The St. Louis Cardinals are a team that is projected to have a big offseason.
With Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols both gone, St. Louis finds itself in need of a middle of the order bat and a catcher.
While several Cardinals fans have expressed their wishes of signing one of the high-profile shortstops on the market, it doesn’t appear that St. Louis will dive into that market.
Yesterday, president of baseball operations John Mozeliak was asked about who his starting shortstop would be on Opening Day in 2023.
Without any hesitation, Mozeliak commented that it would in fact be Tommy Edman.
Asked about shortstop and who his starter his, John Mozeliak says, without pause: Tommy Edman.
Adds it’s a big spring for Paul DeJong to show his bat still has a place with the team, and it what role, because there’s competition for UT jobs too. #stlcards
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) November 9, 2022
Edman Receives Vote Of Confidence
This may upset some Cardinals fans who were hoping the team would go out and sign a shortstop.
However, that likely isn’t going to be their focus.
Mozeliak appears to have given Edman a vote of confidence for 2023 and beyond.
What is more likely is that the Cardinals will look for another veteran bat to fill the hole left by Pujols’ departure.
Names such as J.D. Martinez, Brandon Drury, Joc Pederson, and Andrew Benintendi are potential options.
With Edman being a plus defender and a switch hitter, it’s very likely that Mozeliak will stick with him as the starting shortstop with NL Rookie of the Year candidate Brendan Donovan manning second base.
The Cardinals also have Masyn Winn in their farm system.
So, while some Cardinals fans may be a little frustrated by this news, it was unlikely that the team was going to dive into the shortstop market to begin with.
NEXT: The Cardinals Hope For Potential With Latest Trade