Cardinals Potential Free-Agent Target Reportedly Signs Elsewhere

The St. Louis Cardinals have filled the biggest gaps in their roster this winter after retooling the rotation and adding some much-needed bullpen depth.

With Opening Day just a month away, it's doubtful to see the Cardinals make any major moves but some areas could use bolstering.

The shortstop position is currently being mulled over as St. Louis looks to find a viable backup option behind rising star Masyn Winn.

Unfortunately, a free agent whom the Cardinals were loosely linked to is off the market after reportedly signing with a National League foe.

"The (San Francisco) Giants have signed infielder Nick Ahmed to a minor league contract with an invitation to Major League spring training," the San Franciso Chronicle's Susan Slusser reported Monday.

Ahmed was recently mentioned as a potential option to help fill the aforementioned void on the Cardinals' roster.

The 33-year-old infielder is a two-time Gold Glove winner who logged .234/.288/.376 splits throughout his 10-year career with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The veteran shortstop's reputable defensive skills would have surely been a great option to help back Winn, who is still developing as a big leaguer.

The Cardinals will likely turn to their vast positional player catalog in the farm system to find a suitable backup shortstop -- while unlikely for Opening Day, Thomas Saggese could be a fixture on the Cardinals roster in the near future.

Utility man Tommy Edman -- who is expected to be the starting center fielder -- could also filter in as backup to allow players like Dylan Carlson or Alec Burleson to participate in the outfield. José Fermín could earn the nod as well.

Luckily, the Cardinals have a plethora of moves they could make within the organization to make it work if they are unable to land an external player to be the backup shortstop.

More MLB: Executive Believes Cardinals Legend Could Supplant Oliver Marmol In Near Future