J.P. Crawford makes sense for the Cardinals on paper. In practice, though, the fit gets messy fast.
If St. Louis were operating like a team all-in on the present, Crawford would be an easy sell as a left-handed platoon answer at third base.
He’s a veteran infielder, he bats from the left side, and he lines up neatly with the Cardinals’ current right-handed third-base mix of Blaze Jordan and Thomas Saggese. But the Cardinals are trying to let their young players run right now, and that changes the equation.
Crawford has been on the radar for months because he’d bring real production against right-handed pitching. In 2026, he posted a 103 wRC+ against righties, which is a clear upgrade over Jordan and Saggese.
Over his career, he’s been 10% above league average against right-handed pitching. That kind of bat would help stabilize the bottom of the lineup.
The question is whether St. Louis actually wants to use that spot to chase short-term offense.
The issue starts with playing time. Roughly 70% of the starting pitchers the Cardinals will see in a season are right-handed, which means Crawford would take a big bite out of the opportunities for both Jordan and Saggese. And both of those players gave the Cardinals reasons to keep watching.
Jordan was better defensively than expected and put up a 124 wRC+ against lefties. If he can do more against right-handed pitching, that’s the kind of bat the Cardinals can build around or use in a trade. Saggese was productive against lefties too, with a 112 wRC+, and he brings defensive flexibility by being able to play six different positions.
Neither one is likely to be a long-term core piece on its own, but both have enough intrigue that the Cardinals should want to see more than scattered at-bats.
That’s where Crawford complicates things. If he starts even half the games at third base, that leaves 81 games for Jordan and Saggese to split, and it becomes hard to see either of them getting meaningful run anywhere else unless injuries open the door. Crawford could move around to shortstop at times, but that doesn’t feel like a major part of the plan.
There’s also the question of whether Crawford would even want that role. A part-time job in St.
Louis may not be his best option if he can land a bigger role somewhere else, or at least the same kind of role on a contender. That only makes the Cardinals’ case thinner.
Jordan’s path is especially crowded. First base is the only other spot he can really handle, but the Cardinals have made it clear that Burleson is their everyday guy there. DH is crowded too, with Ivan Herrera locked in and Burleson, Leo Bernal, Jordan Walker, and Joshua Baez all potential options there.
Saggese has more ways to get on the field. He can back up at shortstop and second base, and he can cover all three outfield spots. Even so, it’s fair to wonder how often that versatility would actually translate into steady playing time.
And even that picture could get tighter once Rainiel Rodriguez, Jesus Baez, Tai Peete, or other Cardinals prospects arrive with possible 2027 debuts.
The Cardinals would be better on paper with Crawford handling a platoon role at third next season. But the bigger question is whether that should be the priority.
Right now, it looks like St. Louis would rather keep the door open for its young bats than block them for a short-term upgrade.
In Other News...
Cardinals Face A Delicate Pitching Balance This Offseason
The Cardinals are heading into the offseason with a fairly clear pitching checklist, even if the exact names remain fluid. The rotation has a promising young core, but St. Louis is still expected to shop for a starter with upside while also looking at one or two veteran relievers to steady the bullpen. It is the kind of balancing act front offices face when they want to improve now without boxing out the younger arms they hope will matter down the line.
There is also a specific opening to address after the departure of Dustin May, which adds a little urgency to the search. Free agency has already produced a familiar list of possibilities for the Cardinals, including Kris Bubic, Casey Mize, Shota Imanaga and Jack Flaherty, but no moves have been made yet. For now, the plan seems to be as much about fit and timing as it is about talent, with St. Louis trying to strengthen the staff without clogging the path for its next wave of pitchers. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Could Have A Rare Shot At A Superstar Bat
A financial cloud hanging over San Diego has opened the door to an unusual kind of Cardinals speculation, and Fernando Tatis Jr. sits at the center of it. The Padres star has already built a resume that makes him one of the sports most recognizable bats, and his long-term contract only adds to the complexity of any possible move. For St. Louis, the idea is less about rumor for rumors sake and more about whether a rare superstar opportunity could ever align with a club that has been searching for a jolt.
There are plenty of hurdles before anything like that becomes real, starting with Tatis no-trade protection and the sheer difficulty of prying a player of his stature loose. Still, the new collective bargaining agreement and the Cardinals roster situation make this one worth keeping on the radar, even if it remains only a possibility for now. For a team that could use impact talent, the mere fact that this conversation exists says plenty about how unusual the market might become if San Diegos uncertainty deepens. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals May Reunion Could Be Tougher Than Fans Expected
The Cardinals long-range pitching picture already has a few familiar pieces in place, with three arms viewed as likely members of the 2027 rotation and more internal options still in the mix. That makes any outside addition a matter of fit as much as talent, and it is why the idea of bringing back Dustin May has lingered around the conversation. Mays past with St. Louis only adds to the appeal, especially for fans who remember him before he was dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has pointed out the catch, though, and it is a significant one: May is looking for a multi-year contract, and that is not the kind of commitment the Cardinals appear ready to make right now. So while the reunion idea is easy to understand from a baseball and emotional standpoint, the market may be pushing it into tougher territory than some expected. For a club trying to balance present needs with future payroll flexibility, that could be the difference between a nice fit and a deal that never gets close. [Read more 🡒]