Corey Noles, staff writer for The Daily Statesman and Editor of The North Stoddard Countian, is the author of a regular baseball/St. Louis Cardinals column and also uses his blog to sound off on various happenings in sports. He also operates a weekly baseball mailbag column.

2014 Predictions for St. Louis Cardinals Offseason Acquisitions

Posted Friday, January 31, 2014, at 8:28 AM

By COREY NOLES

The St. Louis Cardinals came out of the 2013 World Series in a hurry to prepare for the team's next shot.

It was only a few weeks before John Mozeliak had made a pair of substantial moves addressing the team's two most glaring needs from 2013--a shortstop and a centerfielder.

The assumption was that the Cardinals would have to give up a portion of their coveted young pitching in order to make a deal happen. Mozeliak made it happen both through free agency and a deal trading David Freese, a local hero in need of a change of scenery.

Looking toward the future, each of those acquisitions is capable of having an impact on the 2014 Cardinals. Following is a prediction for each of the Cardinals' four major off-season pick-ups.

Randal Grichuk, OF

How/when acquired: Acquired via trade for David Freese and Fernando Salas on Nov. 22, 2013

2013 Statistics: Double-A .256/.306/.474, 22 HR, 64 RBI, 128 games played

This 22-year-old right-handed outfielder, after a few days, seemed to excite Cardinals fans more than Peter Bourjos, who was intended to be the deal's centerpiece.

While the Cardinals have tremendous depth in right field for 2014, Grichuk may well make a run for the job later in the season.

In all likelihood he'll begin the season in Triple-A, but he could make a trip or two to St. Louis this summer depending on the health of Bourjos, Allen Craig and Jon Jay.

2014 Prediction: Triple-A .251, 24 HR, 69 HR, 121 games played

Mark Ellis, 2B

How/when acquired: Free Agent, signed Dec. 16, 2013

2013 Statistics: .270/.323/.351, 48 RBI, 126 games played

When the Cardinals signed Mark Ellis, it was most likely in order to have an insurance policy for Kolten Wong. For the most part, Ellis will find himself in a backup role.

Ellis is a solid defensive acquisition for the Cardinals and while his bat may lack consistency, he should more than make up for it with his glove.

While the transition to backup second baseman could require some adjustment, Cardinals fans should expect a decent performance from Ellis in his first season at St. Louis.

2014 Prediction: .261, 4 HR, 32 R, 23 RBI, 65 games played

Peter Bourjos, CF

How/when acquired: Acquired via trade for David Freese and Fernando Salas on Nov. 22, 2013

2013 Statistics: .274/.333/.377, 12 RBI, 6 SB, 55 games played

Peter Bourjos is a prime example of an exciting young player that really needed a fresh start. He'll get that in St. Louis this season.

Between injuries and the acquisition of other big--ticket players, Bourjos hasn't yet become the player many expected he would be by now.

While it might not happen immediately, Bourjos should be a good fit in St. Louis. He needed a change and they needed help at centerfield. By all accounts, it should be a win-win fit.

2014 Prediction: .270, 7 HR, 49 RBI, 35 SB, 145 games played

Jhonny Peralta, SS

How/when acquired: Free Agent, signed Nov. 24, 2013

2013 Statistics: .303/.358/.457, 11 HR, 55 RBI, 30 doubles, 107 games played

There's no doubt that the latter half of 2013 marked the low-point (from a PR standpoint, not statistically) in what has already been an impressive career for Jhonny Peralta.

The coming season marks an opportunity for Peralta to revive his career and put the past behind him. A solid season in St. Louis give him the fresh start he needs.

The Peralta acquisition was hands-down the Cardinals most significant improvement of the offseason. Even a slight numbers dip due to the move between leagues could give the Cardinals a level of production from shortstop that they haven't seen in several years.

2014 Prediction: .286, 12 HR, 55 RBI, 141 games played

Corey Noles is a Cardinals Writer and Columnist for The Daily Statesman. He is also a regular contributor to KSDK.com and Bleacher Report. Contact him at cnoles@dailystatesman.com or on Twitter @coreynoles.

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I doubt Bourjos gets 35 SB. Not because of talent but because that is not a big part of Matheny's game plan.

Also, I'm going to go out on a limb and say Ellis is not hitting 32 HR. I assume you mean RBI? I could see Ellis playing in more of the 85 game range.

Everything else seems to be about right.

-- Posted by SportsMediaInformant on Fri, Jan 31, 2014, at 7:43 AM
But if Ellis does hit 32 HRs your job as a journalist gets way more interesting when you have research his PED use. If Bourjos hits 7 HR I'd be thrilled as well

-- Posted by Bunk on Fri, Jan 31, 2014, at 9:56 AM
I predict Ellis will start more games at 2b than Wong. Although I hope I am wrong

-- Posted by 6+4+3=2 on Fri, Jan 31, 2014, at 10:58 AM
I think your wrong. I do think it will be a platoon type of deal out of the gate until Wong has more consistent results

-- Posted by Bunk on Fri, Jan 31, 2014, at 11:00 AM
Quick note Baseball Prospectus 101 came out this week and the Cardinals had 4 in it this year Taveras at 3, Wong at 33, Piscotty at 66, and Alex Reyes at 98. Mo doesn't stop people

-- Posted by Bunk on Fri, Jan 31, 2014, at 5:33 PM
if there 101 top prospects every team by average should have 3 and 11 teams should have 4. so 4 isn't that great.

-- Posted by ThayerPops on Fri, Jan 31, 2014, at 5:50 PM
You assume every team is average. Cardinals on average draft in the 20-25th slots so less chances at top prospects or good project players

-- Posted by Bunk on Fri, Jan 31, 2014, at 6:04 PM
The Cards had seven on the list last year. Of those, five are going to start on the major league roster and a sixth is Taveras who will be there by midseason. The Cards had the best farm system in baseball by miles coming into last season and used the talent there to become the most talented team in the majors coming into this season. To lose the top six guys out of it and for it to still be amongst the ten best or so in baseball is kind of crazy. A lot of the highest ceiling guys are still in the lower end of the minors but there will still be guys like Marco Gonzales (who was in the ten who just missed the top 101 list) who could be ready for their cup of coffee pretty soon.

-- Posted by sideline starter on Fri, Jan 31, 2014, at 10:31 PM

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