Thursday, November 05

In his season-ending press conference, Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom addressed several topics, from the team’s coaching staff to whether it will add pitching in the offseason to the progress of many of the team’s rookies this past season. But he created perhaps the most intrigue with his description of the team’s situation at third base, which he described as being a “long-term vacancy.”

Much of the Cardinals’ lineup looks mostly set for 2027, at least for now:

C: Leo Bernal
1B: Alec Burleson
2B: JJ Wetherholt
SS: Masyn Winn
LF: Joshua Baez
RF: Jordan Walker
DH: Ivan Herrera

That leaves center field and, yes, third base. So, with free agency now underway and the non-tender deadline looming on Nov. 20, here’s a look at five potential options for the Cardinals at third base for 2027.

The former top prospect: Nolan Gorman

This is probably the least likely name on the list. Given one more chance to win the third base job that was once thought to be his for the foreseeable future, Gorman struggled mightily in 2026, hitting .184 with just nine homers in 85 games. He was sent down to the Minors in June and stayed for two months to work on his swing, but he didn’t look appreciably better upon returning in late August, posting a .523 OPS in 73 plate appearances.

Gorman was a first-round pick by the Cardinals in 2018, and he’s been with the club for parts of five seasons, so he’s now due for a raise via arbitration in 2027. If the Cardinals can’t find a suitor willing to buy low on him, they could choose to non-tender Gorman, cutting him loose rather than offering him a contract for 2027. But the power stroke is still real, and this is a guy who had 27 homers as recently as 2023 … so maybe they give him one more chance?

The rookie: Blaze Jordan

Jordan was the player who was called up in June when Gorman was sent down, which was considered a surprise at the time because it was thought that Jordan wasn’t a good enough fielder to hold down third base on a regular basis. It turned out his defense was perfectly adequate, but the bat did not play as hoped. Jordan posted a .276 OBP, with only three homers and seven walks in 58 games.

That was a bit of a disappointment, considering he had a robust .921 OPS at Triple-A Memphis when he was called up. However, Jordan had been hitting a little better when he sustained a season-ending high ankle sprain on Aug. 27. Bloom, who drafted Jordan when he was with the Red Sox, clearly believes in him, and if Jordan is healthy, he might be the path of least resistance in the short term. But he’s going to have to hit a lot better if he wants to hold onto that job for long.

The utility guy: Thomas Saggese

Saggese got off to a very rough start in 2026 and was batting .184 when he was sent down in June. But when Jordan was injured in August, it was Saggese, not Gorman, who took advantage. He hit .279 with three homers and a .755 OPS over his final 25 games, which stood head and shoulders above anything else the Cardinals got at the position in 2026. He feels like a placeholder here -- one who could end up moving around the infield in a utility role -- but then again, he was a regular .300 hitter in the Minors and impressed many around the Cardinals in September.

It should be noted that Sagesse could have some competition even for that utility role. José Fermín was third on the team in starts at third base in 2026, and he drew rave reviews for his positional flexibility and clutch hitting. At 27, he’s three years older than Saggese, but he’s still under team control through 2030. He is likely to stick as a utility guy, one who could continue seeing time at third.

The prospect: Jesús Báez

It’s too early for the Cardinals’ No. 15 prospect to be the Opening Day third baseman … right? On one hand, he’s only 21 years old (turning 22 in February), he has played only 59 games above the High-A level and Bloom has pumped the brakes on any aggressive promotion of Báez every time he has been asked. (Also: Báez is still mostly playing shortstop.)

On the other hand, Báez was an absolute monster last year, hitting 39 homers in 113 games over two levels. The strides he has taken since coming over from the Mets at the 2025 Trade Deadline have been dramatic, and he has to be on the 40-man roster by the time 2027 starts. It’s too aggressive to push him this fast, one would suspect. But with a clear opening at the position, you can see why the Cardinals could find themselves tempted.

The offseason acquisition: TBD

The Cardinals aren’t likely to make any long-term commitments in free agency this offseason, and in any case, there aren’t a ton of attractive options at third base. Alec Bohm is a name that’s been mentioned a lot, but he took a big step back, both offensively and defensively, in 2026. Unless he would be willing to take a Dustin May-esque one-year, make-good contract, it might not be a fit. Eugenio Suárez, St. Louis’ longtime rival with the Reds, could be a possibility if the Cardinals wanted to bet on a rebound at age 35. Could they make a big push for NPB Triple Crown winner Teruaki Sato? Perhaps, but it seems likely another team would outbid them.

Potential trade candidates include the Astros’ Isaac Paredes or the Yankees’ Ryan McMahon, though both have just one season left before free agency, and McMahon posted a .635 OPS this past season. So while it’s possible the Cardinals look outside the organization for their 2026 third baseman, it’s not clear that there is anyone with the type of profile that would be an easy fit.

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