MLB Winter Meetings 2017: 5 biggest winners

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 31: Brandon Morrow #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros in game six of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 31, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

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MIAMI, FL – OCTOBER 1: Marcell Ozuna #13 of the Miami Marlins runs the bases after hitting a seventh-inning solo home run against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park on October 1, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Skipper/Getty Images) /

3. St. Louis Cardinals

Losing out on the Giancarlo Stanton lottery did not keep the St. Louis Cardinals down for long. They went right back to the Miami Marlins and worked out a big trade for All-Star left fielder Marcell Ozuna. Coming off a year in which he hit 37 home runs with 124 RBI and a .924 OPS, Ozuna is the big bat in the middle of the lineup that the Cardinals have needed for several years. The team’s decision to pass on big names like Chris Davis and Edwin Encarnacion the past two years looks even smarter now, as Ozuna is only 27 and under team control for two more years.

The cost to acquire a two-time All-Star was relatively low for the Cardinals because Derek Jeter is hellbent on getting the Marlins payroll down near $50 million. St. Louis is still set with enough prospects and young talent to make a strong push to acquire Manny Machado or Josh Donaldson. The Toronto Blue Jays are reluctant to make their All-Star third baseman available, but the Baltimore Orioles are aggressively shopping theirs. More importantly, the Cardinals have exactly what the Orioles need with their stockpile of young, MLB-ready starting pitching.

By extension, Ozuna is also a big winner because he gets out of Miami. Christian Yelich, who is signed for the next five years, might not be so lucky.

The Cardinals now enter 2018 with a star-studded outfield featuring Ozuna, Dexter Fowler and last year’s big breakout performer, Tommy Pham. They offloaded Stephen Piscotty to free up space for Ozuna, avoiding a sticky situation with playing time. As the offseason progresses, the Cardinals have what it takes to make one more big move. All-Star first baseman Eric Hosmer could emerge as a fallback option if Machado cannot be pried away from the Orioles.

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