The 2023 season has been nothing short of disastrous for the St. Louis Cardinals, who were expected by many to be the clear favorite in the NL Central.
Unfortunately, things have not gone according to plan for the Redbirds, as they sit tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates in last place in the division.
With Adam Wainwright set to retire at season’s end, the goal for St. Louis has become clear.
They will need to shop for at least three starting pitchers.
On Twitter, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch confirmed a report by President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak that the team would indeed be looking for three starting pitchers.
Mozeliak tells media team will be shopping for three starters this off-season. That’s not all free agents, but that is the number for the shopping list.
Prepare accordingly. #stlcards https://t.co/SCz14fxOdv
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) August 14, 2023
Goold notes that not all of their offseason activity will take place in free agency.
The Cardinals may have to dive into the trade market in order to add to their depth.
On the free agent market, starters such as Aaron Nola, Blake Snell, Sonny Gray, Lucas Giolito, and Eduardo Rodriguez will be available, and St. Louis will need to be bold this winter in order to strengthen their starting staff and return to contention in 2024.
The Cardinals are on track to have their first losing season since 2007 and miss the postseason for the first time since 2018.
The lack of starting pitching is what has cost them dearly in 2023.
Starters such as Justin Verlander and Nathan Eovaldi signed elsewhere, and St. Louis made no attempt to add pitching during the offseason.
That is expected to change this winter, as the team intends to win again in 2024.
NEXT: Cardinals May Have Lost A Key Piece For The Season