By adding a bat in the middle of the order and fortifying their pitching staff, the Cardinals enter spring training on a mission to make a change. During the offseason, the Cardinals said goodbye to some fan favorites, but also welcomed several players with promising talent.

The Cardinals traded outfielder Randal Grichuk, shortstop Aledmys Diaz and lastly outfielder Stephen Piscotty. While these moves broke the hearts of many fans, they did add promising depth, talent and flexibility to both the minor and major league clubs.

By far the biggest move of the offseason was the addition of Marcell Ozuna, a power-hitting outfielder, who slugged 37 home runs in 2017. With outfielder Tommy Pham and shortstop Paul DeJong, combined with the veterans like catcher Yadier Molina and first baseman Matt Carpenter, Ozuna will have plenty of support in the lineup.

For the past couple campaigns, the Cardinals have lacked a superstar.

“As you watch teams that have sustained success, there’s typically a presence in the middle of that lineup. So that has been a focus of this club. To put a couple of players or a player in that spot is a priority,” said manager Mike Matheny.

The Cardinals have also made some sneaky additions to the club. Early in the offseason, the Cardinals signed right-handed pitcher Miles Mikolas, who dominated in Japan baseball after a rough stint in the majors in 2014.

“Our scouts have watched him as he refined his repertoire, improved his velocity and became one of the most effective pitchers in Japan the last couple seasons,” said general manager Michael Girsch.

The Cardinals were expected to link a bonafide closer this offseason; however, they chose to add multiple, low-cost pitchers through free agency and trade.

The additions include Bud Norris, Luke Gregerson, Dominic Leone, Conner Greene and Jason Motte—yes, the Jason Motte who closed out the 2011 World Series!

Many expect Luke Gregerson, who was drafted in 2006 by the Cardinals, to start the season as the closer. While this will most likely be the case, the role could change hands at any time. This is especially possible since flame-throwing rookie Alex Reyes is set to make his return from Tommy John surgery.

The Cardinals have made many exciting additions to the club, but they will have to outlast their rivals, the Chicago Cubs, who have a plethora of young and established talent. Also, the Milwaukee Brewers were very active this offseason, and are expected to compete for the top spot in the Central Division. With spring training just beginning, the Cardinals need to fulfill some huge expectations. The only question left to ask—will they deliver?

Sources
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinals-reel- in-ozuna- maintain-appetite-for-more- moves/article_03867761-2e34- 5d22-991a- d3c9a4d21a53.html
https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/cardinals-sign- miles-mikolas- to-2- year-deal/c- 262884178
http://www.espn.com/mlb/team/roster/_/name/stl/st-louis- cardinals
https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/cardinals-believe- in-luke- gregerson-as- closer/c-264676074
https://mlb.com