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Cardinals have plenty of options left with Stanton off the table

Mark J. Rebilas / USA TODAY Sports

Giancarlo Stanton won't be wearing a St. Louis Cardinals uniform next season.

On Friday, this fact became official when the Cardinals announced that Stanton had refused to waive his no-trade clause to join them despite the team agreeing to the framework of a deal with the Miami Marlins.

But the rejection may not be as big a blow to the Cardinals' offseason as it seems at first glance. Plenty more doors have potentially been opened for president John Mozeliak to improve his club right now without acquiring the reigning NL MVP.

Here are a few options for the Cardinals now that Stanton's off the table.

Hit the free-agent market

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

This isn't the strongest class of free agents by any means, but the Cardinals are apparently flush with cash - how else could they have afforded to possibly take on most of Stanton's $295-million deal - and that could bode well for them on the open market.

St. Louis has already been connected to one free-agent starter it knows quite well in Jake Arrieta. Whether it's Arrieta or Yu Darvish, there are pitchers available for nothing but cash who could really help Mike Matheny's squad next year and beyond. Missing out on Stanton frees up the front office to chase these players and make a big splash in free agency yet again.

Alternatively, the Cardinals could look to free-agent hitters like J.D. Martinez, Eric Hosmer, or Mike Moustakas if they wish to upgrade their lineup on the open market. All three would help the Cardinals significantly in the immediate term.

Stanton had the right to veto a deal to St. Louis, but there are other stars who don't have that luxury. That's another route the team could take ...

Trade with Miami ... again

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

OK, so St. Louis won't be able to pry Stanton out of Miami, but you know who else plays outfield on the Marlins and doesn't have a no-trade clause? Christian Yelich. Also, Marcell Ozuna. And both talented players have been involved in trade rumors this winter.

The Cardinals' agreed-upon offer to the Marlins for Stanton was reportedly centered around top pitching prospect Sandy Alcantara. It's not known what else that package contained, but it was enough to entice the Marlins into a Stanton deal.

Would that same package be enough to help the Cardinals pry either Yelich or Ozuna out of Miami? Perhaps - but it's worth remembering that while Yelich and Ozuna are both All-Star-caliber outfielders with Gold Gloves and Silver Sluggers on their resumes, the similarities between them and their MVP teammate end there. Both are young players with years of control left on their current deals at team-friendly prices, unlike Stanton's massive albatross of a contract that's coming with him in any trade.

Based on those years of control, Miami should get a nice return for Yelich and/or Ozuna if they decide to trade either player. But even if costs a bit more in prospect capital, it may behoove the Cardinals to circle back to Derek Jeter with the same offer as a starting point.

Trade for another star

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

If the Marlins don't bite on Yelich or Ozuna, there are other stars available via trade who could immediately fill holes in St. Louis' lineup.

Take Evan Longoria, for instance. The Tampa Bay Rays third baseman has a large contract and plays for a team that, in addition to having a low payroll year after year, may be moving toward a full-on rebuild. If the right offer comes, surely the Rays would have to listen on their Gold Glove star.

This is one call the Cardinals need to make now that Stanton's off the table. In fact, Tampa Bay might represent some one-stop shopping for Mozeliak, since the Rays also possess another potential trade chip in Chris Archer. Sure, a Longoria-Archer package would probably cost a bundle in capital, but the duo would be the fresh blood that the Cardinals need in order to boost themselves back into the playoffs.

Josh Donaldson would be another option here, if he's available. The former AL MVP is one year away from free-agency riches and it remains to be seen what the Toronto Blue Jays will do with him. But if an extension can't be reached to keep Donaldson north of the border, the Cardinals - who've apparently long coveted the 32-year-old - would be a perfect fit for the third baseman.

There are a lot of different roads for St. Louis to take in the aftermath of the Stanton saga. What's clear is that no matter where the team goes from here, his choice to reject the Cardinals opened up many more doors for them to improve their standing next season and beyond.

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