St. Louis Cardinals incumbent third baseman Jedd Gyorko’s power has diminished each of the last three seasons and it may be time to find a replacement, opines Ben Frederickson of the St. Louis Post Dispatch. It promises to be an important subject for the organization over the offseason.
Gyorko has provided valuable versatility for the Cards, seeing time at all four infield positions the last three years. His OBP has risen each year in St. Louis (.306 to .341 to .346), but his power output has gone the other way (.253 ISO to .200 to .154). On the whole, Gyorko’s proven a good gamble since his somewhat-surprising acquisition from the Padres in 2015 – and though he’s not known as a defensive stalwart, defensive metrics are less certain, crediting Gyorko with 24 DRS and 4.9 UZR at third base since 2016. Contractually, he’s guaranteed one more season at $13MM before a team option in 2020.
Finding a player that complements Gyorko’s skill set may be the judicious solution in the short term. The Cardinals front office is said to be “on the edge of giddy” about three third base prospects in their system who could be ready by 2020: Elehuris Montero, Nolan Gorman, and Malcom Nunez.
Gorman was listed as the Cardinals 6th ranked prospect by Baseball America, but the 20-year-old Montero will likely reach the big leagues before Gorman or Cuban-born Nunez, who is only seventeen years old. Montero tore through the Midwest League in 2018, hitting .322/.381/.529. After 24 games in High-A with the Palm Beach Cardinals, the 19-year-old could reach AA sooner rather than later.
For next season, Gyorko’s role is not likely to change a whole lot – save for possibly in volume. Matt Carpenter started 74 games at third this year, but the Cardinals seem to prefer him on the right side. Top catching prospect Carson Kelly could be an option in short stints, as he played the position in 2013. He hit .269/.378/.395 in AAA and is ostensibly blocked behind the plate by Yadier Molina – but that feels more like a plan D than a plan A.
This year’s free agent class does provide a few palatable options. Bringing home World Series hero David Freese for a season would be a fun retro choice. Mike Moustakas’ name has been thrown out there as a potential stopgap solution as well. Then there are the big names – Josh Donaldson and Manny Machado. It’s unclear if the Cardinals are ready to commit the years and dollars to snag one of the elites, but regardless of the path they choose – they have options.
Check out the 2018-19 MLB Free Agent Tracker for a full list of upcoming free agents.
Machado!!
Machado has made it clear that he is only interested in playing shortstop. Besides, St. Louis is not likely a city he’d choose to play in. He trends more as a bright lights, big city kind of guy.
He’s said he’d play third in the right circumstance, but you’re right about St Louis not being a team he’d choose.
There’s no reason they couldn’t play Machado at SS and DeJong at 3B. It’s probably a better defensive alignment, anyway.
Maybe. Machado is actually a much better third baseman than he is a SS.
How’s DeJong at third?
You wish.
J Martinez, Luke Weaver, Gyorko, and Hicks, O’Niell, for Paul Goldschmidt.
No one would ever trade that much off the 25 man roster for one player, nor would any one ever trade a player worth that much from the 25 man roster and not be looking for prospects and more controllable pieces.
Mirrored comment.
I’d go along wit the trade for Goldschmidt. However, even though he is a true Cardinal and bleeds Cardinal red, I’d think Matt Carpenter should be traded while he still has some value left at his age. Too many strikeouts for a leadoff hitter. Plus, he’s not the contact hitter he once was since he started swinging for the fences.
I could see trading Carpenter. I wouldn’t be too keen on trading our best player (albeit arguably) but I like the idea of “trading high and rebuilding” over languishing just outside the playoffs again and again.
how to destroy two teams with one trade
Moustakas would be a good fit. Left handed bat in the middle of the order, which was lacking. Gold glove in the infield to improve the infield defense which is needed. Cheaper one or two year deal that wouldn’t block younger players like the Dexter Fowler deal did.
Moose is a good defensive 3B but he’s never won a GG
No he hasn’t, but he’s a gold glove caliber defender
This is not true
only gold moose has is plenty of sombreros
I would be surprised if Moose settled for a one-year deal this offseason since he did the same last offseason.
He didnt want to settle for a one year deal this last off season either, but he had to. The market will dictate that.
You are overly enthralled with Moustakas’s defense when it isn’t warranted. You keep saying “Gold Glove” despite him never winning one. He has a weight issue and knee problems. He doesn’t get on base at a decent clip. He hit for even less power this season despite playing a third of his season with the Brewers. There was a reason he had to settle for going back to KC on a cheap 1 year contract.
Ok he’s a okish defender that isn’t an upgrade over Gyorko which is my main point.
If I’m Mo, I’d look to bring Donaldson in on a two year deal with an option for the third. That would allow Gyorko to be moved to a super-utility role and Donaldson would serve as a nice stopgap for Gorman. Montero has a big bat but I’ve heard his defense isn’t good and could be a first baseman in the bigs. Nunez is far away and it’s hard to draw conslusions on DSL stats. If he years up the Midwest or Appy league, I’ll keep my eye open
Donaldson will get more of a 4 year deal paying him in the $15 million a year range.
Donaldson currently gets 23M from arb, doubt that’s looking to go down. On a short deal you’re probably talking 25+
That’s laughable. Any team paying him that much for (especially) that long is doomed to failure.
Nah. Carlos Martinez, Jordan Hicks, Luke Weaver, and J Martinez for Nolan Arenado. They what young hard throwing arms in Colorado and won’t be able to extend Arenado.
And why would they give multiple years of control for 3 SPs for 1 year of arenado?
2 SP. Hicks can throw but has no control. Cards have so much depth when it comes to pitching. Cards Like to trade and extend contracts. Not saying it will happen but wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Hicks control problems started later in the season! What do you really expect when he is as young as he is, was used as much as he was and also had never thrown near as many innings as he had to this year! I just think that we forget how young the kid is!
Colorado would never trade a star player after making the playoffs…the only real shot at anybody for the cardinals is Donaldson and hope he works out for at least a few years…meaning the cardinals will be the team to give him that extra year…5 years or 6…and pay him close to 100 million…machado or Harper will never sign to St. Louis…price and Hayward have proved that…Cardinals will have to make a trade…to bad for some reason they chose Ozuna over Yelich
They didn’t choose, Marlins wanted to trade ozuna first and the price for yelich was more than cards wanted to give… from were heard in the Lou
Cards did inquire on Yelich but was told he was not being moved. Why they knowingly trade for somebody with a bum shoulder, I’m still scratching my head!!!!
Disagree with this. Moustakas and Freese would not be much of improvement over Gyorko defensively and I think that’s something the cardinals are focusing on more over offense when they could just keep Carpenter there.
Donaldson and Machado would be that type of defense and offense they’d be looking for but I guess whatever the Phillies and Yankees throw at these players probably would be out of the cards comfort range.
Moustakas hit .251 28hr 95rbi and is left handed with a gold glove. All around much improvement for third base. Carp can play third but isn’t a plus defender. The biggest weakness for st Louis was defense.
Moustakas was worth 2.4 WAR in 635 plate appearances. Gyorko was worth 1.4 WAR in 402 plate appearances. Moose isn’t a huge upgrade.
Seems to be a huge upgrade in availability alone.
He’s a huge upgrade defensively at the least
No, he’s not. He may be a marginal defensive upgrade, but Gyorko is already an above-average offensive and defensive 3B who’s already under contract at a reasonable rate.
Dude, he doesn’t have Gold Glove.
Moustakas hit .251 28hr 95rbi and is left handed with a gold glove. All around much improvement over gyorko. Carp can play third but isn’t a plus defender. The biggest weakness for st Louis was defense.
To My knowledge (and baseball reference doesn’t mention it either) Moustakas has NEVER won a gold glove. Please stop spreading fake news. Repeating it over and over doesn’t make it true.
No he hasn’t. My apologies to the over sensitive. But he is a gold glove caliber defender and point is he would help a poor defensive infield
No he hasn’t which I have stated. My apologies to the over sensitive. Point is he is a gold glove caliber defender which would improve a poor defensive infield
Dude, he doesn’t have a Gold Glove.
No he hasn’t which I’ve stated. He’s a gold glove caliber defender. Not saying he’s won one. Saying he’s on that level as a defender
Gold gloves have nothing to do with ability, okay? Rafael Palmeiro once won a gold glove in a season in which he played 13 games in the field.
and Derek Jeter won like 47 of em
Both DeJong and Wong are elite defensively and Carpenter had a +5 DRS at third. It’s not a bad defensive infield. The team had a lot of errors, but scored very well in defensive metrics due to DeJong, Wong and Bader all being elite and up the middle
Cards need to try to move Gyorko and get out of that 13 MM. Try to get either 3rd basement or SS(move Dejong to 3rd) by free agency or trade market. Use Wisdom & yairo munoz as your infield bench players for 2019.
They’ll only pay Gyorko $8 mil as the Padres are on the hook for $5 mil of his 2019 salary.
We shoul all agree w2ith what your saying becaus Wisdom although not great it a nice job on de3fense and offense as well. And je
Why? It would cost at least as much to get a replacement of his caliber or better on the open market.
Gyorko is not a starter he is a sub player with Wisdom or even Munoz you can get the same caliber player(exclude 2013 when he did hit 30 HRs)for quarter of cost.didn’t know SD was paying 5MM of his contract so little easy to have his salary on the books but would rather still get the young guys a chance.
I don’t think they should get rid of him. He’s at worst a power bench bat that can play the corners and some second base.
Gryko has 5 million coming from San Diego but moose 28 abd 95 would look good then leleave carp at first base
dodgers would be wise to pick up freese’s option for next year…
I think the Cards should sign Escobar and trade Gyorko for relief help and/or a lefthanded outfielder (if necessary include Gyorko in a package with J. Martinez, Kelly or a young pitcher – Weaver?).
Escobar, no. He’s a late defensive replacement at best.
The Cardinals don’t need salary relief, and they’re certainly not going to significantly downgrade their team in order to get it! They’ve got Wainwright’s salary coming off the books, and only the bullpen really needs to be upgraded, maybe a left-handed bench bat as well.
Freeses option will be picked up for sure. He was what put the dodgers over the top vs LHP
The Cardinals should just throw some unknown from their AAA team at 3rd and watch him hit 30-40 homeruns next year, Seems to be a reoccurring theme, so why not.
That will happen, they’ll give him a large pre-arb deal, and then he’ll immediately regress the season after.
And then they’ll trade him
Patrick Wisdom (unmentioned in this post), very well might.
What’s wrong with Gyorko at 3B? He’s still both an above-average offensive and defensive player still under contract at a reasonable salary.
It would be more troublesome trying to both trade him and get an upgrade to replace him than it’s worth. Freese is a downgrade, Moustakas is barely an upgrade if that, and if they can’t sign Donaldson or Machado then what?
Gyorko and cash for 1/2 year of Jon Jay. That’s typical AJ Preller deal.
Marwin Gonzalez!!!
I’d prefer they land Donaldson if he’d do a 3 year deal with a 4th option. That would keep him on the roster until 2021, potentially 2022. Carpenter is under control through 2020. This gives them extra insurance if those three prospects don’t pan out, or flexibility if one or two of them do. And I’d offer Gyroko for basically anything to get any type of salary relief to help.
If Donaldson is going to get a 4 year deal or better somewhere, then Moose on a 1 or 2 year deal would fit the bill. I didn’t want him last year due to the supposed price tag and draft pick comp, this year, I imagine his market will be better and we could maybe get him for 1/12 or 2/20. Which I would be fine with and keep Gyroko as a platoon swap at second and third and support all around.
If none of that, then maybe Marwin can be of some assistance on the right deal.
Machado, Donaldson…that’s not happening, and the team shouldn’t go after either. Neither are prudent or would make much sense.
I meant Harper not Donaldson in that last paragraph
As usual, I’m going to be extremely disappointed during the winter trade and free agent signing periods, I’m sure. There is absolutely no reason why the Cardinals couldn’t financially afford either Manny Machado, Or Bryce Harper. There is no reason they couldn’t go after Mike Trout for that matter! They have the funds and resources to do it. However, I figure if Trout left LA, it would be to the Yankees. They can afford All Star Quality pitchers too. Veteran pitchers. But, the wrong General is still running the show. Mozeliak is incapable of signing or trading for any of the above talent. 90% of the fans and other teams see that fact. Why can’t the DeWitts see it. My final thought is this. You can bet your bottom dollar Milwaukee will sign at least one of the above. Kudos to their Front office and ownership. Milwaukee’s intent is to lead the division for years to come and make not just one but numerous World Series.
Trout? Wow. Well, I guess if you’re going to dream, dream big.
how to destroy two teams with one trade.LOL
Sign Moose for 3 years
Cards aren’t that far from a postseason berth for 2019 if they keep Gyorko.
Certain guys didn’t hit this year. They need bounce back seasons (looking at you Dexter Fowler). It would be nice to grab a bat this offseason. They’ll need to make a deal or two to make it happen.
But perhaps the place to improve is bullpen. They need a stronger pen top to bottom.
Eduardo Escobar is the guy.
Switch hitting consistent and trending up. Only 30. Makes good contact and decent power. And can move around if need be.
Then go as far as you have to for Harper. But if it is crazy or he just doesn’t want to come then go to short term deal for CArGo.
A combination Of CarGo O’Neill and an untraceable Fowler should be a good combo for backup outfielders for RF
Adding a switch hitter plus a lefty with power will balance the lineup out
Finding another vet RP is smart too but you could trade gyroko and Jmart and some young pitching to find a couple solid pieces.