The St. Louis Cardinals discover themselves in a unique place — mired in mediocrity.
The Cardinals had one shedding season between 2000 and 2022, a span throughout which they reached the postseason 16 occasions, gained 4 Nationwide League titles, and two World Sequence championships. That has not been the case over the previous three seasons, because the Cardinals have a mixed 232-254 report.
Adjustments are coming. Former Rays and Pink Sox govt Chaim Bloom, who spent the previous two seasons as an advisor to president of baseball operations John Mozeliak, has taken over that function. Bloom spent the final two years reshaping the Cardinals’ farm system, enhancing their standing from the Twenty second-ranked system in 2023 to twelfth following the 2025 commerce deadline.
Whereas Bloom has been cautious to not body the incoming overhaul as a rebuild, there’s a whole lot of work to be carried out for the Cardinals to contend as soon as extra. Let’s check out three questions dealing with the Cardinals this offseason.
Three questions for the St. Louis Cardinals through the offseason
1. Will third baseman Nolan Arenado lastly be traded?
Commerce rumors have swirled round Nolan Arenado for years at this level. He infamously nixed a possible commerce to the Astros through the 2024-25 offseason, invoking his no-trade clause. Nevertheless, Katie Woo of The Athletic reported that Arenado is extra keen to waive his no-trade clause this offseason, as it’s clear that the Cardinals are transferring in a unique route.
Arenado is not the perennial All-Star he was earlier in his profession, however he’s nonetheless a stable possibility at third base. He produced a career-worst .237/.289/.377 batting line in 436 plate appearances, hitting 12 homers and 18 doubles. Arenado additionally missed time attributable to a sprained proper index finger and a sprained proper shoulder, each of which may have impacted his efficiency. The Cardinals will seemingly have to assume a good portion of the $37 million left on his contract (the Rockies are paying $5 million this season), however Arenado will seemingly be on the transfer.
2. How for much longer do the Cardinals give infielder Nolan Gorman and outfielder Jordan Walker?
Gorman and Walker had been anticipated to have established themselves as stable main league regulars by this level. Each gamers gave the impression to be on the cusp of creating themselves in 2023 earlier than taking important steps again over the previous two years. Gorman produced a disappointing .205/.296/.370 batting line in 402 plate appearances, hitting 14 homers and 14 doubles. Walker, in the meantime, was the worst participant on the Cardinals (-1.6 bWAR), posting a .215/.278/.306 batting line in 396 plate appearances, hitting six homers and 13 doubles.
Walker, specifically, could also be on his closing probability. The Cardinals have been annoyed along with his unwillingness to make modifications to change into extra constant on the plate. Gorman and Walker have displayed flashes of their expertise however have been unable to seek out sustained success. Because the Cardinals wish to return to competition, neither participant might have for much longer to get on monitor.
3. Can the Cardinals discover a top-of-the-rotation arm?
The Cardinals’ rotation is in a state of flux. Miles Mikolas has struggled over the previous three seasons and is slated to enter free company. Sonny Grey was a sufferer of unhealthy luck with the batted ball, permitting a career-worst .332 batting common on balls in play, and could also be on the commerce block this offseason. No matter whether or not or not Grey is traded, the Cardinals will quickly have a major gap atop the rotation as he’s slated to change into a free agent after the season.
The issue is that the Cardinals don’t have any inner candidates to take over that function. Pitchers Mike McGreevy and Matthew Liberatore could also be higher suited as middle-of-the-rotation starters. Andre Pallante (-1.3 bWAR) ranked final among the many 52 pitchers to qualify for the ERA title in bWAR. Pitching prospects Quinn Mathews and Tink Therefore battled accidents. Except Mathews or Therefore, or fifth general choose within the 2025 MLB Draft, Liam Doyle, take a major step ahead in 2026, the Cardinals might have to look exterior the group for his or her subsequent ace.
