Cardinals in-house DH option could ax Albert Pujols reunion

Young talent waiting in the wings may prevent a hoped-for reunion between the St. Louis Cardinals and Albert Pujols.

Many St. Louis Cardinals fans have pined for a reunion between the club and legend Albert Pujols. While he is a free agent, it isn’t a certainty that he will return. And that might be OK.

Pujols left St. Louis after the 2011 season, signing a lucrative contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He was pretty much a bust for the Angels when compared to the massive success he had in 11 seasons with the Cardinals. The Angels released Pujols mid-season in 2021. The move allowed Pujols to become a free agent. While Cards fans hoped for a reunion at that time, the Cardinals president of baseball operations, John Mozeliak, said the team didn’t have a spot for him as he’s a first baseman on the decline and there was not a universal designated hitter.

The Cardinals have a pretty good first baseman in Rawlings Gold Glove winner Paul Goldschmidt. He hit .294/.365/.514 with 31 home runs and 99 RBI. While commissioner Rob Manfred says the new collective bargaining agreement will include the universal designated hitter, the Cardinals have some prospects that may prove a better option for the team.

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Lars Nootbaar is believed to be the club’s fourth outfielder who can spell two-time Gold Glove left fielder Tyler O’Neill or rookie sensation right fielder Dylan Carlson. All three of these players could provide services as DH. But, one person who may fill the DH needs may be a player who hasn’t hit the big club yet.

Juan Yepez joined the Cardinals in the 2017 trade with the Atlanta Braves for Matt Adams. He had quite the 2021 campaign with the AA Springfield Cardinals, AAA Memphis Redbirds, and in the Arizona Fall League. Between the two minor league clubs, Yepez hit .286/.383/.586 with an OPS of .969, 27 home runs, and 77 RBI. In 23 games for the Glendale squad in the AFL, Yepez hit .302/.388/.640 with an OPS of 1.028, seven home runs, and 26 RBI.

It would be great to see Pujols return to St. Louis where he had so much early success. However, it would be shocking to see Mozeliak take the chance on bringing him back though. Pujols would be great in situations. But, he wouldn’t be a long-term solution. He would be a unique draw to the stadium. A good influence in the clubhouse. Good for the kids.

But it would more than likely hold back a player like Yepez or Nootbaar.

The Cardinals have huge plans for 2022. They want to win the World Series in the final seasons for Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright. Nolan Arenado and Goldschmidt are primed for big seasons again. They hope to have a healthy pitching staff. They want continued success from O’Neill, Carlson, and Harrison Bader. They want Tommy Edman to continue his success and Paul DeJong to have a resurgence.

When you consider what the Cardinals want for 2022, Pujols coming back seems very out of place.  Be prepared to see the club take a chance on the younger guys.