The Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays are set to square off in this year’s World Series. Both clubs feature deep rosters loaded with talent, including several players who will hit free agency after the season.
For the St. Louis Cardinals, free agency won’t be the top offseason focus, but ownership has stated that Chaim Bloom will have the financial backing needed to build a stronger team and invest in the minor league development pipeline. That likely means the Cardinals will spend more this winter than the modest $2 million they shelled out last offseason.
St. Louis is expected to pursue at least one starting pitcher or swingman in free agency, along with a reliever or two. They could also look to upgrade their bench, given the lack of impact depth in the farm system. The Cardinals leaned on inconsistent role players such as Garrett Hampson, Ryan Vilade, and Jose Barrero last season, so Bloom may prioritize adding more dependable options to the back end of the 26-man roster to help stabilize the team.
Chaim Bloom and the St. Louis Cardinals should target these 3 players who are in the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Toronto Blue Jays.
RHP Max Scherzer
Let’s kick things off with Max Scherzer.
The Cardinals have had two chances in the past decade to sign the St. Louis native, but both times they decided to pass, choosing to allocate their resources elsewhere even though Scherzer would have been a natural fit. Now, they may get one final opportunity to bring the Mizzou alum home.
At 41 years old, Scherzer continues to perform admirably despite his age. He’s currently earning $15.5 million with the Blue Jays, and Spotrac projects his market value for 2026 at about $9 million on a one-year deal. That’s a fair price for a pitcher approaching 42, especially one who’s still managing to fend off Father Time.
This season, Scherzer posted a 5–5 record with a 5.19 ERA over 17 starts and 85 innings, tallying 82 strikeouts and 23 walks. His fastball velocity ticked up slightly from a career-low 92.5 mph in 2024 to 93.6 mph this year, ranking in the 37th percentile. Though no longer the dominant power pitcher he once was, Scherzer still uses experience and precision to outsmart hitters.
He also proved valuable for Toronto in the postseason. In his lone playoff outing, he threw 5.2 innings of two-run ball with five strikeouts and made headlines for his fiery reaction when manager John Schneider tried to pull him early.
Adding Scherzer would be a tremendous boost for the Cardinals, whose 2026 rotation could be filled with young arms such as Michael McGreevy, Matthew Liberatore, Andre Pallante, and possibly Quinn Mathews. His leadership and veteran presence would be invaluable, particularly if Sonny Gray is traded this winter. And with an estimated $10 million price tag, Scherzer’s contract wouldn’t put much strain on the team’s payroll.
SS Miguel Rojas
Two years ago, the St. Louis Cardinals were looking for a dependable backup shortstop behind emerging rookie Masyn Winn. Winn, who made his debut in 2024, carried some injury concerns, and the club wanted to avoid overworking their young infielder. At the same time, utility man Tommy Edman—expected to start in the outfield and serve as the backup shortstop—was sidelined until the trade deadline.
The need for a left-handed-hitting shortstop who could balance out Winn’s struggles against right-handers was obvious.
To address it, the Cardinals brought in veteran Brandon Crawford. While Crawford’s bat wasn’t particularly strong, his defense and mentorship proved invaluable to Winn’s development during his rookie campaign.
Now, with Winn recovering from meniscus surgery, the need for depth at shortstop has once again become a priority.
Internal options like Thomas Saggese or JJ Wetherholt could fill the role, though both players might be used elsewhere depending on offseason trades. And given Chaim Bloom’s reputation for exercising patience with top prospects, Wetherholt might not see the majors until later in the 2026 season.
If the team looks to free agency for help, Miguel Rojas stands out as a strong candidate. Rojas, who spent the 2025 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, put up solid numbers in a limited role—posting a .262/.318/.397 slash line with seven home runs and a league-average OPS+ of 100 across 290 at-bats.
Though never known for his offensive production (his career-best OPS+ in a full season is 111), Rojas remains a standout defender and respected clubhouse presence. He excelled against left-handers last season, recording an .879 OPS, and his defensive metrics were strong—posting six Outs Above Average, grading positively at second base, and holding steady at shortstop.
Turning 37 in February, Rojas isn’t young, but his experience, versatility, and willingness to embrace a supporting role make him an ideal fit for the Cardinals’ bench.
LHP Alex Vesia
After the trade deadline, JoJo Romero stood as the only dependable left-handed reliever in the Cardinals’ bullpen. While John King and Jorge Alcala—both arbitration-eligible this winter—were available options, neither had proven consistent or reliable in relief. As a result, Oliver Marmol had limited ways to neutralize left-handed hitters.
One clear offseason priority for St. Louis should be adding another left-handed arm for Marmol, and among pitchers from the World Series teams, Alex Vesia stands out as the ideal target.
Vesia, 29, turned in an outstanding 2025 campaign with the Dodgers, posting a 3.02 ERA over 59.2 innings while striking out 80 batters—a 12.1 K/9 that matches his career rate. He also notched five saves, showing he can handle high-leverage moments.
Across the past two seasons, Vesia has delivered elite production, with a 2.36 ERA, 167 strikeouts, and a 0.992 WHIP across 126 innings. He’s been dominant against left-handed hitters throughout his career, holding them to a paltry .177/.259/.285 slash line and striking them out at a far higher rate than righties.
Vesia’s arsenal features a lively four-seam fastball—hitters batted just .169 against it in 2025—paired with a slider that generated whiffs at an incredible 37% rate. That combination fuels his 97th-percentile strikeout rate and ability to limit hard contact. While walks can be an issue (9.3% BB rate, 28th percentile), his strikeout prowess more than compensates.
The challenge for the Cardinals lies in his contract: Vesia has a $3.6 million club option for 2026, with only a $50,000 buyout. Given his strong performance, the Dodgers are almost certain to exercise the option. But if they surprisingly decline it, the Cardinals should immediately pursue Vesia on a two- or three-year deal.
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