Why Xander Bogaerts to the Cardinals doesn’t make much sense

The St. Louis Cardinals were floated as a possible suitor for 2022-23 free agent Xander Bogaerts of the Red Sox. Yet, the fit doesn’t make much sense.

Do the Cards need help at shortstop? Absolutely, as St. Louis just sent down Paul DeJong and hasn’t seen much reliable help at the plate from the position all season long. But it goes deeper than that.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic hinted that St. Louis could be a fit for Bogaerts at the deadline:

“The Cardinals need to upgrade at shortstop. Don’t be surprised if they make a run at Xander Bogaerts if Boston falls out of contention by July and can’t re-sign him,” Bowden wrote.

Yet, despite the Cardinals need at shortstop, does St. Louis make the most sense as a long-term fit for Bogaerts? And would they really trade away top prospects for a rental?

Cardinals: Xander Bogaerts trade doesn’t make a lot of sense

FanSided MLB insider Robert Murray pointed out in an article for Redbird Rants that while a Bogaerts trade makes sense in theory due to fit at a position of weakness, the front office doesn’t want to dish out the sort of money the now-Red Sox star would be looking for in free agency:

"“But here’s why it doesn’t make sense: acquiring Bogaerts is going to cost a LOT and president of baseball operations John Mozeliak has shown no willingness in the past to trade high-end prospects for players. Besides, if he wasn’t willing to do that for Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado, who were both under contract for multiple seasons, why would he do it for Bogaerts who will become a free agent at the end of the season?”"

Bogaerts will want a new contract in excess of six years, and probably over $30 million per season. The shortstop market is only going up after last offseason’s sweepstakes.

The Cards don’t have that kind of money to throw around with pending deals for Tyler O’Neill and other young contributors. Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado are expensive enough as is.