The Cardinals have a few spots to sort out before the 2027 season, but third base is one of the clearest battlegrounds. President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom has already made it clear the job is open, and St. Louis has three internal names worth watching.
The bigger picture around the roster is pretty straightforward: the bullpen needs attention, third base is unsettled and the club could use a veteran starter. That last piece matters because the rotation took a step forward in 2026, but it still lacks an arm with real mileage.
Sonny Gray fit that role perfectly before being traded away, and Dustin May also filled in well before he was dealt. At the moment, Kyle Leahy is the Cardinals’ oldest starter at 29, and 2026 was his first season as a full-time big league starter.
The Cardinals need a veteran.
At third base, though, the focus turns to the internal competition. Thomas Saggese, JJ Wetherholt and Joshua Baez are the names in the mix.
Saggese reached the Opening Day roster out of Spring Training even after missing time because of the World Baseball Classic. He didn’t open the year looking like himself and eventually got sent to Triple-A.
But when he came back near the end of August, the bat looked different. Over 25 games down the stretch, he slashed .279/.337/.419 with a .755 OPS, three home runs, 10 RBIs and three doubles.
If that version shows up again in Spring Training, the job could be his to lose.
Jordan also made a strong first impression after taking over for Nolan Gorman in June. From June 12 through Aug. 27, he posted a .247/.276/.382 line with a .658 OPS, three home runs, 28 RBIs, eight doubles and four triples in his first big league action. He’s younger than Saggese, and he’s very much in the conversation.
Baez brings the loudest ceiling of the group, even if he looks like the longest shot for Opening Day. The 21-year-old has not played above Double-A, but he put together a monster minor league season in 2026, hitting 39 homers and driving in 109 runs in 113 games.
If he completely outplays everyone in Spring Training, he could force his way into the picture. If not, he’s still the kind of name to keep watching, especially if his hot streak carries over to Triple-A.
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