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As the 2023 season comes to a close, the St. Louis Cardinals have several question marks in regard to the make-up of next year’s roster. The need for pitching is obvious, but the less talked about question is what the starting outfield will look like. More importantly, who will be the Cardinals starter in center field?
Thin Free Agent Market
It’s highly likely that the Cardinals will be looking to fill the spot internally. Undoubtedly, the front office will be looking to spend the majority of their budget on pitching since that’s the most obvious team need. Also, there just isn’t going to be much available on the free agent market in terms of quality center fielders. Beyond Cody Bellinger, the class is fairly weak, with Kevin Kiermaier and Harrison Bader being the next best options.
Bellinger tops the list of free agent center fielders, and he’s not necessarily a sure thing. It seems he’s gotten back on track after some injury plagued down years, but there are still doubts on whether he’ll be able to repeat his performance next season. Additionally, his price tag will be high. He is probably going to get around 20 million a year, which will likely be too much for an organization looking to invest in pitching as their first priority.
Reunion with Former Cardinals Center Fielder?
There are many Cardinal fans that would love to see a reunion with former Cardinals center fielder Bader. The oft-injured glove first outfielder is a polarizing figure amongst the Cardinals fan base. Many would love to see him back in St. Louis, but there are just as many that understandably have no desire to see him return. His bat just never developed like many believed it would, and he just can’t stay healthy. The Cardinals still have Tyler O’Neill on their roster, and one injury plagued outfielder is probably enough. Considering all factors, it would probably be best for the Cardinal organization to look elsewhere for their answer in center field.
Internal Options
The Cardinals have a few players already on the roster that will likely be a better option than any free agent, not named Bellinger. As their roster sits right now, their options are Lars Nootbaar, Dylan Carlson, Tommy Edman, and O’Neill. There are some promising prospects like the speedy Victor Scott II and top 2023 draft pick Chase Davis, but they aren’t ready for the big leagues just yet.
Two Unlikely Candidates
The one name that can likely be crossed off the list is O’Neill. The powerful right-handed slugger was given the opportunity to be the everyday Cardinals center fielder, but it didn’t work out. He just looked uncomfortable at times, never got his bat going, and once again spent too much time on the injured list. It would not be surprising if the organization decides to move on from the slugger. Also, with only one year remaining on his contract, he remains a likely trade candidate.
Next is Carlson, once the top prospect in the organization, he has seemingly lost the confidence of management. The youngster was the odd man at the start of the 2023 season after Jordan Walker forced his way onto the roster. Eventually, Carlson was given the opportunity to take the job due to injuries but was hit by the injury bug himself. Carlson recently had surgery on his left ankle to remove bone spurs but should be ready at the start of Spring Training. The young switch hitter has an outside shot at earning a starting role in 2024. However, it seems more likely he’ll be traded or be in a platoon situation due to his poor performance from the left side of the plate.
Two Probable Top Options
The versatile utility man Edman and fan favorite Nootbaar are the two top choices as of now. Edman showed that he truly can play anywhere this season. When forced to take over the duties in center field, he transitioned effortlessly. The only thing Edman is lacking is a strong arm. Also, top prospect Masyn Winn’s performance will be a determining factor on where Edman plays. If Winn can’t make the jump next year, the team will need Edman to man shortstop.
Nootbaar could definitely receive a long look in center next year. He has shown he can handle the position despite being more suited at one of the corner outfield positions. The young outfielder has shown excellent on base skills and is progressing nicely in all facets of the game. He has the potential to be a star. It seems likely he’ll get the first shot at grabbing the starting role.
Big Moves Needed in Off-Season
One thing is for certain, the Cardinals have a lot of work ahead of them this coming off-season. In addition to the questions in the outfield, their rotation is a mess, and the bullpen isn’t much better. They will need to address these needs through both free agency and the trade market. Whether Mozeliak can be trusted to make the right moves is highly questionable, considering his repeated failures in free agency and his rocky trade history. Unfortunately for Cardinals fans, they will just have to cross their fingers and hope for the best.
