5 blockbuster moves the Cardinals must make this offseason ft. Trading Nolan Arenado
After finishing 83-79, it's clear that the St. Louis Cardinals need a little bit of a rebuild. They have some young talent, but they still have a few holes on their roster that need to be addressed. Here's what they need to do to fix that and have a competitive roster in 2025.
What the Cardinals need to do now
5) Sign David Robertson
David Robertson is 39, so he's on his last legs. That said, he's been one of the better relievers in baseball lately in this free-agent market. The Cardinals aren't exactly overflowing with high-leverage relievers, so this makes sense.
They have a lockdown closer in Ryan Helsley, but they need a good setup man. Robertson, who once set up for Mariano Rivera, knows exactly how to play that role.
4) Sign Harrison Bader
Harrison Bader has never played better than when he was with the Cardinals, so why shouldn't they go after a reunion? Bader is still the best center fielder on the market, and that's a position the Cards could afford to have some depth.
This is a young outfield, so Bader would provide some veteran mentorship and stability. He also won't cost much, and the fans would probably love seeing the former fan-favorite player back in the clubhouse.
3) Sign Yasmani Grandal
Yasmani Grandal is old, but he will also be cheap. He's one of the best remaining catchers on the free-agent market, something the Cardinals should be keeping an eye on. Their catcher depth will be tested as Willson Contreras moves to first base.
They have Pedro Pages and Ivan Herrera on the roster, but Grandal would be a solid veteran addition. He'd help mentor those two and provide valuable depth at a very low cost.
2) Trade for Jordan Montgomery
Trading for Jordan Montgomery won't cost much, as the Arizona Diamondbacks will be highly motivated to get rid of him. He costs $25 million this year, but it's an easy reclamation project. Montgomery has been solid every year except 2024.
If he plays well and resets his value, which he did with the Cardinals for the first stint, they can trade him and recoup assets to continue retooling the farm system. If he fails, he's a free agent soon anyway.
1) Trade Nolan Arenado
With Paul Goldschmidt officially gone to the New York Yankees, Nolan Arenado is one of the last pieces of a soon-to-be-bygone era. The Cardinals aim to get younger and cheaper, which doesn't spell a fortune for Arenado.
Two teams have already tried to trade for him. The Houston Astros had a deal in place, but Arenado refused to waive his no-trade clause to go there. The Yankees offered Marcus Stroman for Arenado, but the Cardinals declined that move.