Market Refresh Creates New Opportunities
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This past week marked two important dates for the offseason and the result is more intriguing options for the Cardinals.
40-man Protection Deadline
November 19th was the date in which Rule 5 eligible players had to be protected by being added to the teams 40-man roster or risk losing that player in the upcoming draft at the conclusion of the Winter Meetings on December 11th. The Cardinals added four players to their 40-man roster right-handed pitchers Tink Hence, Tekoah Roby, Matt Svanson, and outfielder Matt Koperniak. Notable omissions of protection included Ian Bedell whose ranked 18th in the Cardinals system according to MLB.com and Darlin Saladin whose ranked 20th respectively.
This offseason, being one of a different nature than typical, the Cardinals may look to repeat last year's formula of grabbing a young player needing a chance in the Rule 5 draft when the team selected Ryan Fernandez from Boston. Here are 10 names, and their ranking according to MLB.com, who could be of interest to the Cardinals on December 11th and a quick snippet about them:
Ryan Webb LHP (#26) Cleveland Guardians
The 6'1 lefty sits low to mid 90's on his fastball and pairs it well with a 60 grade curveball. Webb also mixes in a slider and changeup that flash average at times. Projected as a back end starter, Webb is also someone who theoretically could see a tick up in his stuff in a move to the bullpen.
Chandler Champlain RHP (#16) Kansas City Royals
At 6'5 220 lbs, Champlain, features a physical build prototypical of an MLB starter. Champlain features a low 90's Cutter with good movement and has a strong feel for spinning the ball that he displays in his pair of breaking pitches he uses to neutralize hitters. There is effort and deception in is his delivery, which generally pushes pitchers to the bullpen where he could find big league success.
Tyson Guerrero LHP (#27) Kansas City Royals
Another 6'1 lefty who sits in the low 90's he also pairs a sweeper with a ton of depth and deception that tunnels well off his fastball and because of Guerrero's crossfire action on his delivery it creates a very uncomfortable at bat for opposing batters. A potential weapon out of the pen waiting to happen.
Zach Messinger RHP (#17) New York Yankees
At 6'6, Messinger uses his height to his advantage as he gets good extension on his delivery that makes it feel as though he's right on top of hitters when he delivers the pitch allowing his low to mid 90's fastball to feel faster than measured and his 60-grade slider can cause right-handed batters fits. Like other options mentioned before a bullpen role would portend him to find early success.
Dom Hamel RHP (#15) New York Mets
Hamel, standing at 6'2, sits low to mid 90's (stop me if you've heard that before) but does a good job of getting riding life up in the zone that can generate swing and miss on the pitch and pairs it with a 60-grade slider that can posts some really exciting spin rates approaching 3,000 RPM's, which is elite. There is some concern with walks but at the rate he also generates swings and misses, he's definitely a bullpen candidate worth a look.
Mike Vasil RHP (#18) New York Mets
An imposing figure on the mound at 6'5, Vasil, features a mid 90's fastball and a sharp breaking slider that can get a little cutter-y at times but still generated a healthy amount of swing and miss at the upper minors. Vasil also has a solid average curveball he can use against left handed hitters and a show changeup as more of a different look than a true weapon. Bullpen arms, Bullpen arms, Bullpen arms.
Griff McGarry RHP (#21) Philadelphia Phillies
This one I find more interesting than most, McGarry has the prototypical high leverage stuff. Mid to upper 90's cheese that's tough to pick up because of his vertical approach angle. A wipeout Mid 80's slider that generates a ton of swing and miss. If any of the names mentioned in this article scream potential future closer, this is it. The general concern with McGarry persists in inconsistent ability to locate his big-time stuff as is the case with most young fireballers. If the Cardinals and McGarry could find a way to hone his stuff it's a home run pick.
Josh Stephan RHP (#25) Texas Rangers
This 6'3 Right hander is a control and command artist who may have a future down the line as a big-league starter. A Sinker-Slider style pitcher who comes from a lower arm slot attacks both sides of the plate with effectiveness and has a smooth repeatable delivery that allows him to command the ball well. His most immediate route to the bigs would be, say it with me this time, as a reliever. Factoring into the Cardinals middle innings picture or even as a long relief option Stephan could eat a ton of innings in that role.
Dane Acker RHP (#27) Texas Rangers
Standing 6'2, Acker, sits low to mid 90's with his fastball and his best secondary offering is a mid 80's changeup with fade and ability to miss bats. His Curveball is still a work in progress but does show promise with good shape. His future appears to be (don't say it) as a reliever.
Christian Franklin OF (#21) Chicago Cubs
An Outfielder? Can I even do that? I sure can! At 5'9 195 lbs, Franklin, is a bit undersized but still has plenty enough athleticism to be a 4th outfielder. Possessing some intriguing raw power and enough athleticism to play all 3 outfield positions comfortably, Franklin, would appear to be an intriguing right-handed option to balance all of the left-handed options that currently exist in the outfield picture. Its far less common for Rule 5 position players to stick but Franklin could fill a niche role that suits his style and capabilities.
Non-Tender Deadline
November 22nd was a 2nd important hurdle to clear in this marathon style offseason in which teams had to offer all players on its 40 man roster a contract for the 2025 season or allow those players to become free agents. The Cardinals extended contracts to all of its 40 man players except for RHP Adam Kloffenstein allowing him to become a free agent and the teams 40 man roster currently stands at 38. Quite a few names became free agents across the league so here are 10 names that could be of interest to the Cardinals.
Patrick Sandoval LHP
At 27 years old the Angels decided that Sandoval wasn't worth his modest price tag in his first season of arbitration eligibility. In 16 starts in 2024, Sandoval pitched 79.2 IP with a 5.08 ERA. Not all that impressive, until you look at underlying numbers. Sandoval had a FIP of 3.87 suggesting poor defense behind him resulted in a worse overall outcome than his traditional counting stats suggest and with 3 potential seasons of control the Cardinals would be wise to take a flier on a pitcher who would benefit from stronger core of defenders behind him. Sandoval also had a 22.6 K% so he mixes in a healthy amount of swing and miss. Injuries have been a concern for Sandoval but when he's healthy hes an effective mid rotation starter.
Griffin Canning RHP
Entering his 2nd season of Arbitration, Canning, who was traded for Jorge Soler at the beginning of the offseason was non tendered by the Braves and now presents a signing team an opportunity for a cheap young starter who can eat bulk innings. In 2024 Canning made 31 starts and pitched 171.2 IP though the quality of those innings left a lot to be desired pitching to a 5.19 ERA. Not many pitchers on the Angels, particularly, last season had a lot of success. A 19.2 K% in 2024 and according to ERA- in 2019 and 2023 he was roughly a league average starter so the possibility of him being a back end starter who can fill cheap innings is the main appeal.
Cal Quantrill RHP
A Starter who began his career in San Diego, was acquired by Cleveland, and was non tendered last offseason and picked up by Colorado has some very interesting traits that would make him an intriguing option for the Cardinals. 2nd year arb eligible, Quantrill, would come with an extra season of control and according to Savant has a 99th percentile, outlier, Splitter that is a nightmare for opposing hitters. Strangely enough the pitch does a good job of generating weak contact but not missing bats entirely. In 28 starts in 2024 he pitched 148.1 IP and while the 4.98 ERA and the 5.32 FIP are not ideal. However, between '21 and '22 he posted ERA's of 2.89 and 3.38. Perhaps a change of scenery and pitch mix could yield better results.
Huascar Ynoa RHP
Ynoa, has lost roughly the last 3 seasons to injury, so this an extreme BUY LOW opportunity. Assuming health in '25 on a minor league deal Ynoa could present a potential swingman option with some high-octane stuff. In '21 he pitched 91 IP and managed a 26.9 K% so we know he has the ability to get big league hitters out.
Kyle Finnegan RHP
If the Cardinals choose (wisely) to move Helsley this would present an excellent opportunity for a 1 year stop gap option. If the Cardinals are out of contention at the deadline, Finnegan, could also be moved at this years deadline and as we saw teams will overpay for high leverage relievers if they feel they're a piece or two away from a title run. Finnegan has 88 career saves in his 5 seasons in Washington, finishing with a career high 38 a season ago. A 3.68 ERA and a 22.9 K% isn't overwhelmingly gaudy numbers for a reliever but it does get the job done and that's all you can ask for when filling the closer role.
Jordan Romano RHP
Same idea with Romano as Finnegan. If you move Helsley, Romano offers a rental 1 year stop gap option that can be easily flipped at the deadline if the team is out of contention or even if there is significant value to be excavated from a Romano return to form. Missing a majority of '24 the appeal is derived from a three-year run from '21-'23 where he saved 95 games and averaged an ERA in the mid 2's and striking out opposing batters at a near 30% clip.
Jon Berti UTIL
Only playing in 25 games in 2024, Berti, presents an interesting bench option for the Cardinals. As a right-handed utility option, he has experience at every position except for C/1B. The Cardinals are a little lefty heavy in their lineup and could use some balance on their roster. In '23, Berti had his most significant playing time with MIA in 120 AB's against LHP Berti slashed .325/.362/.442 for an .802 OPS. This could be an upgrade for Matt Carpenters spot on the roster assuming the team chooses to move in a different direction.
Connor Joe UTIL
Primarily playing 1B/LF/RF Joe would be able to offer a right-handed alternative to Nootbaar, Donovan, Burleson, and would again present an upgrade to the Matt Carpenter spot on the Bench. This role could also wind up being filled by Luken Baker if the Cardinals decide to give him full season worth of opportunities, I wouldn't be upset about that option either, but Baker is limited to 1B/DH and Joe offers a little more versatility. In 145 AB's in '24 against LHP, Joe, hit .234/.335/.379 for a .714 OPS. Not overwhelming numbers but in limited role has some potential impact.
Bryan De La Cruz OF
I don't think De La Cruz is particularly likely given that he has 3 years of control left and will be looking for a starting opportunity. The way that could make sense would be if the Cardinals decide to lean into more offensive profiles and start the season with Victor Scott II in AAA and start Lars Nootbaar in CF. That would open up LF for De La Cruz who played 55 games there in '24 for MIA and PIT. Again, the idea is balance, and BDLC against LHP in '24 hit .285/.309/.425 for a .734 OPS. De La Cruz doesn't walk much at all sporting just a 4.7 BB% but he is capable of putting the ball in play and producing occasional power.
Austin Hays OF
Lastly, if the Cardinals decide to add ANY player who was Non-Tendered I hope it would be Hays. Capable of playing all 3 outfield positions and in 82 AB's against LHP in 2024, Hays, hit .354/.404/.537 for a .941 OPS! A true platoon bat that Cardinals fans would LOVE to watch on a nightly basis (no batting gloves guy) and best of all would help protect some of the young LH hitters the team has from being over exposed in a role they're not quite developed in yet.
I'm not certain if the Cardinals will make any significant additions to the MLB club this offseason but the spots I've mentioned in this article referring to bullpen arms, utility bench bats, and perhaps a platoon RH hitter that can mix into the outfield would be the three spots id keep my eyes on as the most likely. The stage is now set and we have a good sense of what the market looks like. The lights are on and cameras are rolling. Front offices all eyes are now on you as we trudge ever closer to the Winter Meetings in hopes that our favorite team will make decisions that give us all something to talk about while were waiting for the cold frozen winter ground to thaw out and baseball returns to us once more. Thanks for reading.
