With the St. Louis Cardinals missing the playoffs for the third year in a row, they look to an offseason full of tough decisions.

The Cardinals finished third in the division and in the wild card chase with a record of 88-74. While being 14 games above .500 is not a terrible record, the team has some changes that need to be made this offseason to push themselves over the top.

The Cardinals have  potential to be an amazing team in the future but need to make some big moves for some big names this offseason.

Manny Machado​​

Manny Machado will be a free agent this year, which is the perfect situation for the Cardinals. He fits our needs, which at the moment include a power hitting corner infielder, and can still be flexible enough to play the shortstop position if needed. The attitude he brings to the baseball field is matched by few and it is a key component to his success. If the Cardinals want him, they had better act fast after the postseason because many teams will be quick to offer him lots of money.

Bryce Harper​​​

Bryce Harper will also be a free agent this winter. He played for a struggling Nationals team who failed to make the playoffs last season, so everyone imagines he is on the lookout for a new destination. The demand for an outfielder may not be super high right now in St. Louis with young stars like Harrison Bader, Tyler O’Neill, Marcell Ozuna and Jose Martinez, but a guy like Bryce Harper definitely would help.

Daniel Murphy​​

Daniel Murphy is one of the most complete players. He plays great defense to go with his big bat. He hit .299 this past year. He is currently a Cub whose team just got knocked out of the playoffs, so he may be looking for a new destination. He is an unrestricted free agent who will more than likely receive a big payout this year.

Craig Kimbrel​​

Kimbrel is an established closer in the league, finishing with over 30 saves every year since 2011. A main focus point in the bullpen for the Cardinals is the closer position. Ever since Jason Motte’s departure, they have been struggling to find a long term closer. Kimbrel will be looking for a well deserved payout. If St. Louis would be willing to pay up, he could benefit them immensely.

Gio Gonzalez​

Gio Gonzalez is a very solid pitcher with a highly consistent past. His numbers have stayed pretty much the same throughout his career, being around the 10-15 win mark every year. The Cardinals need a consistent starter in their rotation, as the rotation in St. Louis has changed so much over the last few years. Adding a player like Gio Gonzalez to the team would help solidify the rotation.

The Cards have some tough decisions coming up in the offseason, and Cardinal fans are calling for a change. These players would bring much needed excitement and skill to the city and its fans.