Report: Cardinals pursuing left-handed-hitting outfielder
In an attempt to compete with the reigning World Series champion Chicago Cubs atop the National League Central division, the St. Louis Cardinals splurged on outfielder Dexter Fowler and reliever Brett Cecil earlier this offseason, but they may be interested in doing some more shopping.
General manager John Mozeliak and the Cardinals are pursuing a left-handed-hitting outfielder, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Dispatch.
Goold provided a list of potential options for Mozeliak and Co., which included Michael Saunders - who reportedly signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday - Brandon Moss, Sam Fuld, Gregor Blanco, Chris Coghlan, and Alejandro De Aza.
Of the options listed by Goold, Moss - who spent 2016 with the Cardinals - seems like the most appealing of the group, while Fuld, Blanco, Coghlan, and De Aza would give the team additional flexibility at a presumably cheaper price than Moss.
PLAYER | PA | HR | RBI | OPS | DRS* | '16 SALARY |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brandon Moss | 464 | 28 | 67 | .784 | 3 | $8.25M |
Sam Fuld | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | $1.925M |
Gregor Blanco | 274 | 1 | 18 | .620 | -7 | $3.9M |
Chris Coghlan | 300 | 6 | 30 | .608 | 3 | $4.8M |
Alejandro De Aza | 267 | 6 | 25 | .618 | 2 | $5.75M |
*Outfield only |
If the season began today, Mike Matheny's lineup would only contain one outfielder with the ability to bat left-handed, that being the switch-hitting Fowler.
The Cardinals hit just .246 from the left side last season, good for 12th in the NL, and their only left-handed-hitting outfielder from last season, Jeremy Hazelbaker, was selected off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks this past November.
St. Louis' projected outfield to begin the year would include Fowler, and the right-handed hitting Stephen Piscotty, Randal Grichuk, and Tommy Pham.