The Cardinals might be on the market for a new home run machine.
The St. Louis Cardinals are nearing the end of their era.
Over the last six years, Paul Goldschmidt has done a lot to win over Cardinals fans. Overall, he has been one of the league’s finest first basemen, if not the best player. Goldschmidt earned the MVP title just two years earlier, after leading the National League in slugging (.578) and OPS (.981).
Unfortunately, Goldschmidt has struggled in the 2024 season. At 36, it’s beginning to feel like he might not have much left in the tank. There were clues last season, when Goldschmidt’s productivity dropped dramatically compared to his MVP season, but he remained well above league average on offense. This season, Goldschmidt has been essentially a replacement-level player (0.4 WAR).
He’s slicing.228/.288/.388 in 474 ABs, with 19 home runs and 49 RBI. Goldschmidt can still generate power with his swing, but his inconsistency has been a cause of concern for St. Louis fans this season. Goldschmidt’s batting has improved marginally since the All-Star break, but his worth has dropped.
In the final year of his contract, Goldschmidt may be forced to seek a new home in free agency. He should continue to receive quality offers based on his previous accomplishments, but Goldschmidt’s market will be subdued.
Meanwhile, the Cardinals need to start thinking about potential lineup replacements. There are straightforward plug-and-play choices at first base, such as Pete Alonso, but St. Louis does not always need to go after the best players. They can provide offensive support elsewhere, like as the outfield.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand has identified an ideal free agent candidate.
Cardinals connected to Orioles rightfielder Anthony Santander as free agent
Anthony Santander has been on fire this season for the Baltimore Orioles. He’s a first-time All-Star at 29 years old, batting.239/.306/.528 with 37 home runs and 82 RBI in 468 at-bats. He figures to be one of the most sought-after outfielders on the free agency market, and St. Louis has every reason to be interested.
Furthermore, Santander is very certainly going to trade teams this winter, as Baltimore has a lot of strong outfield prospects coming up through its farm system. So, while the Cardinals will face competition for Santander’s services, they may not have to outbid the current team.
“Santander has been a solid player for several years, but he picked the right time to have a career-best season,” according to Feinsand. “A first-time All-Star this year, Santander has already set a career high in home runs (37 as of Tuesday), and his.834 OPS would be his greatest in a 162-game season. As much as Santander has meant to the Orioles, he is likely to leave since Baltimore has a lot of young outfield potential and a number of teams will be looking for a power-hitting corner outfielder.
Although this was Santander’s first All-Star season, he has long been regarded as one of the league’s best power hitters. This season, St. Louis’ slugging has fallen far short of projections, with Goldschmidt leading the way. Santander would immediately improve St. Louis’ offensive profile, providing Oli Marmol a reliable, everyday cleanup hitter in Goldschmidt’s place.
