photo: Jack Flaherty (Jeff Curry/Imagn)
To begin our annual year-end series, we revisited the top 10 stories affecting the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022. The big three stories were the final blaze of glory from Albert Pujols, the division win-Wild Card loss and Paul Goldschmidt’s Most Valuable Player Award.
The Cardinal Nation’s Top 10 St. Louis Cardinals Stories of 2022
To close out the series, it is time for my annual predictions for the top story lines that may grab the headlines during this New Year.
The top story is customarily the easiest and most logical entry – the results of the team on the field during the upcoming season. However, that is assumed so will not be included among these predictions.
As I compiled the list and set the rankings, I considered the staying power of the story – how long it might remain in the headlines – as well as its potential short- and long-term impact – both on the 2023 Cardinals and the organization’s future.
Without further ado, here are my projected top St. Louis Cardinals stories of 2023. As always, your comments are encouraged at The Cardinal Nation’s free message board.
1. Firming Up the Rotation
Despite losing second-half leader Jose Quintana to free agency, the Cardinals have six veteran starting pitchers reporting to 2023 camp.
Normally, that would suggest the team is in great shape. However, every one of them comes with question marks.
Adam Wainwright – Can he do it for one more year at age 41-42?
Jack Flaherty – Can he return to 2019 form in his final season pre-free agency?
Miles Mikolas – With probably the fewest concerns of any.
Steven Matz – Trying to come back from a washout and injury-plagued first season as a Cardinal.
Jordan Montgomery – Another standout in his final season pre-free agency.
Dakota Hudson – Found his way back to Triple-A during 2022.
Which five will be in the Opening Day rotation? Will the Cardinals add more help from the outside as they did last season? If so, when? Before or during the season? Will any younger pitchers force their way onto the rotation, not only helping 2023, but also fortifying the starting pitching in 2024 and beyond?
These and many other questions need to be answered for the Cardinals to be able to repeat as National League Central Division Champions.
2. Contreras Filling Yadi’s Cleats
Hall of Famer Yadier Molina has retired. His replacement is former Cubs All-Star catcher Willson Contreras, signed as a free agent. While a step down defensively, the 30-year-old has a potent right-handed bat that is expected to provide additional thump to the middle of the lineup, which already features Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado.
The pressure will be intense on the newcomer in the first season of his five-year contract with St. Louis. Will Contreras justify his signing in his year one as a Cardinal?
- Jordan Walker and the Outfield
Not since Oscar Taveras has a Cardinals position player received as much attention before even reaching Triple-A as has Jordan Walker.
The pressure for the 20-year-old to realize his star potential has already begun and will only intensify in spring training. Already a top 10 prospect in the game, Walker is being expected by some to become an impact player day one.
There could be a need as the current starting outfield had an uneven 2022 and the Cardinals have few other lineup spots which may be open to a change, leading to more offense in 2023.
Tyler O’Neill again struggled with injuries after an exceptional 2021. Dylan Carlson dealt with his own physical problems as he took over for traded Harrison Bader in center. In his first full season, Lars Nootbaar played very well, but can he repeat?
Whether Walker arrives in April, July or not at all in 2023, the Cardinals need more production from their outfielders.
- Wainwright’s Last Hurrah
Either in conjunction with long-time battery mate Yadier Molina or separately, the subject of whether the coming season would be Adam Wainwright’s last as a major league pitcher has been among these predictions for the last four or five years.
But this time, I think it may finally be the final campaign for the celebrated right-hander. The 41-year-old, who first reached St. Louis in 2005, seems a natural fit to move into the broadcast booth post-retirement.
In the meantime, Wainwright is needed to lead the rotation as detailed above.
- Important New Leaders in the Dugout
It feels like the manager position has experienced the greatest turnover for the St. Louis Cardinals in recent years. At this time last year, newcomer Oliver Marmol had yet to manage a Major League game, but the first-year skipper had a number of veteran coaches around him.
Three of them have moved on for 2023, leaving Marmol in a position to rebuild his staff with a year of experience under his belt.
Bench coach Skip Schumaker became the new manager of the Miami Marlins. His replacement is Matt Holliday, a popular Cardinals Hall of Fame outfielder, but one without big-league coaching experience.
Veteran pitching coach Mike Maddux returned to Texas, with his successor sourced from in house. After two years as Pitching Strategist, Dusty Blake was promoted to replace Maddux. Blake has extensive experience in the collegiate ranks.
Embattled hitting coach Jeff Albert resigned and has since moved to the Mets. His replacement is his former assistant, Turner Ward. While Ward only had one year with St. Louis, the ex-player has coached in the bigs for a decade with three clubs.
How this trio integrates into the 2023 Cardinals could be a key factor for the team.
The Cardinal Nation’s Top 10 Stories of 2022
This article concludes our annual series for another year, but we will be back in 12 months to see how we did and start the process all over again. Please join us!
The Cardinal Nation’s Top 10 St. Louis Cardinals Stories of 2022
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Brian Walton can be reached via email at brian@thecardinalnation.com. Follow Brian on Twitter.
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