Rumored Intriguing Cardinals Target Reportedly Set To Become Available This Offseason

St. Louis possibly will make a major splash this upcoming offseason

The St. Louis Cardinals likely will be connected to seemingly every starting pitcher available this upcoming offseason.

St. Louis will need to fill at least three starting rotation spots before the 2024 season kicks off and it's expected to be a very deep free agent class. One player who could be an intriguing fit with the Cardinals and reportedly will be available this offseason is Japanese star Shōta Imanaga, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi. 

"Sources: LHP Shōta Imanaga will be posted to MLB teams this offseason by the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. Imanaga, who won gold at the (World Baseball Classic), has a career-best 8.21 SO/W ratio in 133 1/3 IP this year," Morosi said. "Imanaga joins Yoshinobu Yamamoto as the top NPB stars available."

St. Louis already has scouted Imanaga earlier this season so it certainly would make sense for the starter-needy Cardinals to enter into the free agent sweepstakes. Imanaga has impressed for the BayStars this season and has compiled a 2.57 ERA and tallied 10.5 SO/9 In 20 games so far this season in total. 

The Cardinals certainly have struggled this season and likely will look very different in the not-so-distant future. St. Louis' offense likely will look very similar, but the club already has insinuated that it will be a major player in the starting pitching market. It's unclear what a possible contract for Imanaga will look like, but he certainly is a possible fit for St. Louis. 

St. Louis likely will be one of the most active clubs across baseball this upcoming offseason and the rumors already are flowing about the team. 

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