It was a good season. Sure, the Cards didn’t make it to the World Series, but the team that knocked them out of the NLCS did. In fact, that team ended up winning the Fall Classic, carrying momentum since September that was too much to be stopped.
Since way back in February, the Cubs were favorites at top betting sites – with the Cards just behind– to win the pennant. But the St. Louis Cardinals stole the division. They had a 91-win season and made it past the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS before getting swept by the surging Washington Nationals.
But given the changing landscape of the MLB, can the St. Louis Cardinals stay on top of the NL Central in 2020? Yes, they can. But not without some work this offseason. The Cards can’t remain static, there are a few moves that need to be made.
Way to Early Offseason Preview
As the subheader above states, it’s way too early to know exactly what’s going to happen. However, of course, we have our ideas and opinions. The most prominent issue that needs to be addressed is the starting rotation. More specifically, the back half of it.
Pitching was solid this season, but Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha are coming up on free agency. Looking closer at these two, Wacha has been stricken by injury and Wainwright is now 38 years young. So should the Cards sign them on during free agency again? Can either be relied on to anchor the back end of the starting rotation at this point?
Another big free agent is Marcell Ozuna. He’s going to want a big contract but he seems to have hit the peak of his S-Curve regarding performance. He still a fantastic player and viable starter that should bat cleanup in most cases, but is he worth the kind of money and contract extension that he’s likely to be hunting for?
So there are a few major decisions to be made with this offseason’s pending free agency. Another decision will revolve around Matt Carpenter. We saw some significant regression in the Cardinals’ veteran. The Cards primary lead-off for years. So, do you stack him at 3rd base with Edman or move him to left field? He’s got 37 million coming in 2020 and 2021 with an option in 2022. But the arm … and the hitting this season. Can they risk a weaker arm out in left, especially if his hitting continues to slump? Is it time to try to find a suitable suitor for Carpenter; Another team that needs a Golden Glove infielder? Or do they hang on to Carpenter on the premise the Edman’s fantastic 2019 stats are a fluke?
Adam Wainwright might just retire, so the Cards may have to make moves to find a suitable replacement no matter what. Ozuna is up in the air … and I have a feeling that Michael Wacha will move on. On the bright side, if these three don’t come back, there will be some cash freed up to go after guys like Josh Donaldson, Madison Bumgarner, and Jake Odorizzi with plenty of money to spare. Heck, there would be enough cap space to go after a starter like Garret Cole and sign Anthony Rendon, of course then they’d be camping Carpenter out in leftfield … but hey … if it works, it works.
It’s still far too early to tell what will happen, but these are a few major things to consider for the Cardinals 2020 season.
