The St. Louis Cardinals are in need of pitching in both the starting rotation and the bullpen this coming winter. It was the pitching that failed them in 2023 and caused them to finish with a record of 71-91, though it wasn't the only issue they faced.
As the offseason draws near, we are already hearing rumors about what the Cardinals will ultimately do in the offseason. They could use both the free agent and trade markets to bolster their pitching staff.
The starting rotation is the most glaring need that St. Louis has to address this winter. But the bullpen was also a major concern.
According to Katie Woo of The Athletic, the Cardinals are already in on several free agent starters. However, Woo predicted that a reunion with former Cardinal reliever Jordan Hicks could be had. Hicks was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays at the deadline and will soon be a free agent.
Hicks would certainly help the Cardinals bullpen out tremendously, but the free agent market will include several former Cardinals players who could also help the team out in some capacity.
Here are three former Cardinals the front office should pursue before considering targeting Hicks.
Does Jordan Montgomery reunion with Cardinals make sense?
Montgomery is one of the many starters that the Cardinals already seem to have interest in this coming offseason. St. Louis added him in a trade with the New York Yankees at last year's trade deadline in exchange for center fielder Harrison Bader.
Less than a year later, St. Louis flipped Montgomery to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Tekoah Roby, Thomas Sagesse, and John King. Montgomery is now the Rangers top starting pitcher this postseason, and he'll likely get the ball for Texas in Game 5 of the ALCS on Friday night.
He won 10 games in 32 starts and posted an ERA of 3.20. This postseason, he owns an ERA of 2.08 in his three starts, and he gave Texas 6.1 scoreless innings in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Astros on Sunday.
Starting pitching is a more urgent need for the Cardinals than the bullpen, as a good rotation can help alleviate the stress on the pen. Montgomery is somebody that can give a team a chance to win in postseason games, as he has done for the Rangers this October.
The Cardinals would certainly benefit from having him back in uniform next year.
Michael Wacha reunion in St. Louis could happen
Michael Wacha could ultimately opt out of his four-year deal with the San Diego Padres and return to the free agent market this winter. His deal includes club and player options.
Wacha began his career in St. Louis back in 2013 and was the NLCS MVP, beating Clayton Kershaw twice to send St. Louis to the World Series. Injuries derailed his time in St. Louis, and he left after a trying year in 2019, one in which he posted a 4.76 ERA.
Since joining the Boston Red Sox last year, Wacha has been a completely different pitcher, looking more like he did in his rookie campaign with St. Louis. This year, the 32-year-old right-hander won 14 games in 24 starts and posted an ERA of 3.22.
Injuries are certainly a concern for Wacha, as since 2014, he has dealt with stress reactions in his shoulder, but he could be somebody that serves the Cardinals well as a starter in 2024.
Of course, he'll have to opt out of his deal with San Diego to become a free agent, casting doubt over a potential reunion. But fans would certainly be happy to have the veteran righty back in town.
Cardinals surprise: Yadier Molina could join coaching staff
Yadier Molina is not an active player currently, as he retired following the 2022 season. However, the Cardinals have spoken with him about potentially returning to the team in a coaching role.
But how would Molina help more than Hicks, you ask? Molina knows the Cardinals pitching staff quite well, as he is former teammates with almost all pitchers on the roster.
Molina was the Cardinals everyday catcher from 2005-22. His knowledge of the game could be very beneficial to a pitching staff that struggled mightily in 2023 and cost them a chance at contention.
Having a catcher's mindset on the coaching staff would certainly help. He also could mentor Willson Contreras and help him improve as a catcher himself.
Fans would definitely be happy to see Molina back in Cardinal Red. It remains to be seen what will happen in discussions, but Molina brings so much to the table, even after having retired as a player.
He brings intangibles, knowledge, experience, and wisdom, all of which could be huge benefits as the Cardinals look to improve on the pitching side and potentially bounce back into postseason contention again in 2024.
