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The St. Louis Cardinals' offseason got underway sooner than they had hoped, but with the World Series now in the rearview mirror, the hot stove season is starting to heat up. The club has already made an early splash, acquiring 6-foot-7 left-hander Eduardo Rivera from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for right-handed pitcher Juan Garcia. That trade brings a hard-throwing southpaw to St. Louis who can contribute immediately, a solid first step for the front office.
Yet despite the possibility of a lockout looming over the winter, the Cardinals are not expected to stop there. While St. Louis boasts a promising young core, upgrading the pitching staff remains a top priority—and there is also a clear need on the offensive side. Third base was a major weak spot in 2025, and although a few internal candidates could compete for the job, Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly projects the team will instead sign free agent Alec Bohm, a former All-Star.
Bohm would represent a substantial upgrade for the Cardinals' lineup. As Kelly noted on Wednesday, "Bohm didn't have a great contract season, though a settled lawsuit against his parents likely contributed to a slow start." Kelly added that Bohm posted a .632 OPS in the first half but rebounded to .794 after the All-Star Break. "Bohm still drove in 88 runs, the third time in four seasons he's driven in at least that many." Over seven seasons with the Phillies, Bohm has established himself as a reliable run producer, owning a career .314 batting average with runners in scoring position—a sample size large enough to suggest it's no fluke.
There are still drawbacks, however. Despite being listed at 6-foot-4 and 218 pounds, Bohm has never developed into a consistent home run threat. Defensively, teams are likely to have mixed opinions. Even so, he retains value as a player, and a change of scenery could help him unlock more. The fit with St. Louis makes sense for Bohm, who hails from Omaha and played college ball at Wichita State. He could sign a multi-year deal with the Cardinals and opt out to return to the market if he puts together a more complete 2027 season.
Even in a down year, Bohm slashed .249/.315/.383 with 15 home runs and 88 RBI—production that far outstrips what the Cardinals received from their third basemen in 2025. Spotrac projects the 30-year-old infielder will command a contract worth roughly $12 million annually, a figure well within St. Louis's financial flexibility. With big bats like Jordan Walker and Alec Burleson already in the fold, adding another solid offensive contributor like Bohm could be the catalyst the team needs to take the next step and contend for a postseason berth next year.