Mountcastle: A Right-Handed Solution for St. Louis?
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic recently reported that the Orioles are continuing to shop Ryan Mountcastle. That should ping St. Louis’ radar.
Mountcastle is exactly what he appears to be: a right-handed power hitter whose value is rooted in his offense. He’s particularly tough on lefties—consistently posting strong numbers against LHP with elite exit velocities—and over a full season, you can reasonably project 18–22 home runs at Busch Stadium. He won’t draw many walks and will chase at times, but if you let him hunt pull-side pitches, he can punish mistakes and add length to the lineup.
Defensively, Mountcastle is primarily a first baseman who can also DH. He’s not being acquired for versatility, but rather for his offensive production—a need that matches where the Cardinals are today. With Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras moved, and Alec Burleson both injured and was the subject of trade rumors over the weekend, Mountcastle’s role expands from a platoon option to a potential everyday run producer. Against left-handed starters, he’s almost automatic in the 1B/DH mix, likely hitting fifth or sixth to break up lefties and capitalize on runners on base. Since Busch suppresses opposite-field power for righties, the hitting plan is simple: do damage pull-side, attack mistakes inside, and avoid chasing to maintain on-base value
What would Mountcastle cost? Baltimore has a first base/DH logjam and typically seeks controllable pitching depth in these deals—think an MLB-ready starter with options plus a secondary piece, not a core rotation anchor. That’s a price point the Cardinals can explore without touching the top of the staff. If Baltimore asks for more, St. Louis should draw the line at mid-tier arms and reliever control, not core rotation capital.
Health and performance are key factors. Mountcastle is coming off a season where he missed significant time due to a hamstring injury. According to Lindy Sports’ Fantasy Baseball Magazine, even when healthy, he posted a .653 OPS, that is well below the major league average of a 700 OPS, with seven home runs in 89 games. That profile offers some value for St. Louis, but doesn’t justify paying a premium.
Bottom line: In this roster context, Mountcastle provides a right-handed presence in the lineup, claims everyday first base with DH flexibility, and gives the club insurance while injuries, player development, and trade outcomes unfold. If St. Louis can land him for controllable pitching depth, he’s a practical fit for where the Cardinals are right now.
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