The St. Louis Cardinals pulled off an incredible stretch in September, winning 17 in a row in the final month of the regular season to advance to the Wild Card Game. Although the Cardinals were promptly eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers, it was a step in the right direction for a club that performed below expectations for much of the season.

St. Louis clinched a postseason berth in each of the last three seasons, but failed to advance to the NLCS. Manager Mike Shildt was let go in the offseason as team president John Mozeliak cited “philosophical differences.” Shildt was replaced by Oliver Marmol, and now the front office will look to make some moves to get this team in position to make a deep run in the postseason.

Here are four players the Cardinals should attempt to sign in free agency to help bolster their chances in 2022.

4 Cardinals targets in 2021 MLB Free Agency

Carlos Rodon

The former top pick really came into his own last year, posting a 13-5 record with a 2.31 ERA , earning his first All-Star appearance with the Chicago White Sox.

Rodon averaged nearly 13 strikeouts per nine innings and was in the top 5% of expected weighted on-base average. The 28-year-old finished fifth in AL Cy Young voting and would be a great addition to a pitching rotation in St. Louis that already has the likes of Jack Flaherty and Adam Wainwright.

It also doesn't hurt to add a southpaw, as veterans Jon Lester and J.A. Happ have both become free agents.

Joe Kelly

Kelly started his career in St. Louis and has enjoyed success out of the pen. Kelly played a big part as a reliever for both the Boston Red Sox and Dodgers in their latest World Series titles, and could help strengthen an already impressive bullpen that includes Alex Reyes and Giovanny Gallegos.

The 33-year-old is coming off another solid year with the Dodgers, sporting an ERA+ of 144 with a WHIP under 1.00. Kelly was paid $4 million in 2021 by Los Angeles and should get a similar contract this time around. The Andrew Miller experiment in St. Louis from 2019-2021 didn't go as planned, and Kelly would be a better alternative.

Mitch Moreland / Albert Pujols

With the designated hitter coming to the National League in 2022, the Cardinals have room for an extra slugger. Paul DeJong is currently slotted in at the vacant hole, but he seriously regressed the last couple seasons after finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2017.

The opportunity for a platoon role in this case would be ideal financially for St. Louis. Signing left-handed bat Mitch Moreland may sound underwhelming, but the 36-year-old can still get the job done at the plate against right-handed pitching. You could also play the veteran at first base when Paul Goldschmidt needs a day off from the field. Moreland won a Gold Glove at the position in 2016 as a member of the Texas Rangers.

Acquiring Moreland would mean needing someone who could smash southpaws, and Albert Pujols can still do that. The three-time MVP may no longer be an everyday player, but still hit .294 against lefties in 2021 at the age of 41.

Pujols began his career in St.Louis and spent 11 years dominating baseball as a Cardinal. The 10-time All-Star slashed .328/.420/.617 and was a member of two World Series winning teams in St.Louis. Reuniting the all-time great with the Cardinal faithful for one last hurrah would only make sense.