There is a lot of time before next year to see how young players progress and how vets perform throughout the year, so it is still way too early to say who for sure is the best 1B option. I also wouldn’t get my hopes up on FA players as it takes 2 to tango, and I don’t see Stl as a very attractive city for many FAs. Stl at least has the legacy and reputation with it, so there may be some players attracted by that, but we as fans obviously have no insight.
I specifically wouldn’t want to touch Pete Alonso and that horrible contract he is going to get as everything about his profile says he will age poorly. He will also likely be a big overpay of 6-7 years in the $150-$180 million range.
Christian Walker is interesting and the Cardinals should certainly do their due diligence with him, but again we would have to attract him. They shouldn’t go more than 3 or 4 years with options.
I wouldn’t feel great about a Burly/Baker platoon for 1B. I just don’t see Baker ever hitting in MLB and is a AAAA type player. Burly is okay, but I don’t feel great about him as a full time 1B or DH unless he shows he really can hit for power this year as he simply does not walk. He has been hitting nice lately, but I need to see it over the full year and with some power.
I doubt Contreras or Walker are moved to 1B. Contreras has done a good not great job at C, but Herrera doesn’t look like it to me behind the plate. Walker I think can actually be an average RF so why waste him at 1B.
Gorman could be moved to 1B as his offensive game profiles for the position. It does allow Edman to be a 2B again, but we have to see with the rest of the year if Siani still looks like a starting CF or Scott develops into it.
Trades are the other option, but who knows what the market looks like. Mo could try to make a splash like he has with Goldy and Arenado in the past and trade for someone like Vlad Jr. to sign to an extension. Vlad will have a decent prospect cost and high $ ($25 mill arb probabl), but he certainly would get the fans attention. Other guys like Josh Naylor and Yandy Diaz could be options that Mo maybtarget. Or targeting a young prospect MLB ready from another org like Bal.