Cardinal Off-Season News and Notes: 10/12/2021

Just some quick hits as we continue to enjoy listening to Adam Wainwright on commentary again during the NLDS.

And since I’ve already mentioned him…it’s official: Wainwright will be making $17.5M next season, more then double his 2021 salary.

That $17.5M is under the qualifying offer amount for 2022; any player accepting a qualifying offer next season will make $18.4M according to Buster Olney. That’s down from $18.9M last season.

The Cardinals will have the following free agents after the World Series is completed:

• Nolan Arenado (He has an opt out, so it’s possible he could be a free agent; he’s said he’s staying though)
• Matt Carpenter (Club Option for $18.5M)
• Luis Garcia (there are some conflicting report as to whether he’s a free agent or not)
• J.A. Happ
• Kwang Hyun Kim
• Wade LeBlanc
• Jon Lester
• Carlos Martinez (Club Option for $17M)
• T.J. McFarland
• Andrew Miller

None of these players will get an qualifying offer. This also means there won’t be any draft picks added for losing players with declined qualifying offers.

The Cardinals also have these guys that are eligible for arbitration, along with their projected salaries from :

• Alex Reyes – $3.3MM
• Harrison Bader – $3.7MM
• Justin Miller – $900K
• Jack Flaherty – $5.1MM
• Jordan Hicks – $1.0MM
• Giovanny Gallegos – $2.8MM
• Dakota Hudson – $1.7MM
• Tyler O’Neill – $3.5MM

Of this list, I see Miller being non-tendered; Max Moroff is eligible for arbitration, I think, and would probably be non-tendered. I think all of the rest will receive contracts and be Cardinals in 2022.

I know there is a contingent of Cardinal fans that would like to see Flaherty non-tendered, but that’s just absurd. A pitcher like Flaherty at $5.1M is a bargain, especially when healthy. He’s a slow starter, so don’t expect him to set the world on fire right out of the gate in 2022 though.

Going into the off-season, the Cardinals should almost $45M to spend, if they are trying to match the payroll for 2021 (including the projected arbitration numbers, buyouts for Carpenter and Martinez, and Dexter Fowler‘s salary dropping off the books). Their needs are a shortstop, a starting pitcher, a closer, and a few extra bullpen arms. They can’t do all of that for $45M; I could see Paul DeJong being moved, but he’s only on the books for $6M. They could get an elite shortstop, a good starter, then see what’s the relief market it like.

After the World Series, I’ll look at some of the players I like for 2022. Until then, I’ve updated the Salary Matrix with Juan Yepez addition and the contract of Wainwright (the future value column is for 2022 and beyond).