As the Major League Baseball’s offseason enters January, most significant player transactions are complete and rosters largely settled for the 2013 season. Through January, we’ll feature the contenders in both the National and American Leagues, assessing their offseason efforts to address their 2013 roster needs. We’ll look back at how each team’s 2012 season ended with an eye on the updates and upgrades required to compete in 2013, how they’ve fared through the offseason and what the team looks like as we approach spring training.
We’re looking at the National League, with today’s focus being the 2012 wild card entry, St. Louis Cardinals.
Cardinals' 2012 Offseason Requirements
Despite owning one of baseball’s best run-differentials in 2012 (+117 runs), the Cardinals just squeaked into the playoffs for the second consecutive year. After their socking fifth-game WLDS advance against the favoured Washington Nationals, the club’s season ended against the eventual World Champion San Francisco Giants. General manager John Mozeliak faced the 2012 offseason with a steady roster, one built around veteran starting pitchers, young position players in their arbitration years, and power bullpen arms that could challenge for rotation spots.
Mozeliak’s offseason needs were low: the biggest changes facing the Cardinals were the expected departures of veteran hitter Lance Berkman and starting pitcher Kyle Lohse.
Berkman was injured for all but 32 games in 2012, but in 2011 led the Cardinals to their World Series victory. Berkman’s prolonged stint on the disabled list had forced the club to affix slugger Allen Craig to first base. Berkman’s departure at first base would be adequately filled by the Craig’s booming bat (.876 OPS in 2012).
Lohse, 33, had a career year with the 2012 Cardinals as he pitched to a 16-3 record, 2.86 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 211 innings. At the World Series’ conclusion, the Cardinals made Lohse a qualifying offer, which was quickly declined. Lohse remains a free agent and despite his strong 2011 and 2012 performance, has yet to receive a 2013 contract offer (largely tied to the fact that any other club signing Loshe must surrender a 2013 draft pick to the Cardinals).
Starting pitcher Jaime Garcia declined offseason shoulder surgery, instead opting for rehab and rest. While all accounts have Garcia being ready to pitch in spring training, his unwillingness to undergo surgery raises concerns as to his durability for 2013.
Between Lohse’s departure (and the 200+ innings he’d filled) and open questions about Garcia’s health, Mozeliak would need to address his rotation in the 2012 offseason.
Final area of need was the Cardinals’ second base coverage. The keystone position’s long been the Cardinals’ Achilles’ heel – the club hasn’t had a second baseman post a 3.0 WAR in any season since 2005. Light-hitting Daniel Descalso took the bulk of 2B at-bats in 2011, posting .627 OPS in 427 ABs. The Cardinals could pursue the trade route (in light of a weak secondbase free agent market) to upgrade the position.
Offseason Transaction Recap
While Lohse’s innings will be missed, the Cardinals can aptly rely on their strong minor league system to address needs in their starting rotation. Lohse’s position will be filled internally, by either Shelby Miller or Trevor Rosenthal. Miller, 21, spent most of last season with AAA-Memphis. Drafted as a fastball thrower, he’s become a complete pitcher, complimenting his fastball with a wicked curveball and changeup. Rosenthal, 22, is another hard-throwing prospect, leaping through AA, AAA and to the Cardinals bullpen in 2012. As evidenced by his NLCS performance (8.2 innings, no runs allowed), he’s got the potential to be a front-rotation starter.
Expect Rosenthal and Miller to compete in spring training for the vacant position in the Cardinals’ rotation. Whoever loses out in the spring battle shouldn’t be far from a trip to the rotation given the high likelihood of Garcia's return to the DL. With Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, Jake Westbrook, Garcia, Miller and Rosenthal, the Cardinals can count their rotation as a strength for 2013.
Utility infielder Skip Schumaker played with the Cardinals for eight years, serving as a replacement-level backup and infielder for the club. However, he’s been poor against LHPs and Mozeliak looked to replace him with an infielder that could better handle both RH and LH pitchers. In December, he traded Schumaker to the Dodgers in return for minor league pitcher Jake Lemmerman. In Schumaker’s place, Mozeliak acquired free agent hitter Ty Wiggington (two years, $5M) after his 2013 option was declined by the Phillies. Wiggington, 35, holds a decent bat, hits well against LHP and can play 3B, 1B and the OF. However, he should not be counted on for regular duty given his high strike outs and atrocious defence. He’s a decent 25th man on a roster, but doesn’t offer substantially more than Shumaker.
Looking to bolster their bullpen, as they sought a left handed specialist alongside Mark Rzepczynski. Randy Chaote was signed to a three-year, $7.5M contract. Chaote fits the bill as a lefty-on-left specialist, having posted a 3.25 ERA with 9.1K/9 innings in 108 innings over the past three years. This is a low risk move that fits a specific bullpen need.
To address the club’s second base needs, Matt Carpenter has been reportedly practicing at second base. Carpenter, 27, was a rookie in 2012 and posted an impressive .828 OPS in 340 plate appearances. First and foremost he’s a hitter, but he’s a strong athlete and his learning second base is a reasonable gamble by the Cardinals’ brass. If he can stick with anything near league-average defence, he’d post amongst the best WAR for NL second basemen. This is a solid gamble to address the second base needs, as pre-arb Carpenter would otherwise have no regular position amongst the Cardinals’ staring nine.
2012 Offseason Report Card and Look Forward to 2013
The Cardinals have stuck true to form this offseason, making minor tweaks to a team that is well positioned to challenge the Reds for NL Central supremacy. They’ve managed to keep their payroll in the $115M range while internally addressing the majority of their needs. St. Louis is in the enviable situation of having other top prospects in AAA ball (super prosect Oscar Tavares), so there’s other internal options to address any other 2012 roster holes that could potentially come up through injury.
The Cardinals deserve an A- for their offseason actions. While their moves have lacked the headlines other NL teams have made, they’ve made smart moves that draw upon the team’s impressive depth while keeping team payroll within the bounds of a mid-market club.