{"id":148942,"date":"2026-02-04T17:06:34","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T17:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=148942"},"modified":"2026-02-04T17:06:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T17:06:34","slug":"cardinals-eye-new-outfielder-after-major-roster-shakeup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=148942","title":{"rendered":"Cardinals Eye New Outfielder After Major Roster Shakeup"},"content":{"rendered":"

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IMAGE: Imagn Images<\/div>\n
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The Cardinals have spent much of this offseason in teardown mode, moving veterans off the big league roster as they lean fully into a rebuild. With the Brendan Donovan trade now in the rearview mirror, the bulk of the heavy lifting appears done on the sell side.<\/p>\n

But that doesn\u2019t mean St. Louis is closing up shop just yet.<\/p>\n

President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom made it clear during a press conference that the team is still looking to add to its outfield-whether that\u2019s through free agency or a trade.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t the first time Bloom has mentioned bolstering the outfield. He previously expressed interest in adding a right-handed bat before the holidays.<\/p>\n

That was six weeks ago, and a lot has changed since then. Several potential fits-Austin Hays, Harrison Bader, Rob Refsnyder, Willi Castro, and Jorge Mateo-have already signed elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Hays, in particular, was a name the Cardinals had some level of interest in before he landed with the White Sox.<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, the Cardinals did bring in Nelson Velazquez on a minor league deal. He\u2019s a righty bat who can play the outfield, offering some depth, but it\u2019s clear the front office is still eyeing more established options.<\/p>\n

While Bloom didn\u2019t specifically reiterate the right-handed preference this time around, it\u2019s not hard to connect the dots. The current outfield mix leans heavily left-handed, with Lars Nootbaar, Victor Scott II, and Nathan Church all swinging from that side.<\/p>\n

Jordan Walker is the lone right-handed regular in the group, while utility types like Thomas Saggese and Jose Fermin can also hit from the right side-but neither is a proven outfield presence.<\/p>\n

At this point in the offseason, the pickings are slim. If the Cardinals are still targeting a right-handed hitter, the remaining free agent pool includes names like Miguel Andujar, Austin Slater, and a couple of familiar faces in Randal Grichuk and Tommy Pham. None of those options are game-changers, but they could offer short-term value and a veteran presence to a young clubhouse.<\/p>\n

Trade routes are tougher to project, especially with so many teams having already addressed their outfield needs. And given the Cardinals\u2019 current payroll approach, it\u2019s unlikely they\u2019ll take on a significant veteran contract-so don\u2019t expect a splashy move for someone like Nick Castellanos.<\/p>\n

Still, there are some intriguing names buried on other teams\u2019 depth charts. The Rays\u2019 Jonny DeLuca, the Blue Jays\u2019 Jonatan Clase, the Phillies\u2019 Johan Rojas, and the Royals\u2019 Drew Waters all fit the mold of controllable, athletic outfielders who might be available under the right circumstances.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s another layer to this outfield picture that could complicate things further. Lars Nootbaar underwent offseason surgery to remove bone spurs from both heels.<\/p>\n

While the team hasn\u2019t ruled him out for Opening Day, it\u2019s not a lock he\u2019ll be ready. That alone could accelerate the need for another outfield addition.<\/p>\n

Nootbaar\u2019s situation is also worth watching for longer-term reasons. He\u2019s under team control for two more seasons-same as Donovan was before his trade-and has drawn interest from other clubs in recent months.<\/p>\n

If he gets off to a hot start in 2026, his value could spike heading into the trade deadline. But there\u2019s always the flip side: another injury setback or a slow return from surgery could hurt his trade stock altogether.<\/p>\n

For now, the Cardinals are in a bit of a holding pattern-rebuild in motion, payroll trimmed, farm system replenished, but still a few moves away from having a fully rounded roster. Adding a right-handed outfielder isn\u2019t going to change the franchise\u2019s trajectory overnight, but it could provide some much-needed balance and help bridge the gap to whatever comes next in St. Louis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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