One trade, one signing St. Louis Cardinals should make

While the St. Louis Cardinals have already made a few moves this offseason, including adding a major piece to their rotation with the signing of pitcher Sonny Gray, they still need to upgrade in other areas if they want to contend in 2024. Here's one trade and one signing the Cardinals should make this offseason. 

Trade: Deal LHP Steven Matz to White Sox for bullpen help

After posting a bullpen ERA of 4.47 and blowing 28 saves in 2023, the Cardinals will need to find ways to hold on to leads and keep games from slipping out of their grasp in 2024. With the signings of pitchers Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson and Gray to provide innings to a dreadful rotation, the Cardinals can afford to use Matz as a trade piece to acquire help in the bullpen.

In what is likely just the beginning of a long-term rebuild, the Chicago White Sox have plenty of cap room to fit the remaining $24M left on Matz's contract and the bullpen arms that match up with what the Cardinals need. 

While left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet would be the most desired return, the Cardinals would likely have to settle for right-hander Gregory Santos or possibly turning starting pitcher Michael Kopech into a weapon out of the bullpen given his injury issues. 

Signing: Bring back LHP Jordan Montgomery 

Opening the 2023 season with the Cardinals, left-hander Jordan Montgomery was easily the best pitcher on the Cardinals' pitching staff. He gave the team consistent innings even though it was in the middle of a disastrous season before being traded to the Texas Rangers at the trade deadline.

Fresh off a World Series title with the Rangers, Montgomery is a free agent.

Adding Montgomery back into the pitching rotation would be huge to their NL Central title hopes, with a rotation headlined by Gray, Montgomery and Miles Mikolas forming possibly the best trio in the division.

In 188.2 innings in 2023, Montgomery posted a 10-11 record with a 3.20 ERA, 1.193 WHIP and 166 strikeouts.

Montgomery is projected to land a deal that's around five years, worth up to $120M.