Cardinals toughest offseason decision centers around replacing slugger

The St. Louis Cardinals drastically improved from 2023, finishing 2024 with an 83-79 record but still missing the postseason.

St. Louis is likely going to be saying goodbye to some familiar faces, including first baseman and former National League MVP Paul Goldschmidt. The slugger is a free agent and is unlikely to return in 2025.

Zachary D. Rymer listed finding somebody who can replace Goldschmidt as St. Louis' biggest free agency decision.

"The idea should be to find someone who can live up to what Goldschmidt was supposed to be. Not just a veteran leader, but still a star caliber player between the lines," Rymer wrote. "Christian Walker is an ideal option, and the Cardinals should otherwise consider getting in on the [Anthony] Santander and Teoscar Hernandez markets."

Walker and Hernandez would be ideal fits for the Cardinals. However, they do appear to be leaning towards a rebuild.

They can still replace Goldschmidt from the outside, but will probably look into a more frugal option such as Justin Turner or possibly even Carlos Santana.

St. Louis can also find their replacement internally. With the team looking to prioritize its young core, we could see players such as Alec Burleson, Jordan Walker, Luken Baker, or even Brendan Donovan get chances at first base.

While the offense is what failed St. Louis in 2024, they are fortunate to have plenty of depth on the position player side, which could possibly negate the need for an outside addition.

Still, they might need some veterans in the clubhouse with all the young players expected to be present. We'll see how they approach replacing Goldschmidt.

More MLB: Cardinals may trade ace this offseason after disappointing 2024