By Chris Brown / STL Baseball Today | @cbrown_STLBBT | Dec. 1, 2015, 2:41 pm CT
Looking to improve an offense which ranked 24th in the majors in runs scored (647) in 2015, the Cardinals have been tied to Chris Davis for some time now, but signing the slugger isn’t the top priority of GM John Mozeliak, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reported on Tuesday.
Less than two weeks ago, Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reported that the redbirds had been in touch with Davis’ agent, Scott Boras, and greatly value his defensive versatility, although Crasnick cited a “person with knowledge of the Cardinals’ agenda” who said their reported interest in the 29-year-old is “overblown.”
Davis would certainly provide some major power to the middle of the Cardinals lineup, as the 29-year-old (who turns 30 in March) has hit 159 home runs over the past four seasons, the most in the major leagues during that span. Last season, in 160 games, Davis batted .262 with 47 home runs, the most in the game, while knocking in 117 runs for the Orioles. However, Davis’ greatest downfall is undoubtedly his free-swinging nature, as he led the majors with 208 strikeouts in 2015 and has averaged 187 strikeouts per season since 2012.
As the top source of power on the free agent market, Davis is projected to snag a seven-year deal for $182 million by CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, while MLB Trade Rumors estimates a $144 million contract over six years.
Largely due to the Cardinals new TV deal with Fox Sports Midwest, which is set to begin in 2018, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported on Sunday that “the belief among some in the industry is that the Cardinals are in a flexible enough position to add a pitcher such as Price and a hitter such as free-agent right fielder Jason Heyward or first baseman Chris Davis.”
Rosenthal cautioned, though, that it’s far from a guarantee that the Cardinals will sign even one of these premium free agents, as the team could still be uncomfortable making the top bid for either Heyward or Price and could be “reluctant” to commit the amount of money Davis will command as the top source of power on the market.
Regardless of whether or not the redbirds land one or multiple of those elite-level free agents, the team still appears to be set to make at least one substantial add this offseason. Just before Thanksgiving, Mozeliak told Jim Hayes of Fox Sports Midwest that the Cardinals are looking to add a starting pitcher from outside the organization and hopes to acquire one in the next couple of weeks.
Since the news that Lance Lynn would miss the entire 2016 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. the Cardinals have been tied to multiple in pitchers, including David Price (who has reportedly agreed to a seven-year, $217 million deal with the Boston Red Sox), John Lackey (who led the team in innings pitched in 2015), and Mark Buehrle (a St. Louis native), in offseason rumors and reports.
On the offensive side, the rumors have been more scarce, with connections to Davis and the versatile Ben Zobrist serving as the only major reports.
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Quick Hits: Non-tender candidates, Grichuk update, postseason shares
Former redbird Xavier Scruggs signs minors deal with Marlins, thanks Cardinals & fans
Cards sign veteran catcher Pena to back up Molina, team now looking to trade Cruz
Feature image used under Creative Commons by Keith Allison. No changes made. Image license.
