There have been ongoing rumors and discussions suggesting that the St. Louis Cardinals are keen on acquiring a right-handed hitter, ideally one with outfield experience.
Chaim Bloom, president of baseball operations for the Cardinals, has acknowledged this interest directly.
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“As we consider this, whether it’s a short-term or long-term solution,” Bloom stated. “I’ve mentioned it before, but we haven’t made an acquisition just yet; we’re still searching for the right fit. We have potential opportunities in the outfield. Ideally, we want a right-handed bat, but that remains a focus regardless. I don’t think [Lars Nootbaar’s recovery] changes our plans. Lars is recovering as expected after his surgery.”
The Cardinals have been linked to several outfielders
A name previously associated with the Cardinals this offseason was former All-Star Austin Hays. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post on Jan. 20, the Cardinals were among the teams that “maintained contact” with Hays. However, they could not finalize a deal, and he ended up signing with the Chicago White Sox. Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the Cardinals’ inability to offer him a starter role or significant playing time was a key reason they did not land him.
“Throughout the offseason, the Cardinals kept an eye on the outfielder/designated hitter/first base market to add a right-handed option to a predominantly left-handed lineup,” Goold mentioned. “They had interest in Austin Hays but were unable to provide him with a starting position or significant playing time. He ultimately signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the White Sox. Bloom noted he has explored trade options, although nothing gained momentum. The Baltimore Orioles are reportedly considering offers for right-handed hitting outfielder Ryan Mountcastle.”
That assessment is accurate. The Cardinals would benefit from an early-season outfield boost. Jordan Walker and Victor Scott II are set for considerable roles once again. With Lars Nootbaar currently recovering from offseason heel surgery, there might be ample playing time available initially. However, once Nootbaar is back, that situation could change.
Hays could have been a valuable addition, but he’s not the only option. There are still other players available, such as Starling Marte, Randal Grichuk, or Tommy Pham. The team could also consider promoting an internal option, like Thomas Saggese.
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