After being bounced out of the playoffs by the eventual National League champion Philadelphia Phillies, the St. Louis Cardinals have been a little less active than many were expecting, especially after President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak had commented that he planned to increase the team’s payroll.
Instead, St. Louis appears to be banking on their internal options.
Here are two players that will need to step up for St. Louis in 2023 if they don’t plan on adding any more pieces.
1. Lars Nootbaar
After a tough start to the 2022 season, Nootbaar stepped up in the second half and provided a spark at the top of the Cardinals lineup, while also taking over the starting right field job after the trade of Harrison Bader opened up a spot in center for Dylan Carlson.
Nootbaar’s defense is superb, but his bat still needs to improve a little.
The fan favorite hit just .228 during the regular season.
Still, fans are high on Nootbaar, and are hoping that his second half is a prelude to what could be a breakout season in 2023.
Why do I have a feeling Lars Nootbaar is going to have a really good 2023 season?
I thinks he’s going to put up impressive numbers and I hope I’m right. #STLCards
— Cards Convo ™ (@CardinalsConvo) January 3, 2023
2. Tyler O’Neill
After a breakout season in 2021 in which he hit 34 home runs and became a threat in the middle of the Cardinals lineup, O’Neill took a step back in 2022, hitting just .228 with 14 home runs, while landing on the injured list three times.
O’Neill still does possess tremendous power, however, and has a ton of upside.
He’s also a two-time Gold Glove Award winner.
If O’Neill can stay healthy, he could prove to be an X-factor in 2023.
