The St. Louis Cardinals aren't heading in the direction that many want them to.
For an organization built on winning over much of the past decade, things haven't exactly gone as planned for a Cardinals team that is typically one of the best in Major League Baseball.
Still, at 17-19 and five games out in the National League Central, the Cardinals might have enough talent to sneak into the postseason, and even win the division if things go perfectly for them over the next few months.
If they don't, however, which many don't expect, the Cardinals are expected to look toward building their future even more, with multiple young players already in the mix, including Masyn Winn, a star young shortstop.
ESPN's Jeff Passan looked at some future contracts around Major League Baseball and added that he believes Winn could be looking at a $100-plus million deal when the time comes.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Passan noted that he's already one of the best defenders in Major League Baseball, and his offense has started to improve.
“Nobody should question Winn's defensive bonafides. His bat will determine his financial ceiling, and Winn has plenty of time to develop. What's important to remember: He plays a position that gets paid in free agency, and he'll turn 28 just before Opening Day in 2030. If Winn is even slightly above average, that's a $100 million player. If he's anything more, the number could be massive,” he wrote.
If his offensive production can improve a bit, mainly with the power numbers, he should be looking at a decent payday, even if it's just because of his defense.
With a 4.9 WAR last season and a 117 OPS+ in 25 games this year, things are on the rise for the 23-year-old.