Three potential offseason targets for the St. Louis Cardinals

While little has gone according to plan this year, the St. Louis Cardinals will at least be able to head into the offseason with a clear focus on what type of additions they'll need to target: Pitching, pitching and more pitching.

Aaron Nola, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies

Nola is going to have plenty of suitors this offseason as perhaps the most durable option available on the free-agent market. Ignoring the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Nola has topped 180 innings for four straight seasons and 2023 is certain to be number five. With a 3.60 ERA and 1.086 WHIP in over 1,000 innings, he's been quietly dominant during that stretch, posting three Top 10 finishes in Cy Young Award voting. 

The Phillies will make a strong push to retain their homegrown ace and some were surprised the sides failed to reach an agreement on an extension prior to the season. Nola is the workhorse and clubhouse leader the Cardinals will need to replace Adam Wainwright, plus he has postseason experience. There's certainly a fit. 

Logan Gilbert, RHP, Seattle Mariners

Seattle is in a fortunate position with serious depth in its starting rotation. Teams can never have enough healthy arms, but this could be the offseason when the Mariners flip one of those arms for help at another position. The Cardinals don't have any obvious holes offensively and may have depth to move, so perhaps the two sides could match up on a trade? 

Gilbert may be the most likely trade candidate. He's the oldest of the team's young group of pitchers and could reach arbitration this winter as a Super Two player, meaning a jump in salary.  The 26-year-old is 31-16 with a 3.74 ERA in his brief career with a 22.1 K%. A trade won't be cheap, but the Cardinals aren't going to be targeting options simply to fill out the back of the rotation. 

Robert Stephenson, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays

Adding multiple starters is going to be the priority, but the Cardinals will likely also look to strengthen their bullpen this winter. Spending big on a premier option to close games out, however, likely won't be necessary with Giovanny Gallegos and a healthy Ryan Helsley already in the mix. But the bridge to reach them could surely use the help. 

That's where Stephenson could factor in. 2023 has seen the right-hander step up his production, boasting a career-high 36.2 K% and a fastball spin rate that ranks atop the MLB leaderboards. Since being acquired by the Rays at the trade deadline, Stephenson's results have improved even more as his 2.93 ERA and 0.720 WHIP (across 27.2 IP) would both mark career bests by a fair margin. Stephenson turns 31 in late February and could have set himself up for a multi-year deal in free agency.