If the Cardinals are going to make a move for a position player this offseason, the cleanest path looks like a short-term answer at third base. That would give Jesus Baez or Rainiel Rodriguez more time to develop before making the leap to the majors, and one veteran name has already surfaced as a fit: JP Crawford.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch connected Crawford to the Cardinals earlier in the week, and the case for the veteran infielder is easy to see.
As Goold wrote, "A top-flight fielder earlier in his career with a Gold Glove Award in 2020 on his resume, Crawford has lost some of that range and yielded shortstop this past summer in Seattle," Goold wrote. 'He picked up innings at third base, where his skills translated - and also where the Cardinals have the most obvious opening in the field.
Crawford, 31, remains a reliable bat with average production this past season."
This isn’t the first time Crawford has been tied to St. Louis. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden also mentioned the Cardinals and the Minnesota Twins as possible landing spots for the veteran.
Now the fit looks even more realistic. On Tuesday, MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer reported that the Mariners told Crawford he will not be back in Seattle in 2026. That puts him on the market, and it gives the Cardinals a chance to address a clear need with a player who can handle the spot.
Crawford also brings a left-handed bat, which matters here. Thomas Saggese and Blaze Jordan both hit right-handed, so St.
Louis could even build a platoon if it wanted to go that route. On top of that, Crawford brings a Gold Glove Award, 10 years of big league experience and the kind of veteran presence a young roster can use.
The numbers show both the appeal and the risk. In 2026, Crawford hit .221/.335/.352 with a .687 OPS, 14 home runs and 40 RBIs in 116 games.
That’s useful production, though it doesn’t match what he did in 2025, when he posted a .265/.352/.370 line with 12 home runs and 58 RBIs. His WAR dropped from 3.6 in 2025 to 0.9 in 2026, but at 31, there’s still reason to think the better version is in there.
With Seattle out of the picture, the Cardinals should be in the conversation. Crawford fits the need, fits the roster and fits the moment.
In Other News...
Cardinals Turnover Just Opened A Big Debate About What Comes Next
The Cardinals offseason turnover has already reached deep into the organization, with assistant general manager Randy Flores gone, Rob Cerfolio moving up to general manager and hitting coach Brant Brown dismissed as the front office reshapes itself. Chaim Bloom has made clear that the changes are not just about subtraction, either, as the club weighs whether to add outside voices or create openings for people already in the building.
That is where the real debate begins for St. Louis, because the next wave of decisions could touch both the baseball operations side and the dugout. Names such as Donnie Ecker, Kyle Haines, Dave Bush and Trey Baur have surfaced as possible fits, while there is also the question of whether Yadier Molinas role could grow, leaving the Cardinals with several paths and no obvious answer yet. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Already Have An Early Bullpen Debate Fans Will Recognize
The Cardinals are already looking at the bullpen market with an eye toward adding a left-handed reliever this offseason, according to MLB Networks Jon Morosi and other reports. It is the kind of familiar winter conversation in St. Louis, where bullpen construction tends to become one of the first real roster debates once the season ends and the front office starts sorting out what the relief mix should look like for the year ahead.
Among the names tied to that search are former Cardinal Giovanny Gallegos, along with free agents Sean Newcomb and Tyler Minter, all of whom bring recent major league experience. The interest makes sense on paper because each offers a different path to filling a need, but the larger question is which direction the Cardinals ultimately choose as they try to balance familiarity, fit and the left-handed help their bullpen may still need. [Read more 🡒]
Leo Bernal Already Looks Like The Cardinals Answer Behind The Plate
The Cardinals got an early look at Leo Bernal in 2026, and the 22-year-old catcher did not take long to make his case. After his promotion, he hit .284 with an .807 OPS, while also showing the kind of defensive awareness that tends to separate a promising backstop from a temporary call-up. In just his second major league game, Bernal spotted a pitch tipping issue, a small detail that spoke loudly about how quickly he was processing the game around him.
Oli Marmol has already gone so far as to call Bernal the most major league-ready catcher he has had, which is a notable label for a player still settling into the big leagues. The Cardinals also expect Yadier Molina to have a significant hand in Bernals development, adding another layer to what could become an important long-term answer behind the plate. For a club that values catching as much as St. Louis does, Bernals arrival has given the organization a lot to think about. [Read more 🡒]