The St. Louis Cardinals don’t have a long list of lineup holes heading into the offseason, but third base stands out as the one spot worth watching.
The outfield is already in place. The catching group is solid.
Most of the infield looks settled through 2027. That leaves the Cardinals looking at a short list of possible upgrades, and one name that fits the conversation is Phillies All-Star Alec Bohm.
Bohm has emerged as a potential match because he could be the top third baseman available in free agency this winter, unless Bo Bichette opts out of his deal with the New York Mets and hits the market. Derrick Goold of the St.
Louis Post-Dispatch also reported that St. Louis is "open" to adding a short-term third baseman this offseason.
That detail matters, because the Cardinals’ interest seems tied to the length of the contract as much as the player himself.
If Bohm is willing to take a short-term arrangement, the fit becomes much more realistic. If he’s after something longer, St. Louis probably won’t be the landing spot.
Spotrac pegs Bohm’s projected market value at a little over $37 million over three seasons. That would average out to just above $12.33 million per year.
The Cardinals have already shown they can operate in that neighborhood, having given Dustin May a one-year, $12.5 million deal with a mutual option for 2027 last offseason. May is no longer with the organization after being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers ahead of the 2026 trade deadline.
A three-year deal would be on the longer end, but it also might not be the kind of contract Bohm is eager to chase at 30 years old. He’s a former All-Star who got off to a rough start in 2026 before finishing much stronger. If he can put together another season closer to the version that earned him All-Star recognition, his price would only rise.
For now, the numbers suggest Bohm is within reach for St. Louis.
The bigger issue is whether the deal he wants lines up with what the Cardinals are willing to do. If the contract stays short, the Cardinals should be very much in the conversation.
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The Cardinals also have internal options at third base, which gives them some flexibility if they decide the roster is better served by moving on. Gorman still has two years of team control left, and his arbitration salary is projected around $3.4 million, so tendering him a contract would not be a major financial burden. Even so, the more likely path may be to keep the door open while exploring trade possibilities this winter, leaving the club with a decision that is practical on paper but tougher in reality. [Read more 🡒]