone?
The Cardinals sent Helsley to the Mets at the deadline, and his season went south from there. He went 0-3 with a 7.20 ERA in 22 appearances with New York. This almost certainly means he won’t get the multi-year deal he was hoping for this offseason.
But we’ve all seen what he can do when he’s right. He’s only a year removed from being the NL Reliever of the Year and setting a franchise record with 49 saves. The 31-year-old right-hander and two-time All-Star’s value has certainly fallen since the trade to the Mets, which means he is likely to receive nothing more than a one-year, “prove-it” deal.
With the Cardinals unlikely to spend big, why not capitalize on the opportunity to bring him back? He never wanted to leave, and I think it’s clear that the trade affected him one way or another. He wasn’t himself with the Mets, but coming back to St. Louis for a year to rebuild his value might be good for him, and the Cardinals could have a guy at the back end of the bullpen who has done it before and can also show some of the young guys the way.
A back-end duo of Helsley and O’Brien is exciting to think about, and it would give the Cardinals the flexibility to try Kyle Leahy as a starter.
