The Cardinals may have played better than expected this season, but one of their biggest holes is still staring them in the face: third base.
St. Louis has shown real progress in its rebuild.
Even after dealing away star players last offseason, the club stayed competitive for much of the year and hung around the playoff picture. JJ Wetherholt, Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson all made major strides, yet the roster still isn’t locked in everywhere for the future.
If there’s one spot that looks most unsettled, it’s the hot corner. The bullpen could use work too after 30 blown saves, but the offense at third base has been a problem for nearly the entire season. The Cardinals have gotten poor production there, and the starting job for next year is very much up for grabs.
"On Saturday, Marmol told reporters that the third-base competition is 'wide open' -- and for good reason," MLB.com's Josh Jacobs wrote on Monday. "Through 156 games, Cardinals third basemen have slashed .215/.278/.352, all marks that rank in the bottom six among MLB teams. That’s not good enough for what is supposed to be a premium offensive position, and the Cardinals know that.
"Nolan Gorman failed to run with the job in his opportunities (.585 OPS in 258 at-bats). Blaze Jordan showed flashes during his rookie campaign, while Thomas Saggese has been swinging a hot bat since being recalled from Triple-A. Both are contenders for the role in ‘27, as is utility man José Fermín, but that shouldn’t stop the Cardinals from exploring other options."
Saggese has been in the organization for his entire three-season career, and while he has hit well lately, the 24-year-old was optioned earlier this season after uneven results. Jordan is still young as well, and his rookie year included a .247/.276/.382 line with three home runs and 28 runs batted in over 58 games.
A major outside splash does not seem likely for St. Louis this winter, especially after the club moved Nolan Arenado earlier in the offseason. The more realistic path may be giving a young internal option the job and hoping for the kind of jump Jordan Walker made this year.
For now, Jordan and Saggese look like the leading candidates to battle for the opening-day role at third. Prospects Jesús Báez and Rainiel Rodriguez are also names worth watching as the offseason unfolds.
In Other News...
Cardinals Just Lost A Bullpen Option At A Telling Time
The Cardinals bullpen depth took a small hit at a particularly awkward time when veteran reliever Peter Strzelecki was designated for assignment after being activated from the injured list. St. Louis had brought him back into the mix, but the move quickly turned into a roster squeeze, and Strzelecki ended up clearing waivers and being outrighted to Triple-A Memphis.
Peter Strzelecki chose not to head to Memphis, electing free agency instead as the postseason draws closer. For a team still sorting out every last bullpen option, losing an experienced arm at this stage leaves one fewer piece available if the Cardinals need to navigate a late-season stretch or patch together innings in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals 2027 Core Is Emerging With One Big Roster Question Left
The Cardinals are starting to get a clearer picture of what their 2027 lineup could look like, and it begins with two young players who have already worked their way into the conversation. Manager Oli Marmol said Nathan Church looks like the likely answer in center field, while Leo Bernal appears to be the favorite to handle catching duties, giving St. Louis a better sense of the next wave of its core.
Bernal has impressed in limited major league action with both his defense and his bat, while Church has been a steady presence throughout the 2026 season. Even with those pieces coming into focus, the roster still has some unfinished business, especially at third base and in the bullpen, where the Cardinals know they need more help before the picture is complete. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Rebuild Suddenly Looks Smarter After That Deadline Deal
At the trade deadline, the Cardinals made one of those moves that looked more like a long-term reset than a quick fix, shipping right-hander Dustin May to Milwaukee in a deal that brought back outfield prospects Alexander Frias and Josiah Ragsdale, along with JoJo Romero. For a St. Louis club in rebuild mode, the return was about adding depth to the system and betting on younger talent that could matter down the line.
Since then, the deal has only seemed to age better for St. Louis. May has not been as effective with the Brewers as many expected, while the Cardinals have been able to point to the prospect haul as another reason their farm system looks stronger. It is the kind of deadline trade that does not always pay off immediately, but for a rebuilding club, the early signs suggest the Cardinals may have come out ahead. [Read more 🡒]