ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The Winter Meetings officially have begun as executives from all 30 teams, agents of multiple players on the market and reporters all are in Nashville, Tennessee for what is historically a pretty busy and the most active week of the MLB offseason, especially when it comes to the free agency.
The St. Louis Cardinals, to their credit, got their biggest offseason priority done before the Winters Meetings, signing three starting pitchers-- including 2023 AL Cy Young Runner-up Sonny Gray.
However, the Cardinals offseason is still not over, with the team still having a few objectives left to do-- which includes adding one, maybe two relievers and unclogging out some of their hitting depth.
Cardinals President John Mozeliak joined KMOX's Tom Ackerman on Sports on A Sunday Morning to discuss the teams plans for the Winter Meetings. He touched on what type of relievers the team could be seeking, the trade market and Molina.
The Trade Market is something the Cardinals and Mozeliak hinted was their next focus in the offseason. With the team's name being connected to starting pitchers Tyler Glasnow and Dylan Cease so far this offseason and the team is likely to move one, or both of Tyler O'Neill and Dylan Carlson, it makes sense the trade market seems to the Cardinals next focus.
Mozeliak pubicly confirmed the team, unsurprisngly, are taking trade calls for outfielder Tyler O'Neill during an appearance on Sirius XM radio Monday morning.
However, when Mozeliak talked to KMOX, he seemed calm and was willing to take time with that market, hinting the teams goals this Winter Meetings is to get a clearer picture on it.
"I think we have a pretty good feel for (the trade market)," said Mozeliak. "But like anything, I think as this week starts to unfold a little bit more, we'll have a better gauge of what is realistic and doable. I think the next three or four days will be meaningful and really fun to follow."
In terms of the team's search for relievers, while the team has been linked to former Houston Astros relievers Phil Maton and Hector Neris, Mozeliak says the team would like to add a swingperson to their bullpen- someone who can spot start if necessary or pitch multiple innings out of the pen.
"We feel like we have some strength from the left side (of the bullpen), we feel like we have some coverage in the ninth, eighth and seventh," said Mozeliak. "But as people know, not everyone is going to be available on any given day, so adding some depth to that would be critical."
The Cardinals do have pitchers who seem to be able to fit that "swingman" role with Zack Thompson, Andre Pallante and Matthew Liberatore obviously coming to mind. But two of those pitchers have had down years, so Mozeliak might feel bringing someone from the outside who can serve in that role can help them.
In terms of Molina, Mozeliak says the team would have a official statement coming out in the next week, but all but confirmed reports that Molina wouldn't be to commit the necessary time to be a full-time coach in 2024.
"He was obviously someone we were talking with, but it became clear that making this commitment would be diffucult at this time," said Mozeliak. "He's going to remain in Puerto Rico."