Here are Five Realistic Free-Agent Players for Cardinals to Target

While St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom continues to speak of a measured plan that doesn’t skip steps in rebuilding and resists the temptations of quick-fix additions, the club still has a payroll structure that should allow it to spend money in free agency to try and fill noticeable holes at third base, bullpen and in the starting staff.

The Cardinals used 2026 to better define the core of players it hopes to build around in the years to come. The group of position players Alec Burleson, JJ Wetherholt, Masyn Winn, Jordan Walker, Ivan Herrera, Joshua Baez and Leo Bernal and pitchers Andre Pallante, Kyle Leahy, Michael McGreevy, Quinn Mathews and Riley O’Brien distinguished themselves during a season where they were given opportunities and they performed well enough to keep the Cardinals in the Wild Card hunt for several months.

Still, late-season injuries to the starting staff, bullpen struggles and sporadic production from their third base, center field and catching positions caused some prolonged sputtering. As happy as the Cardinals were about 13 rookies making their MLB debuts and their core emerging, they still finished just 77-85 and 26 games back in the National League Central of the eventual World Champion Milwaukee Brewers.

The Cardinals need infusions of talent, veteran experience and high-leverage steadiness to ensure that 2027 is not a step backward, and the rival Brewers and Cubs don’t pull away even further. But let’s be realistic: The rebuilding Cardinals aren’t going to be chasing after the top targets and they’ll never be the team to hand out the splashing, high-dollar contracts.

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Remaining realistic about their targets, here are five veteran players the Cardinals should be working to lure to St. Louis in free agency with the MLB General Manager’s Meetings starting up Monday in Las Vegas: 

1. Shane Bieber, RHP

Following a short-term, high-upside model similar to previous rotation additions, Bieber – a former Cy Young Award winner – fits the profile of a veteran anchor capable of providing top-of-the-rotation upside on a structured contract. Bieber, 31, worked his way back from elbow surgery to post a 4.37 ERA in 11 starts in 2026. The Cardinals’ history of protecting pitchers and keeping them free from injuries could be a huge selling point to someone like Bieber. Inserting a proven frontline arm into the rotation alongside Pallante, McGreevy and Mathews would raise the pitching staff's ceiling while taking pressure off emerging prospects. Think Dustin May from 2026, but with a potentially higher upside with Bieber.

2. Jack Flaherty, RHP

A reunion with Flaherty would bring a familiar presence back to the Busch Stadium mound – even though the 31-year-old right-hander wasn’t always sunny and happy while being in St. Louis. Flaherty, of course, spent his first six-plus MLB seasons in St. Louis and at this point he likely offers middle-of-the-rotation reliability. Coming off a 20-game (19 starts) performance split between rotation roles in 2026, Flaherty provides veteran innings-eating potential while serving as a bridge for young arms like Cooper Hjerpe and Tekoah Roby.

3. Yoán Moncada, 3B

With third base representing the greatest position of need for the Cards, Moncada offers a low-risk, high-upside option to stabilize the hot corner. A switch-hitter with solid defensive metrics, Moncada could provide short-term production and lineup balance without blocking high-end infield prospects currently climbing through the upper levels of the farm system, such as Rainiel Rodriguez and Jesus Baez. Moncada hit 25 home runs in 2019, and he has six double-digit home run seasons in his MLB career.

4. JoJo Romero, LHP

Bringing back Romero, who was traded to the Brewers along with May on Aug. 3 for two coveted outfield prospects, would immediately address a core need in the bullpen. It’s no coincidence that O’Brien’s closing troubles started last July about the time that Romero went down with an appendicitis and was traded in early August. Romero has consistently delivered solid high-leverage late-inning numbers and bringing him back would give manager Oliver Marmol a proven left-handed setup option. The problem is the secret is out about just how good Romero is at retiring powerful left-handed hitters and the Cardinals will likely encounter serious competition from contending teams such as the Dodgers, Red Sox, Yankees and Cubs for the services of the 30-year-old Romero.

5. Jonathan Loáisiga, RHP

Adding power bullpen depth is a priority, and Loáisiga provides high-velocity swing-and-miss ability out of the ‘pen. The right-hander logged a 2.42 ERA across 67 appearances in 2026, showing elite ground-ball rates (95th percentile in MLB), hard-breaking stuff to induce plenty of chase (93rd percentile in chase) and effectiveness against right-handed hitters (.179 batting average against, one homer allowed). Pairing Loáisiga with O'Brien would bolster late-inning relief options for St. Louis.