Corey Noles, staff writer for The Daily Statesman and Editor of The North Stoddard Countian, is the author of a regular baseball/St. Louis Cardinals column and also uses his blog to sound off on various happenings in sports. He also operates a weekly baseball mailbag column.

Moves the St. Louis Cardinals Must Try to Pull Off at the 2013 MLB Winter Meetings

Posted Wednesday, December 4, 2013, at 9:46 PM

By COREY NOLES

The 2013 St. Louis Cardinals were very close to winning their twelfth world championship, but in the end fell two games short.

The front office will have the opportunity to put a couple of finishing touches on the roster for the coming season when they meet up in Orlando, Florida next week for the 2013 Major League Baseball Winter Meetings.

The meetings are often a hotspot of postseason trade and free agent activity. The Cardinals, on the other hand, have likely made their biggest splashes in the market, but there are still a couple of minor needs that could be addressed.

General manager John Mozeliak has already addressed the team's most glaring need: a new shortstop. The acquisition of Jhonny Peralta is a significant addition at the position and could be a difference maker for the club as they move toward 2014.

The trade of local product David Freese to the Los Angeles Angels is also a clear win for the Cardinals. To get a solid centerfielder in Peter Bourjos and a viable prospect in Randal Grichuk in exchange for Freese and Fernando Salas was a good pickup for the Cardinals.

While the team is in all likelihood nearly finished, there should still be a couple of minor acquisitions in their future.

Bolster the bench

This particular issue is almost as important as the need for a shortstop.

Throughout the 2013 postseason, bench depth was a serious issue for the Cardinals. Sure, the Shane Robinson home run hit against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS will always be fondly remembered, but the fact remains that Robinson should not have been the Cardinals best option off of the bench.

For a team as consistently competitive as the Cardinals to have to turn to a bench late in October games that consists of Robinson, Adron Chambers and Daniel Descalso is simply not good enough.

Of course, there were factors at play that put the Cardinals into that position (most specifically the demise of the Ty Wiggington experiment), however that doesn't negate the need for improvement.

This should be high atop Mozeliak's shopping list during the Winter Meetings this year. At this point, it appears to be the most obvious remaining need on the roster.

The question remains whether to make a minor trade or to look via free agency and, in the end, I would expect them to address this need via free agency if they don't find a legitimate internal solution.

Mozeliak managed to find the team a shortstop and centerfielder without tapping into the pitching surplus, so I don't expect him to do it for a position player who will start once a week.

Right-handed hitting infielder

St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz wrote on Wednesday of Mozeliak's desire to acquire a right-handed hitting infielder.

Miklasz gave several examples of possible candidates, but was also clear he expected this to be an issue addressed via free agency.

Regardless of how they approach it, there's no doubt it should be addressed before the coming season.

The Cardinals were killed by left-handed pitching in 2013 and held to only a .238 batting average while they hit right-handed pitching for a .280 average. They need another infielder who can hit left-handed pitching given the current lefty-heavy infield lineup they have constructed.

The Cardinals also batted better from the left side of the plate in 2013, so for this player to be a reasonably consistent righty would be a bonus. The Cardinals hit .260 from the right side of the plate and .281 from the left in 2013.

This is another obvious area Mozeliak could stand to make some improvements.

While these needs may not be shiny, exciting upgrades and major signings, think of them as a tune-up on an already flashy car. The fact is, this team doesn't need the major upgrades.

I expect another move or two from the Cardinals front office, but no major moves coming any time soon.

Corey Noles is a Cardinals Writer and Columnist for The Daily Statesman. He is also a regular contributor to KSDK.com and Bleacher Report. Contact him at cnoles@dailystatesman.com or on Twitter @coreynoles.

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I think its reasonable that we can find a right handed infielder for the bench.

-- Posted by Jolly Dump on Thu, Dec 5, 2013, at 12:11 PM
Agreed we need another righty bat. A cheap choice would be a guy like a Jamey Carroll. But I would like a guy maybe like a Michael young. We should have plenty of lefty depth. With Matt Adams, oscar taveras, jon jay, and Danny descalso.

-- Posted by SportsMediaInformant on Thu, Dec 5, 2013, at 5:07 PM
I would sign Carlos Beltran if all he wants is a three-year contract and $48 million.

If the Royals emerge as a powerhouse with Beltran it could have an impact on the St. Louis market since both are located in the same state. The excitement surrounding a K.C. playoff run would be unprecedented.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Thu, Dec 5, 2013, at 7:54 PM
DW go home your.... You get the picture

-- Posted by Bunk on Thu, Dec 5, 2013, at 9:01 PM
Of course Dustin wants to grossly and irresponibly overpay for a guy who has the outfield defensive range of a very smooth baby turtle. After all the playoff runs the Cards have had that Dustin has had to suffer through, I don't think one Royals run would change much of anything and Beltran is not the piece that will put them over the top.

-- Posted by sideline starter on Thu, Dec 5, 2013, at 9:06 PM
Beltran would not put the Royals over the top. Just not enough talent there. And no matter how good the Royals be, the Cardinals will always be the king of Missouri. Im sure some Cardinals fan would cheer for them but I the attendance still wouldn't be up to par with other competitors.

-- Posted by Steve Frey on Thu, Dec 5, 2013, at 11:06 PM
Steve Frey

With this being said if the Royals make the playoffs does it not have some impact on the attendance in St. Louis?

$16 million a year for Beltran is not too much. Factor in what it will cost the Cardinals if Beltran plays in K.C. This issue is worth examining in a year the Cardinals have surplus of funds.

One has to wonder what a more experienced GM like Walt Jocketty would do with the money / fan support on the line and if the Cardinals might chase Kansas City GM Dayton Moore if he signs Beltran and the Royals win it all first.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Fri, Dec 6, 2013, at 12:36 AM
I personally think $16 million a year for a legend like Beltran in his final three seasons is a bargain.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Fri, Dec 6, 2013, at 12:40 AM
he's not a legend, he's a really good player. and the cardinals fan support won't waver depending on the Royals.

-- Posted by ThayerPops on Fri, Dec 6, 2013, at 12:51 AM
You realize that a statue could be placed in right field and catch as many balls as Beltran, right Dustin? I wouldn't pay anyone $16 million to have baseballs drop five to ten feet in front of him or behind him all season because he can't run. All of Beltran's value is in his bat which is why only AL teams are making a strong push for him. His defense negates a large chunk of the value his offense brings. He isn't worth $16 million now and definitely won't be in two more years as his body continues to decline.

-- Posted by sideline starter on Fri, Dec 6, 2013, at 1:25 AM
I think the Royals will win their division next season if they land a legend like Beltran.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Fri, Dec 6, 2013, at 2:25 AM
The Royals may very well win their division next year if they got Beltran at DH, the newly acquired Aoki in RF over Francouer, and are able to trade Billy Bulter for a starting pitcher( they could have used that get me over Doug Fister trade the Nationals got). But your daft if you think one or heck even 5 or 6 playoff runs in a row change anything for STL revenues if they are still winning 95 plus a year. There is no upside to this deal for us with Taveras in the wings and plenty of reasons for KC to try it. Jocketty is not better than Mozeliak so let it go.

-- Posted by Bunk on Fri, Dec 6, 2013, at 7:29 AM
The Cardinals are a regional fan base and draw from many states. Just look at the cars in the lots in and around the stadium.

Kansas City draws from Missouri, Kansas and? (Crickets, crickets)

A good Kansas City team will not affect the Cardinals attendance at all. A poor team would affect the Cardinals, not the Royals.

-- Posted by gianthook on Fri, Dec 6, 2013, at 12:09 PM
Beltran just got overpaid with a 3 yr/45 mill deal with the Yankees so we have all dodged the "Beltran leads the Royals in an uprising of Missouri residents baseball fandom" bullet. I know this alleviates all of our concerns.

-- Posted by sideline starter on Fri, Dec 6, 2013, at 9:45 PM
I think $15 million a year for Beltran is a steal.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Sat, Dec 7, 2013, at 1:10 AM
I may be wrong about this Dustin so please correct me if I am, but defense is still a component of baseball, right?

-- Posted by sideline starter on Sat, Dec 7, 2013, at 1:18 AM
Yes. That's why we should have traded our LF and put Beltran in left.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Sat, Dec 7, 2013, at 1:54 AM
Holliday's defense is by no means good but it was better than the garbage Beltran provided in right field this past season. He's also going into his age 34 season instead of his age 37 season, his knees aren't going, and his offense is much more consistent. Holliday signed his seven year contract with the Cardinals in 2010 and has had a WAR of 6.3, 4.8, 4.7, and 4.5 since then. Barring his production cratering suddenly, Holliday is well on his way to being one of the few players to play up to the level of the large contract he signed. Beltran's WAR over the past four years: 0.7, 4.3, 3.3, 2.0. The best year Beltran has had in the past four was about the same as the worst year Holliday has had. The Cards were able to utilize Beltran being an undervalued asset on the market after 2011 to get him at a slight discount and he is now being overpaid by the Yankees as his production continues to decline.

-- Posted by sideline starter on Sat, Dec 7, 2013, at 2:11 AM
I don't know Sideline, I'm wondering how the Cardinals are going to replace Beltran's offensive production, esp. in the postseason. I know we were all worried about the same thing when Pujols left, but that's when we signed Beltran. It's a lot to expect of Bourjois, Peralta, and an unproven Taveras. Where's the power going to come from next season? Adams is back to being a bench player, Holliday is too streaky, and Craig has a hard time staying healthy.

-- Posted by Preacher Man Fan on Sat, Dec 7, 2013, at 9:16 AM
Dustin, get this through your head: The Cardinals cannot trade Holliday when has a full no-trade clause. I have told you this a thousand times.

-- Posted by Jolly Dump on Sat, Dec 7, 2013, at 9:27 AM
Look if you don't want to believe in Oscar Taveras to be a hitter which is pretty much the only reason he is a top 3 prospect in ALL OF BASEBALL you can. But I will play this game for a sec. If the Cards want to hold off on using Taveras you can always shift Craig to RF and put Adams at first. Also LF is in no easier or harder than RF DW.

-- Posted by Bunk on Sat, Dec 7, 2013, at 9:57 AM
Bunk, how many times have we seen highly touted prospects that tore it up at AAA, then couldn't make it in the majors? Not saying that will happen with Taveras, and I'm certainly hoping it won't, but he is unproven at the major league level. He's going to have his shot next season, barring another injury, and I for one hope he has an MVP season.

-- Posted by Preacher Man Fan on Sat, Dec 7, 2013, at 10:09 AM
They have to have the opportunity to perform Preach. If Beltran is in RF than Taveras can neither boom or bust. You can't have it both ways

-- Posted by Bunk on Sat, Dec 7, 2013, at 10:35 AM
Taveras is going to get his shot, Bunk, and I really hope he can replace Beltran's offensive numbers. I'm still worried about who is going to provide the power in the lineup next season. Craig can hit for power if he can stay healthy but he has to have protection in the lineup. Adams can also hit for power, but it looks like its mostly going to come from the bench next season.

-- Posted by Preacher Man Fan on Sat, Dec 7, 2013, at 11:25 AM
You realize that Taveras is supposed to be the power right? It's about the same probability that Taveras breaks through next year as Beltran's bat hits the age wall. Protection for a hitter has never been proven to actually exist numbers wise anyway

-- Posted by Bunk on Sat, Dec 7, 2013, at 1:35 PM
Yes I know that Bunk, but he's unproven at the Major League level and that's not even debatable. As for your protection argument, it seems to me you're making an invalid argument from silence.

-- Posted by Preacher Man Fan on Sat, Dec 7, 2013, at 10:00 PM
No it's called lack of proof. You have to prove things are there to say they exist. It's not my job to prove protecting hitters doesn't matter.

-- Posted by Bunk on Sun, Dec 8, 2013, at 3:45 PM
Also when you ask where is the power and I tell you the plan is something like Craig/Adams/Taveras why are you saying unproven? I get that it hasn't happened but there is no proof that Beltran would have hit for power next year either. I don't know why everyone is afraid of rookies.

-- Posted by Bunk on Sun, Dec 8, 2013, at 3:47 PM

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