Bargain Free Agents St. Louis Cardinals Should Keep on Their Radar

Over the last month the St. Louis Cardinals’ offseason agenda went from lacking substantial need to becoming shoppers for bargain free agents.

Big-game spending is out of the question. Throwing wads of cash at aging vets is both foolish and doesn’t fit the “Cardinal Way.” However, reeling in a few cost-friendly players to help shape the roster for 2015 is more probable.

True, general manager John Mozeliak needs to make a splash (likely by trade) over the next two months to bolster an offense that plated 619 runs (tied for the seventh fewest) and remarkably clawed their way to 90 wins.

Mozeliak is tasked with finding a big bopper to make the long ball relevant again for a club that totaled the fewest homers in the National League (105). A left-handed reliever is also a need, as is an outfielder who can also split time at first base. Assuming Matt Adams continues to struggle against left-handed pitching, a cushion would be nice.

H. RUMPH JR/Associated Press

Ryan Doumit isn’t a name that comes to mind without the help of Google. True, Doumit is 33 years old and hit .197 with Atlanta last season. His production tailed off after he was traded from Minnesota in December 2013.

The switch-hitter is worthy of a look by Mozeliak. The most intriguing aspect about Doumit is his ability to hit left-handed pitching. In 2013, he hit .290 with a .346 on-base percentage. In 2012, his totals were lower (.247/.287/.403) but still decent.

Another important factor is versatility. The Cardinals need a super utility man to log innings at multiple positions. Doumit has played first base, catcher and the outfield.

Doumit won’t seek big dollars, but a fresh start to a career that began 10 years ago. 

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Another bargain for Mozeliak would be lefty Zach Duke, who resurrected his career with Milwaukee last season.

A journeyman having been with four teams over the last four seasons, Duke carved a 5-1 record with a 2.45 ERA in 74 appearances for Ron Roenicke. Duke held left-handed hitters to a .198 mark with a .267 on-base percentage. He also fared well against righties, holding them to a .242 mark.

Duke’s ground-ball rate (57.7 percent) was the highest of his career, according to FanGraphs.

The Cardinals could desperately use another reliever from the left side to accompany a shaky group of Kevin Siegrist, Randy Choate and Sam Freeman. Siegrist had a rough season and was slowed by injury, Choate self-destructed in the postseason and Freeman is still developing. 

Duke is coming off a one-year, $850,000 deal with the Brewers. He will be rewarded with his next contract and deservedly so. The Cardinals are more than capable of meeting Duke’s needs. It would be a win-win for both sides.

The importance of keeping Yadier Molina healthy in 2015 is priority.

Molina missed seven weeks last season with a torn thumb ligament that required surgery. Without the best catcher in the world, the Cardinals kept afloat…barely.

Molina, who won his seventh consecutive Gold Glove as the best defensive player at his position, is the heart and soul of this team. His ability to manage games, the pitching staff and gun down would-be base stealers is second to none.

However, Molina isn’t getting any younger. He will turn 33 next season. His health is beginning to betray him. That’s inevitable.

The Cardinals could use a more reliable backup than Tony Cruz or A.J. Pierzynski.

TONY AVELAR/Associated Press

Perhaps Geovany Soto will draw interest from Mozeliak.

Soto, who spent last season with Texas and Oakland, is a free agent in a small pool of talent. He’s known for his defense, while having spurts of pop at the plate over his career. Soto posted a caught-stealing rate of 43.5 percent in 24 games last season. By comparison, Cruz threw out six of 24 stealers, and runners were 50-of-61 off Pierzynski.

Obviously, there’s always the X-factor to think about. The Cardinals would benefit from inking cheap talent (see: Pat Neshek, circa 2014). But Mozeliak could also go all in and trade for a power hitter.

The last month has turned the Cardinals' offseason plans upside down. The death of rookie outfielder Oscar Taveras has forced Mozeliak to shuffle his cards and reorganize his needs.