The Cardinals do not need Bryce Harper. There, I said it. Hey, wait, don’t go just yet. I know I may have alienated a bunch of you for this, but it’s true. The Cardinals simply do not need Bryce Harper. That being said, wouldn’t it be a nice addition? I sure think so. But let’s get down to the facts. The Cardinals made a huge addition to the offense by adding first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.
The Cardinals had a good offense in 2017. Despite a down year from Marcell Ozuna, injuries to Paul DeJong, and ineffectiveness from Dexter Fowler, the Cardinals ranked 11th in MLB in runs scored with 759. To put that in perspective, the Cubs (761) and Brewers (754) ranked 9th and 12th respectfully, while also playing an extra tie-breaker game. Adding Paul Goldschmidt to the lineup instantly puts them in a situation to repeat their performance. The Cubs were decimated with injuries of their own, but I do truly believe that the some Cardinal players will have bounce-back years of their own.
The offense is not the issue. Bryce Harper would certainly help to bolster the lineup even more so, but the offense already looks to be in good shape. The differences between Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Louis come down to pitching. Their rotation is actually in a pretty good spot as well, and the Cardinals have enough depth to keep a strong rotation together for the entirety of the season. The Cardinals were 5th in MLB in ERA at 3.52. The Cubs (3.84) and Brewers (3.92) are 10th and 11th in baseball.
But the issues stem from the bullpen effectiveness, or rather ineffectiveness for the Cardinals. For the Cardinals to succeed in reclaiming the NL Central, the bullpen needs to be addressed, especially because of how well their competitors are in that department. The Cubs were 2nd in MLB for bullpen ERA at 3.35, with the Brewers not far behind at 5th (3.47). The Cardinals have room for improvement as they were 20th in baseball with a 4.38 ERA. If it hadn’t been for a good month of August, they would have probably finished even lower.
So while Bryce Harper would be nice to have, he should not be the main concern. Unfortunately, he won’t make the bullpen better, but he might give the bullpen a bit more of a cushion. Now I need to make one thing quite clear.
I’M PRO BRYCE HARPER
Sorry, didn’t mean to yell that. But still, I would love for the Cardinals to pick up Bryce Harper, regardless of how expensive the contract is. But if you think he fixes a fragile and ineffective bullpen, you’d be mistaken.
If the Cardinals don’t make a move on Bryce Harper, that’s okay. If the Cardinals pickup a couple pieces for the bullpen via trade or free agency, I think it will be just as productive in the long run. I think a fair amount of fans agree with me on that topic, but I also understand why fans want to add a talent such as Harper.
I feel like I need to reiterate. I want Bryce Harper. But am I going to be upset if he signs elsewhere? No… unless it’s the Cubs… That might suck, but in reality, I love the way this team is shaping up. A couple more bullpen pieces and this team is going to be a World Series contender.
I’m excited for 2019. I’m ready for baseball. Let’s go!
What are your thoughts?
Send me a tweet @AaronArchCity
Thanks for Reading Cardinals Fans
