This weekend kicked off the festivities leading up to the 2023 season for the 11-time World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals, as Winter Warmup took place.
However, when President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak spoke to the media, fans received a little disappointing news.
Mozeliak revealed that the team would be abandoning its pursuit of a veteran left-handed bat as spring training nears.
Mozeliak stated that the team had tried to land one, but had failed, and it this point, what is left on the market isn’t better than any of their internal options.
He also revealed that the team was not very active in the starting pitcher market either.
Notes from Mo: Cardinals were “hoping but weren’t able to accomplish” additions this winter, primarily in the LH bat department. Weren’t engaged on starters, shortstops. Feel like what’s left on the market now isn’t better than internal options. Bullpen adds possible.
— Jeff Jones (@jmjones) January 14, 2023
Understandably, this is going to frustrate fans.
Even after adding Willson Contreras, the offense could use a little bit more of a boost.
It was the offense that failed the Cardinals in their Wild Card Series loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Contreras certainly helps make up for the production lost by Albert Pujols retiring, but there were certainly opportunities to land somebody like former Cardinal Matt Carpenter and have him platoon with Juan Yepez at the designated hitter position.
Starting pitching remains a possibility, but that will likely come via trade.
As for a left-handed bat, it appears that the Cardinals have decided not to continue their pursuit for one and believe in their internal talent.
Still, it could leave the door open for a bargain deal, similar to the Brad Miller signing in the spring of 2020, which worked out quite well for St. Louis.
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