Shortstop is an area of need for the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason as they look to retool in the post-Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina era.
Neither Albert Pujols nor Yadier Molina played shortstop, but that doesn’t make it any less of a need. Paul DeJong doesn’t seem to be cutting it, and John Mozeliak’s comments about the matter suggest he’d like some improvement in that department.
Per Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, here’s what Hummel said:
"“I think everybody would agree that there’s a level of frustration with the year (by DeJong), but there’s also a little bit of optimism — because you did see it for two weeks. The most important element in all of this is: What is the offseason going to look like for him? And does he have a strategy to get himself where he needs to be on a consistent level? Our staff is certainly going to be challenged coming up with that curriculum. And then you have to hope he’s willing to buy into it and try it.”"
DeJong will make $9 million next season, so he’s not exactly a cap liability. If he were to enter next year as the Cards starting shortstop, few would bat an eye. But St. Louis can do better — and after a postseason in which they lost in the Wild Card round, they ought to try.
Cardinals shortstop targets: Dansby Swanson
The Braves are flirting with disaster by even letting Swanson reach the free-agent market. Swanson has the same agent (Casey Close) that Freddie Freeman employed last offseason. Freeman famously left Atlanta, despite mutual interest in a return. Swanson and the Braves are in a similar boat.
Swanson played incredibly well in a walk year, thus increasing his value immensely. Because of that, perhaps the Braves would be scared away from a high price tag. Meanwhile, the Cards could jump at that opportunity.
As I wrote in a recent column about Swanson replacements in Atlanta, Alex Anthopoulos was non-committal when asked about the possibility of re-signing ‘the sheriff’.
"Still, it’s a possibility Swanson’s negotiations could go similarly to Freddie Freeman’s from last winter. Atlanta fans hope that’s not the case. Per MLB.com’s Justin Toscano, when asked about Swanson’s looming free agency, Anthopoulos was non-commital: “Asked about his confidence level in getting a deal done with Dansby Swanson, Alex Anthopoulos didn’t reveal anything, except praising Swanson for being a great teammate and leader. Anthopoulos said the reports that have been out about that situation are true,” Toscano wrote."
The Cards are in prime position to take advantage, and complete their infield with Swanson, Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt joining forces.