The 2023 season was a disappointing one for the St. Louis Cardinals. The team followed up a 93-win season in 2022 with a 71-91 finish the following year. The team also bid farewell to a familiar face, as veteran right-hander and two-time World Series champion Adam Wainwright played out his final season.
The previous year, the Cardinals said goodbye to Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols, two longtime teammates of Wainwright, which left the 2006 postseason hero as the last of the big three. However, the time has come for Wainwright as well.
This marks the end of an era for the Cardinals and their fans, who have been lucky enough to see some of the greatest players to ever play the game. Pujols and Molina are surefire Hall-of-Famers, and Wainwright may not be too far behind.
But now, it is time for the Cardinals to move forward, which means somebody new will be the face of the franchise going forward. No longer are there any holdovers from the 2006 and 2011 World Series championship teams.
In this piece, we will examine the Cardinals and discuss three players who could potentially take over as the new face of the franchise with Wainwright gone and the others gone.
1. Nolan Arenado
Nolan Arenado may be the most obvious choice, but he is still under contract for four more years and has been one of the leaders of the Cardinals since his arrival in St. Louis.
Arenado was acquired in 2021 and became an instant fan favorite in St. Louis. Last year, he finished third in the MVP race behind teammates Paul Goldschmidt and Manny Machado. The 2023 season was a bit of a step back for the 10-time Gold Glove third baseman, as he hit .266 with 26 homers and 93 RBI.
However, the 32-year-old is set to remain in St. Louis through 2027, which means he'll have plenty of opportunities to bounce back from a disappointing 2023. Goldschmidt may be gone after 2024, but Arenado will still be around barring a trade.
Arenado came to St. Louis with one goal in mind, that being to win a championship. That hasn't happened yet, but Arenado is a piece that the Cardinals can and should build around in the coming years as they look towards the future and construct their next potential championship club.
His defense at third base is reminiscent of Cardinal legend and Hall-of-Famer Scott Rolen, and his power gives the Cards a serious threat in the middle of their lineup.
2. Jordan Walker
Walker had an interesting year. After a hot start to the season, he was sent down to Triple-A to work on his defense and launch angle. This came as an unpleasant shock to many Cardinals fans, but it didn't take long for the slugger to figure things out and earn a spot back on the big-league roster.
The young outfielder and top prospect returned to the Major Leagues in June and immediately picked up right where he left off, showing tremendous power and improvement on the defensive side.
In the end, the 21-year-old finished with a .276 average, 16 home runs, 51 RBI, and a .787 OPS. He may not win Rookie of the Year this year, but the future is certainly bright for the Cardinals young slugger.
He'll continue to get better at the plate and in the outfield and will soon be a centerpiece on this young Cardinals team that has its eye on the future. At just 21 years old, Walker still has room to grow, but the sky is the limit with his potential.
A more seasoned Walker will only strengthen what is already a very powerful Cardinals lineup in the coming years, and fans should be excited by the progress they saw this season.
3. Nolan Gorman
Another young star who showed a great deal of improvement this season is slugger and second baseman Nolan Gorman.
Gorman emerged as a power threat from the left side of the plate, and he even got close to 30 home runs in just his second season in the big leagues. Sadly, his season came to an end due to a hamstring injury. He also missed some time with a back issue in August.
However, he was one of the few bright spots in what was truly a down season in St. Louis. In addition to his 27 homers, he drove in 76 runs, stole seven bases, and posted an .806 OPS. His batting average was a mere .236, but the power he showed at the plate is certainly a sign of things to come.
Gorman is a player that the Cardinals should try to protect at all costs. He'll be back next year along with Brendan Donovan. The Cardinals also have Goldschmidt, Arenado, Walker, Willson Contreras, Lars Nootbaar, and Tommy Edman.
The return of Gorman should be a boon for the 11-time World Series champions as they try to bounce back into contention in 2024.
