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Cardinals Positional Outlook: Third base

The Cardinals are set for now at third base, but could they make a splash next offseason?
Aug 18, 2017; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Jedd Gyorko throws to first base to retire Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Starling Marte during the third inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

By Andrew Riak, from Cardsblog.com

Now that we've covered the Cardinals backstop and the right side of the infield in our Cardinals Positional Outlook series, lets move on to the hot corner with Part IV. You'll find Parts I, II, and III attached throughout this article, so feel free to go back and read them as well.

Cardinals Positional Outlook: Catcher - Cardsblog

This is the first piece in a series in which we look at the state of the Cardinals organization at each position. We will be giving an analysis of the current roster, the short-term expectation, and the long-term expectation. We begin our positional outlook series with the catcher position.

This Season

Third base for the Cardinals in 2018 looks to be held down by Jedd Gyorko for the third year in a row. After batting .272 with 20 home runs last season, he will look to improve on those numbers in the coming year.

Gyorko’s OPS of .813 and OBP of .341 were both career highs for the 29 year old. There is no one inside of the organization that can provide more upside at the plate for the Cardinals than Gyorko. Greg Garcia will stay behind Gyorko on the depth chart barring injury, and unless Jose Martinez has a monster season, Matt Carpenter will stay put at first base.

Defensively, Gyorko is just good enough. He is not Nolan Arenado, but he is above league average in fielding percentage, and only made nine errors. The Cardinals are not going to trade offensive production for what would amount to a tiny upgrade defensively by going to Garcia.

Two Years from Now

The importance of 2020 for the Cardinals is that Gyorko, who will be 31 years old, will be under contract with a team option. The team could use a one million dollar buyout to go their separate ways, but if Gyorko plays at a high level for the next two years, there is no reason the Cardinals wouldn't pick up the option, and pay him $13 million.

Of course, if Gyorko does not play well, the most exciting option would be a signing after this season that would give St. Louis long term stability at the position. The first option would be signing free agent to be, Manny Machado.

Machado will garner interest from many teams, and he will most certainly make north of 300 million dollars, but that is not without reason. He can play both shortstop and third base, so it is very possible that Gyorko playing well would allow the Cardinals to shore up third and shortstop at once.

Cardinals Positional Outlook: First Base - Cardsblog

Ever since Albert Pujols left in 2011 the Cardinals have not had a permanent player to man first base. Pujols was a god in a Cardinals uniform, and the Cardinals have never had a first baseman who has had the same impact on and off the field.

The three time all star for the Baltimore Orioles is an elite defender, winning two gold gloves before his age 25 season. Machado can also hit for power, with at least 30 home runs in the last three seasons. Machado is the complete package that the Redbirds could make a bid to sign after this year; he would be the face of the team for the foreseeable future.

The other great option for the Cardinals would be to sign Josh Donaldson next offseason. Unlike Machado, Donaldson only plays third base, and the Cardinals would not have as much flexibility if they were to sign him. It would be difficult to keep Gyorko and Donaldson, so Donaldson would probably be the preferable option if Gyorko struggles this season.

Like Machado, Donaldson has great arm strength and range, making him an upgrade defensively over Gyorko, but I would argue Machado is the better of the two. Donaldson hits for power, also with 30 home runs in each of the last three seasons, as well as an OPS north of .900.

Machado has the edge on Donaldson with his youth. Machado is eight years younger than Donaldson. He can be the future of the Redbirds, and given that both players will command humongous contracts, I would love to see the Cardinals sign Machado to be the third baseman or possibly shortstop of the future.

Five Years from Now

Assuming that the Cardinals do not keep 2022 NL MVP Jedd Gyorko, or did not sign Machado or Donaldson, let's look at who the Cardinals could develop from inside the organization.

Yairo Munoz is a player that the Cardinals could see develop into an everyday third baseman down the line. Munoz came to the Cardinals in the Stephen Piscotty trade, and while he has played many positions, he played much of last season at the hot corner.

Munoz is not an elite prospect by any means, but five years from now, he could be the guy for the Redbirds given that for arguments sake, the Cardinals have not signed a player to a long term contract.

If the Cardinals buyout Gyorko, they might have a rotation of guys to play third, and Munoz will certainly get his shot. His adequate bat and plus arm might just be enough to win him the job.

It is very hard to predict the Cardinals internal third base options because the strength of their farm system is certainly pitchers. If Munoz gets his chance to play, he could just be the guy that emerges and a future star for the Cardinals.

Cardinals Positional Outlook: Second Base - Cardsblog

For Part III of our Cardinals Positional Outlook Series, we're moving on to Second Base. Here are our articles from Tyler Brandt on the Catcher Outlook and from Aaron Schonfeld on the First Base Outlook. Kolten Wong is going to be the everyday second baseman for the Cardinals.

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