UNC Baseball: Cardinals interested in Colin Moran

Could former UNC baseball standout Colin Moran find another home in the National League Central once Major League Baseball’s lockout ends?

We’re inching closer to spring by the day, and Major League Baseball’s spring training should already be underway. However, the current lockout continues to be an issue, as a new collective bargaining agreement has not yet been agreed on.

Eventually, the hope is that the two sides can find a common ground and come to an agreement. With hopes of not delaying the regular season, both sides need to move fast in order to make that happen.

When the lockout finally ends, a flurry of transactions is expected to quickly occur. With teams still needing to address some of their biggest needs, expect moves to happen early and often once the agreement is official.

The big-name free agents will have no trouble finding new landing spots, as the likes of Carlos Correa and Freddie Freeman among others should have plenty of offers to choose from. However, the mid-tier players may have some trouble, and that could include former UNC baseball standout Colin Moran.

After being designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Moran will be among the hundreds of free agents still looking for a place to play in 2022. Although it may not happen right away, the former Tar Heel is expected to draw some interest, and one National League Central team could be a match.

In a recent chat with readers, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch mentioned that the St. Louis Cardinals have some interest in Moran. Based on the report, you’d have to wonder how the 29-year-old veteran would fit with the current Cardinals roster.

The Cardinals have their corner infield set, as Paul Goldschmidt is the everyday first baseman while Nolan Arenado handles the hot corner. The organization also has some young players they may not wish to block from gaining some big league experience.

However, Moran could be a solid fit, given that he’s a left-handed hitter who can be used as a role player. It’s important to remember that the National League is most likely adopting the designated hitter rule, which would create more opportunities for the former Tar Heel.

Of course, we’ll have to wait and see how the free-agent market works out. It will be interesting to monitor how the market affects free agent players like Moran who aren’t top-tier guys but still can provide some important depth for teams around the league.

Continue to follow the Keeping It Heel team for all the latest news and updates regarding Colin Moran and the rest of the UNC baseball program.