Cardinals Reportedly Have Three Stars On Their 'Wish List' For This Upcoming Offseason
The St. Louis Cardinals have some serious work to do this upcoming offseason.
St. Louis was expected to be one of the best teams in the National League this season but instead when the 2023 campaign comes to a close, the Cardinals will have one of the worst records. St. Louis realistically could get back to contention in 2024 with a couple savvy moves and an improved starting rotation, but that is easier said than done.
The Cardinals likely will be one of the busiest teams on the open market when free agency begins this upcoming offseason and the club reportedly already is eyeing star hurlers Julio Urias, Blake Snell, and Aaron Nola as potential options to help fix the rotation, according to USA Today Sports' Bob Nightengale.
"The Cardinals will pursue at least three starting pitchers in trades and free agency, president John Mozeliak said, with Julio Urias of the (Los Angeles Dodgers), Blake Snell of the (San Diego Padres) and Aaron Nola of the (Philadelphia Phillies) sitting atop their wish list," Nightengale said.
If the Cardinals were to acquire any of trio, it would be a massive lift to the rotation. St. Louis traded away Jordan Montgomery and Jack Flaherty ahead of the 2023 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline and now is extremely thin in the rotation. Snell is having the best season of the three and is leading all of baseball with a 2.65 ERA so he likely would be the top option. Nola and Urias both would be extremely solid options as well for St. Louis. Maybe the Cardinals could even nab two of the three.
All in all, the Cardinals likely will be very busy and likely will be tied to seemingly every solid starting pitcher available.
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