As National League rivals splash cash, Cardinals bet big on their winning sense

Standing outside the Starbucks in the lobby of a Grand Hyatt with his iPhone handy, St. Louis Cardinals executive John Mozeliak prepared to make the definitive decision for just another name-brand franchise trying to live up to the logo despite soaring inflation and supply chain concerns. The Cardinals sought a starting catcher for the first time in a generation and choices were limited. The trade market stalled with Oakland and Toronto eyeballing young players from the Cardinals' lineup and not blinking. Within a few hours together, Willson Contreras changed Mozeliak's view.