The St. Louis Cardinals may not be gearing up for a splashy offseason, but they do have something that matters in a chaotic winter: flexibility. And if the right situation pops up, that flexibility could put them in position to take advantage of another team’s uncertainty - especially the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers came up short after being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series, and now they head into the offseason with the second-oldest roster in baseball and the biggest payroll commitments in the sport. Some money is coming off the books, but a large chunk of their roster is still tied to long-term deals. They also have younger bats such as Josue De Paula, Mike Sirota, and others waiting for their chance, while Tarik Skubal is someone they’d likely love to re-sign.
That combination leaves the Dodgers with plenty to sort through, and it could create openings for other clubs if they decide to reshuffle the roster.
If Los Angeles does start moving pieces, Tyler Glasnow stands out as one name the Cardinals should keep on the radar. He has one year left at $30 million before a player option worth $21 million in 2028.
St. Louis was in the mix when Glasnow was previously available, and Chaim Bloom was with Tampa Bay when the Rays first acquired him.
Even with the Dodgers absorbing a lot of money, the return may not be huge because of Glasnow’s injury history and his lack of control.
Blake Snell is another possibility. He has three seasons left at $36 million per year, and while the Brewers got to him in the seventh inning of Game 3, he still put together a 1.90 ERA in nine regular-season starts and struck out 31.8% of the batters he faced. A deal like that would not require a monster prospect haul, and the Cardinals could even have the financial room to take on a significant portion of it if the Dodgers needed to reduce the cost.
There’s also a flip side here: if the Dodgers want to improve, they may need to think differently than simply adding more money. Prospect promotions can help, but cost-controlled talent could become attractive too. That opens the door, at least in theory, to a younger Cardinal becoming part of a deal if Los Angeles clears out a high-priced roster spot.
The odds of that kind of move are low, and plenty would have to line up first. Still, it’s the sort of offseason scenario worth watching.
The Diamondbacks already found value in a limited-version Nolan Arenado this year, paying him $5 million this season and owing $6 million next season because of money the Cardinals are covering. A similar setup with Glasnow or Snell - something in the range of $10 million to $20 million in 2027 and beyond - would make their age and injury history a lot easier to stomach.
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Cardinals Linked To A Power Bat Who Could Solve A Tricky Need
The Cardinals have spent enough time searching for offense that a name like Eugenio Suarez makes immediate sense. A veteran third baseman with proven power, Suarez is coming off a productive stretch and could fit as a relatively cost-effective way for St. Louis to add some much-needed punch to the middle of the lineup while they sort out an infield picture that has room for another impact bat.
Money and timing make the fit interesting, too. St. Louis is weighing roster needs against financial caution, and the broader uncertainty around MLBs next labor landscape only adds another layer to any offseason plan. Suarez would not solve every issue on his own, but for a club trying to stay competitive without overcommitting, he looks like the kind of target that could help bridge a tricky gap. [Read more 🡒]