After the departure of John Mozaliek, new President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom has the St. Louis Cardinals committed to a rebuild. While it’s disheartening to see from a once well-run organization, fans understand that it’s the direction that the team needs to go in to try and get back to what the birds on the bat represent. Ever since Bloom stepped in, he’s been straightforward with what the Cardinals plan to do and the path they need to go in.
Bloom has been aggressive from the beginning, trading the likes of Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras and Nolan Arenado to try and replenish the farm system while also making small moves in free agency like signing Dustin May and getting relief help. There’s still possibly more to do when it comes to sending out players, including gauging the interest of their most prized trade piece, Brendan Donovan. St. Louis may have more to do in the free agent market as well.
According to Bloom’s comments over the course of the offseason, the Cardinals are actively looking for a right-handed outfield bat. There are still plenty of options out there that fit the bill for what Bloom is looking for. And while a right-handed bat is the main focus, Bloom hasn’t ruled out adding another starter to a rotation full of options. There are still a couple of things on the Cardinals’ wishlist before spring training starts, and there might be a few suitors that the Cardinals have expressed interest in on the free agent side of things.
Reported Names the Cardinals Have Expressed Interest In
Miguel Andujar
John Heyman of The New York Post has come out with several teams of interest when it comes to infielder/outfielder Miguel Andujar, and the Cardinals have been one of the teams listed. He also lists the Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, Athletics, San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds as other suitors for Andujar’s services, among others. With so many teams in the mix, it might be a little tougher to sign him but he might be one of the top choices this offseason for the Cardinals.
Andujar is coming off his best season since his rookie year in 2018. He split 94 games and 341 plate appearances between the Athletics and Reds last season, posting a .318 average with a .352 OBP, .470 SLG, and a .822 OPS with 10 home runs and 44 RBI. He did more of his damage when he got traded to the Reds at the deadline, making for a little more pricier payday given the way he ended 2025. Andujar knows how to put the ball in play with limited strikeouts and walks. In his career, he’s hit better against lefties than righties, but last season he held his own against righties too, posting a .290 average.
He also brings some versatility to the field as he played left field, right field, third base, and first base in 2025 as well as starting 22 games as a DH. While not the best fielder, that versatility is what teams value in certain situations. That would give the Cardinals great options as each of those positions is not set in stone each and every game, giving Andujar some playing time.
Griffin Canning
While the Cardinals have acquired starting pitching via free agency and trade, Bloom didn’t rule out another addition in the rotation. The Cardinals certainly have options on the mound but there will be several competitions for starting roles. They also don’t have much certainty in any of those young arms, and that’s where Griffin Canning will come in. He would bring a veteran presence to the mound, something they could use after the Gray trade to help the young arms out.
Canning isn’t a savior but he’s coming off the best year of his career. In 16 starts with the New York Mets last season, he posted a 3.77 ERA. His ground ball rate in 2025 is also ideal for a Cardinals club that has been known for finding arms that fit that bill. Canning’s season came to a close earlier than he would have liked as he suffered a torn Achilles tendon. That’s the bad news, but the good news is that he will likely be looking for a one-year deal and the Cardinals would be willing to pay whatever reasonable amount that one-year deal has to offer.
The Mets were among teams with interest in Canning but with the trade of Freddy Perlata, it’s unclear how much interest they have left given their current rotation. If he were to sign with the Cardinals, he’d have a much clearer path to the rotation with a chance to rebound from his injury without as much pressure. The Chicago White Sox have reported interest as well, which would also be a fit like he would with the Cardinals. Canning is expected to be ready around Opening Day and given the options that the Cardinals have, they can afford to wait if he misses just a little time to begin the season.
Austin Hays
The latest Cardinals report coming from Heyman is the club’s expressed interest in outfielder Austin Hays. He might be the most likely candidate of the three. Hays is most likely to command a cheap one-year deal, enticing the Cardinals more as they enter their rebuild. He can be a platoon corner outfield piece that specializes in hitting left-handed pitching. In 2025, he batted .319 with a .494 OPS and has a career .282 average against lefties.
He hasn’t done so well against righties, but the one thing he had going for him in that department last season was that he hit 13 home runs against them as opposed to two against lefties. It is worth noting as well that he had 289 at-bats against righties as opposed to just 91 against southpaws. Hays has played more in left field over the past couple of seasons and has made more than a handful of appearances in the DH spot. He wouldn’t be the most exciting player of all the options out there, but taking a flyer on Hays in the position that the Cardinals are in wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.
Main Image: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
