FanPost

What if the Cardinals Did Do Something Big This Offseason?


It seems like everyone agrees, myself included, that our Cardinals are going to have a generally boring offseason. Maybe a few exciting rumors are brought up by Buster Olney and Ken Rosenthal but nothing that actually sticks.

I think a fun and not completely unreasonable question to ask is can we somehow solve our seemingly never-ending SS problem. We all miss Boog and he’s not coming back, I like Furcal when he is at 100% but expecting even half a season of healthy play from him seems unreasonable at this point, and not only is Descalso’s bat too light to be an everyday player he doesn’t have the range to be an everyday major league SS. The only shortstop I do have faith in is Ryan Jackson who oddly was called up in September only to receive .2 innings of work at short. Which worries me on how much Mo and the rest of the organization believes he could be a legitimate answer. I am not a fan of Kozma at all, I know he helped us get there this season but his defense is sloppy paired with a long swing full of holes. I think most of us would be happy with him staying off the MLB roster.

So we don’t have a rock solid option at SS and for the next two seasons not a single desirable player will become a free agent in this or next offseason.

The Rangers are a really good team with really good young players that have created a logjam in their infield. With Mike Olt and Jurickson Profar both fighting for starting spots this spring training they just have too much talent. I’m not the first one to say it but how hard would it be for the Cards to pluck their All-Star SS Andrus from them? He’s 24 with a slick glove and the perfect skill set to lead off. Coming off the highest OPS of his young career last year (.727) there is no reason to think he’s going anything but up. Over the next two years he is under team control and owed $11.275 mil. I don’t think any Cardinals fan would be unhappy with him on our team. Wong and Andrus as a double play combo for years sounds pretty good.

There are two big questions when it comes to acquiring him. What would it take from us? Can we resign him and lock him up throughout his prime years?

We have the pieces to get him but how much are you willing to part with? I think a deal based around “Mammoth” Matt Adams could possibly get it done. We would also have to give up one or two of those good young arms we have. The issue with resigning him being that everyone needs a good SS and his agent is Scott Boras so the man will be paid.

So what do you think it would take to get him? And would it even be worth it or should we just stick to the plan and enjoy a nice tame offseason.

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