John Mozeliak. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Fans believed many a move would happen for the Cardinals over the offseason. Their lack of moves suggests moves may way until the season.
According to reporting from the 2023 Winter Warm-Up in St. Louis, many of the Cardinals’ attempts to land free agents were scoffed due to competition for the role. No offer was set in stone. The role would be met with competition in Spring Training.
Competition is something the Cardinals have openly gone into Spring Training with for several seasons. With so much young talent, it’s an apparent move to get the most out of their talent.
The threat of competition will motivate all season.
Katie J. Woo of The Athletic reported that John Mozeliak, president of baseball operations, said the team would evaluate some key players and allow them to show off who they will be this season and go from there.
Quoting Mozeliak, Woo reported, “The key for the St. Louis Cardinals as you think about 2023 is really going to be: Who are we? And what I mean by that is, what is Tyler O’Neill? What is Dylan Carlson? What are we going to get out of Jack Flaherty? And if these guys perform to the expectations that we believe they’re capable of, we think we’re going to be a very talented, competitive and compelling team to watch.”
O’Neill told reporters at the Winter Warm-up that while he still uses a heavy lifting routine, he’s implemented a dynamic warm-up and plyometrics to help stabilize the potential for injury. Carlson told media members he has been very intentional with his offseason workouts. Mozeliak said Flaherty has had a good offseason and is in a “good spot.”
Considering Mozeliak’s gambles, there will be some players to watch this spring and into the early part of the season. If Carlson, Flaherty, and O’Neill perform as fans have anticipated, and Jordan Walker breaks Spring Training with the Cardinals, there could be some players moved to bolster the roster for the season’s crunch time.
Let’s look at who probably will not make it through the 2023 season on the Cardinals roster.