MLB Rumors: St. Louis Cardinals GM Reveals Team's No. 1 Priority

The St. Louis Cardinals have some things to do this winter, but according to general manager John Mozeliak, one of those things is not to dabble in the opulent shortstop market. MLB Insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic says that the St. Louis GM has made no secret of where his focus lies this offseason.

[Mozeliak] made it clear the team’s No. 1 priority is acquiring an everyday catcher. 

There are actually a few catchers of that description available this winter, including free agents Willson Contreras and Christian Vazquez, and trade candidates Sean Murphy of the Oakland A's, and one of Danny Jansen, Alejandro Kirk or Gabriel Moreno of the Toronto Blue Jays. 

The Cardinals are certainly thought to be a lead suitor in the trade discussions with the A's and the Jays for a backstop, but they are not thought to be a player for Contreras. His 'bat-first, defense-second' skill set doesn't really fit the Cardinals' mold. Vazquez, however, could be a viable target. 

MLB Insider Jon Morosi suggested on The Bob McCown Podcast on Tuesday that a Toronto/St. Louis trade of Danny Jansen for Cards outfielder Lars Nootbar would be a "really good fit."

"I think Nootbar would be a very good player in Toronto. He could play either of the corners exceptionally well."

The second-year player, Nootbar had a nice run in the St. Louis outfield to cement himself as a future piece, hitting about .300 through July and August with an OPS of close to 1.000. 

As for the shortstop market, Mozeliak said “Tommy Edman is a very, very good shortstop.”

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