Cardinals Projected As Top Landing Spot For Coveted Free Agent Ace This Offseason

St. Louis could end up landing one of the top pitchers in baseball this offseason

The St. Louis Cardinals could end up landing one of the top free agents this offseason.

St. Louis entered last season with question marks in the starting rotation but didn't address them and it led to a disastrous 2023 campaign. It sounds like the Cardinals will be making major moves -- or at least attempting to -- this offseason as a response. 

The Cardinals already have been linked to seemingly every top-tier hurler available and although there will be stiff competition, St. Louis likely will come away with one of the top free agents. Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller broke down the free agent starting pitching market and gave predictions for some of the top arms and even projected the Cardinals to be the top landing spot for Philadelphia Phillies ace Aaron Nola. 

"To some extent, one also needs to consider the defense behind Nola, who has had a sub-3.80 xERA in each of the past four seasons," Miller said. "Having Kyle Schwarber in left and/or Nick Castellanos in right for all 32 of his starts cost Nola an estimated near-one earned run per game in 2023. Give him an above-average corner outfield alignment and maybe he will get back into the Cy Young mix for years to come.

"All of the deep-pocketed teams will be in the mix for the 30-year-old, but this season's home run woes might dissuade both the Cubs and the Yankees from offering top dollar. (In his career, he has a 5.50 ERA at Wrigley Field and a 5.56 ERA at Yankee Stadium.) St. Louis just feels like the best fit, as the Cardinals would love to replace their retiring, longtime durable ace (Adam Wainwright) with another one."

Nola certainly fits what the Cardinals are looking for. Although he had a down year in 2023, he was reliable and pitched 193 2/3 innings. He has pitched at least 180 innings in each of the last five full seasons -- excluding the 2020 shortened campaign. St. Louis needs a No. 1 starter and Nola fits that mold. The Cardinals have plenty of money to spend and realistically could land someone like Nola in the not-so-distant future.

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