A apparently odd man out in the Cards’ OF impasse is O’Neill.
Trade news: Louis head coach have point out the back born from his rivals.
Tennessee’s Nashville At MLB’s Winter Meetings on Monday, Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak disclosed that the team is still making roster adjustments and will almost certainly be involved in trade activities in the upcoming days.
That deal, though, probably isn’t what Cardinals fans have been waiting for, and it probably won’t be enough to turn St. Louis back into a serious contender for the World Series in 2024.
Rather than hoping to be involved in a trade for a top-tier, starting pitcher like Corbin Burnes, Tyler Glasnow, or Dylan Cease, Mozeliak informed reporters that his team is more likely to deal two-time Gold Glove outfielder Tyler O’Neill.
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In November and again on Monday, Mozeliak stated during the MLB General Managers Meetings that he saw Jordan Walker, Tommy Edman, and Lars Nootbaar as the Cardinals’ starting outfield, with Dylan Carlson as the fourth option. O’Neill won’t have enough room because of this, so a trade will be required.
From a room at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, Mozeliak stated, “We feel like getting [O’Neill] everyday at-bats is going to be really difficult, given our outfield and with the way we predict it will line up.” We could choose to ignore it and not mention his name when examining the trading market, but it’s getting to the point where it’s becoming very evident.
It’s probably what’s best for everyone in the end. Ultimately, it makes sense if we can do something because, well, he considers himself to be a regular player. And, to be very honest, so do we, but it will be difficult to find those at-bats given who else we have.
After an unexpected 71-91 season in 2023, the Cardinals reloaded the pitching staff with a rash of signings, including right-handers Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson, early in the free agency process. In a competitive National League that includes the Phillies, Dodgers, Braves, D-backs, Marlins, and Cubs, those additions probably won’t make the Cardinals a favorite to challenge for the World Series, even though they expect to provide some much-needed toughness and endurance to the pitching staff.
For a Cardinals team looking to bounce back, Cease, Glasnow, or Burnes would probably do that, but Mozeliak stated the team is more likely to start the season with the three new players in place of incumbents Miles Mikolas and Steven Matz.
“We feel pretty good about where our rotation is right now,” Mozeliak said, adding that legendary player Yadier Molina will have some form of advising role with the team in 2024. “We do believe that right now, if at all feasible, using money to support the bullpen might be more crucial. However, I don’t want to place the company or myself in a difficult situation because a reasonable opportunity might present itself.
Due to his good seven-start performance in the latter part of the season and his relatively inexpensive starting pitcher salary ($24 million over the next two years), Matz has been linked to trade negotiations. According to Mozeliak, Matz has altered his offseason exercise regimen in an effort to become more durable for 2024. Due to injuries, the left-hander has only made 27 starts in the past two seasons.
According to reports, Steven is altering his spring preparations slightly and is having a pleasant, typical offseason. Therefore, perhaps those adjustments enable him to take the ball more frequently, stated Mozeliak. But ultimately, you still have to make a pitch, right? However, we’re hoping he can be among our five starters.
Prior to the mid-November deadline, the Cardinals discussed whether to non-tender O’Neill or hold onto him in the hopes of trading the 28-year-old for an asset.
When O’Neill displayed his uncommon combination of speed, power, and defensive prowess in 2021, the Cardinals were extremely hopeful that they had discovered a future star in left field. With 34 home runs, 80 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 148, he batted.286. But he only played in 96 games in 2022 (.228 with a 99 OPS+) due to shoulder and hamstring injuries, and he only played in 72 games in 2023 (.231 with a 94 OPS+) due to additional injury concerns.
Mozeliak acknowledged that dealing a player with O’Neill’s caliber could be hazardous, particularly considering that the Cards had to watch in dismay as Randy Arozarena and Adolis García prospered after departing the Redbirds through trades.
“Yes, it’s likely that [O’Neill] will receive MVP votes,” smirkingly stated Mozeliak. “You’re probably not trying if you don’t make mistakes [in trading], according to a proverb. Would we like to have hit 1.000 [on trades]? Of course, but mistakes are a part of being human.
