Not often do the St. Louis Cardinals spend heavily on top-level free agents when the opportunity becomes available.
They recently signed catcher Willson Contreras to a five-year, $87.5 million contract.
However, it is still quite rare for St. Louis to engage in such practices.
But with the 2023 season having gone off the rails, the team may have no choice but to do just that in order to return to their status as perennial contenders.
On Monday, Jim Bowden of The Athletic stopped by 101 ESPN, a local St. Louis sports radio station, to discuss the outlook of the team’s offseason and what they’ll need to accomplish.
The #STLCards rarely splurge on top-of-the-market players. Will that change after the team's most disappointing season in at least 15 years? @JimBowdenGM says the answer to that question will ultimately determine the team's offseason plans.
PODCAST: https://t.co/s697o6XlPW pic.twitter.com/i6ZKzg1gbI
— 101 ESPN St. Louis (@101espn) August 15, 2023
Bowden says it’s hard to predict what will happen because this is the first time in a while that the Cardinals have been in such an undesirable position.
That is because the Cardinals often times found ways to win even without being aggressive spenders.
Bowden believes that if the Cardinals don’t do something big to improve their pitching staff, then 2024 will be very much the same as 2023.
The Milwaukee Brewers are still expected to be a contending team and the Cincinnati Reds are also improving.
Top starters such as Aaron Nola and Blake Snell will be available on the free agent market.
The Cardinals had a chance to add starters such as Justin Verlander, Nathan Eovaldi, Chris Bassitt, and Michael Wacha, but ultimately settled with what they already had, which ultimately cost them this season.
Bowden reiterated his point that if the Cardinals aren’t aggressive this winter, then they will not be a contender next year.
NEXT: Cardinals Insider Confirms Team's Offseason Strategy