Should the Cardinals Add An External Third Baseman?

The biggest question surrounding the Cardinals’ current position-player core centers on the third base position. In 2026, several players got notable run at the hot corner for St. Louis , but no one stood out. Those options leave varying levels of concern, from Nolan Gorman being a non-tender candidate, Blaze Jordan suffering a season-ending ankle injury , and Thomas Saggese having a hot September stretch before going cold at the plate in the season’s final weeks. Exciting players like Jesús Báez are knocking on the door in the farm system, yet he still needs more time to develop and likely won’t be on the major-league roster at the start of next year. So should the Cardinals go the same route they did last offseason by adding a third baseman from outside the organization? Should the Cardinals Add An External Third Baseman? Free Agent Options The most common mock for the Cardinals has been to sign Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm . Philadelphia will likely pass on offering him the qualifying offer , and Bohm will become a free agent. He is coming off his worst hitting season (87 OPS+) since 2021, and is also one of the league’s worst defenders. Bohm does some things well, like mashing lefties, making consistent contact, and stepping up with runners in scoring position, but his profile is somewhat similar to Saggese and Jordan. Those two internal options and 30-year-old Bohm will likely produce similarly, making him redundant. Other names on the open market are J.P. Crawford and former Cardinal Edmundo Sosa , and they bring similar concerns as bad defenders or low-ceiling offensive contributors. In February, St. Louis signed Ramón Urías to a one-year deal and, although he had an injury-riddled year, he was eventually DFA’d and released before the season ended. That outcome is definitely on the table if the Cardinals opt for one of these older players on a short-term contract. Going On the Trade Market Over the last several seasons, St. Louis has mostly traded away impact players, but finally being on the receiving end of acquiring one is possible. If the Cardinals don’t think the guys already in the organization are their third baseman of the future or don’t find the free-agent class tantalizing, making a buy-low trade seems within reason. Royce Lewis ’ name has been tossed around, as he’s the Twins’ version of Gorman to an extent, only for different reasons. The 27-year-old has consistently battled injuries, unable to sustain his promise as a former top MLB prospect. Since the start of 2025, Lewis has posted an OPS+ of 85, declining at the dish while often not healthy. Rumors are swirling that Minnesota could cut ties with Lewis, allowing St. Louis to pounce on a player with great bat speed who has been a dynamic hitter in spurts. Shooting bigger is calling for Gunnar Henderson , who has peaked as an MVP-caliber player but is coming off a down 2026. As the Orioles enter an organizational crossroads , acquiring Henderson would bring serious pop to the Cardinals’ lineup, although the price is likely still steep. A Big International Fish Once again aiming for someone who could make an immediate impact, St. Louis should also test international waters this winter. Japanese third baseman Teruaki Soto is expected to be posted this winter and will be one of the best hitters available. Soto has a career .851 OPS in the NPB and is coming off a season where he slashed .306/.383/.609 with 39 homers. He will command a deal that would be the largest in Cardinals history if he comes to the Gateway City. Large-market teams will vie for his services, with many not wanting to make the same mistake as when Munetaka Murakami came over last winter. And if Soto becomes a Redbird, he could bring the same impact Murakami did for a team not expected to contend before the season. It’s just a matter of whether the franchise is willing to commit that much money to someone who hasn’t done it in MLB yet, especially at this stage of their rebuild. Some recent international MLB free agents who have come to St. Louis are Miles Mikolas , Kwang Hyun Kim , and 2006 World Series champion So Taguchi , so the organization has a successful track record. The Last Word Trading for a player with multiple years of control or jumping into the Soto sweepstakes shouldn’t be ruled out, but the price and the optics of such a move don’t align with Chaim Bloom’s words or actions since he became President of Baseball Operations. The most reasonable thing for the Cardinals is to stand pat on adding a third baseman. Báez will likely start the year at Triple-A, allowing Saggese, Jordan, or even Gorman time to win the job for the foreseeable future. But if the 21-year-old infielder acquired in the Ryan Helsley deal , who posted an OPS north of 1.000 last season, continues to rake, he should be in St. Louis enough. Main Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images More MLB News and Analysis Free Agent Starting Pitchers the Cardinals Could Sign This Offseason Former Rockies Pitcher Wins World Series in Resurgent Season Padres Offensive Showcases in the 2026 Arizona Fall League