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5 offseason moves the Cardinals need to make

By Joshua Sadlock

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 15: Harrison Bader #48 of the St. Louis Cardinals reacts after they lost game four and the National League Championship Series to the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on October 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 15: Harrison Bader #48 of the St. Louis Cardinals reacts after they lost game four and the National League Championship Series to the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on October 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros celebrates retiring the side during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

1. Land the big one

Over the past five years, the Cardinals have tried their hardest to woo a big-name free agent to St. Louis, but have repeatedly come up empty. They made big offers to David Price and Jason Heyward, gave Dexter Fowler $90 million and Mike Leake $80 million and were viewed as a potential landing spot for several other marquee free agents like Yoenis Cespedes, Justin Upton and Eric Hosmer. The Cardinals clearly have money to spend, but have yet to land a true impact star via free agency.

The two biggest acquisitions the Cardinals have made the last two years, Marcell Ozuna and Paul Goldschmidt, were both picked up via the trade market and came at a steep price. The Cards don’t have as much depth in the minor leagues to justify trading away more prospects for a big name to get themselves over the top.

The Cardinals ended the 2019 season well under the tax threshold and figure to have enough budget to sign one big free agent this winter. That has to happen this season, with the Cubs and Brewers with less wiggle room in their budgets. St. Louis might be a mid-sized market, but the Cardinals have not behaved that way during free agency in recent years.

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Ace right-hander Gerrit Cole is going to be in high demand this winter, but St. Louis is definitely a fit for him. The Cardinals are one of the top organizations in the league for getting the most out of power arms, and no one is throwing it better than Cole right now. If Cole falls through, make a run at Anthony Rendon. Regardless, if the Cards have the money to be involved with big-time free agents this winter, they have to put a little extra on the table to make sure a deal gets done.

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