The Cardinals head into another October on the outside looking in, but this year’s team leaves a different kind of impression. Even with a worse record than the 2025 club, the organization has clearly taken meaningful steps forward and is in a much stronger long-term spot. That matters this offseason, because it means the Cardinals shouldn’t have to move established veterans to keep building around a younger core.
Still, one issue remains open: third base.
St. Louis has internal answers in Blaze Jordan and Thomas Saggese, and both are viewed as viable options. But Chaim Bloom hasn’t closed the door on bringing someone in from the outside, and that opens the door to a name that fits the discussion in an interesting way: Luis Arraez.
The first thing that jumps out is obvious. Arraez is not coming with a gold glove reputation, and that alone gives pause.
But the Cardinals already have strong defenders in the infield with Masyn Winn, JJ Wetherholt and Alec Burleson, and Nathan Church gives them a solid presence in center field. That defensive support makes the fit easier to imagine.
The appeal with Arraez is the bat. He’s a four-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger and three-time batting champion, and his game is built around something that still plays anywhere: he hits, he gets on base, and he does it consistently. In a lineup that already has power, the Cardinals may not need another pure slugger, especially with Busch Stadium known for cutting down home runs.
Arraez also brings a profile that seems tailor-made for that park. This year with the Giants and Phillies, he hit .310/.345/.419 with six home runs and 64 RBI. That kind of production wouldn’t change the lineup by brute force, but it could give the Cardinals a steadier presence in the middle of it.
That consistency is the real draw. The Cardinals have power, but it hasn’t always shown up reliably. Adding a hitter who brings a dependable approach at the plate could help smooth out the offense in a way that raw power alone might not.
None of that means Jordan and Saggese should be pushed aside. It just means Arraez is a reasonable option for Bloom to think about. A one- or two-year deal likely wouldn’t break the bank, wouldn’t interfere with the rebuild, and if the Cardinals are still outside the race, he could even become a trade chip later on.
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Bullpen help and a veteran starter make sense, and theres also a case for bringing in another option at third base. But thats where the organization has to be careful, because a heavy commitment there could crowd out the younger players the Cardinals are trying to develop. With so much of the roster still in the making, this winter may be less about solving everything at once and more about avoiding a move that blocks the very youth the club is counting on. [Read more 🡒]