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Cardinals: 3 solutions at shortstop not named Xander Bogaerts

By Eric Treuden

Mar 18, 2022; Jupiter, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Edmundo Sosa (63) signs autographs prior to the game against the Houston Astros during spring training at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2022; Jupiter, Florida, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Edmundo Sosa (63) signs autographs prior to the game against the Houston Astros during spring training at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports /
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 14: Infielder Nick Ahmed #13 of the Arizona Diamondbacks fields a ground ball during the sixth inning of the MLB game against the Chicago Cubs at Chase Field on May 14, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 14: Infielder Nick Ahmed #13 of the Arizona Diamondbacks fields a ground ball during the sixth inning of the MLB game against the Chicago Cubs at Chase Field on May 14, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images) /

Cardinals shortstop options: Nick Ahmed

One of the best defensive shortstops in all of baseball, current Arizona Diamondback Nick Ahmed would be a nice fit on this St. Louis Cardinals club.

Ahmed, 32, has two Gold Gloves under his belt (2018, 2019) and has a career dWAR of 12.0, he also led all the NL in DRS (Defensive Runs Saved) in 2018 with 21. He does not offer much on offense but he hit 19 home runs with a 93 OPS+ as recently as 2019, hitting 16 HR with 70 RBI the year before.

The slick-fielding Ahmed signed a four-year, $32.5 million contract extension with the Diamondbacks back in February of 2020 and is under control for the remainder of this season and the entirety of next season, boosting his trade value and potentially giving the Cardinals an A++ defender at shortstop for the next year-plus.

One obstacle in Ahmed’s trade status is the fact that he is so well-liked in Arizona, where he has spent the first nine years of his major league career. If the club finds itself out of contention come mid-to-late July, it may just have to swing a trade with the Cards and see what it can get back from Ahmed, who is off to a decent start with the bat to begin this season.

MLB rumors: 5 favorites to trade for Xander Bogaerts. dark. Next

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