At this point, it’s clear that we should temper our expectations for the Cardinals not just for this upcoming offseason, but also for the entirety of the 2025 season, possibly even into 2026.
The Cardinals improved their record by 12 wins from 2023, finishing at 83-79 but still missing the playoffs. As we know, the player development system needs improvement, which has led the team to its current position—on the verge of a rebuild.
We can likely expect to say goodbye to several players this offseason, including Ryan Helsley, Willson Contreras, Nolan Arenado, and potentially Sonny Gray. However, even during a rebuild, the Cardinals can still make some strategic additions.
These additions won’t be flashy, and that’s perfectly fine for a team entering a rebuild. They are still a long way from competing for a World Series title, likely a couple of years at best.
That said, there should be some new faces. While I don’t expect them to pursue big names like Juan Soto, Blake Snell, Corbin Burnes, or Max Fried, even Shane Bieber might be too ambitious, as Katie Woo pointed out that the Cardinals won’t focus on the star player market.
So, what should they add? First off, when they trade some players, they’ll acquire younger players in return. However, to expedite this rebuild, those additions need to be Major League-ready.
This means focusing on young, cost-controlled pitchers. The Cardinals don’t have many players nearing Major League readiness, so acquiring some through trades who have either debuted or are close will be beneficial.
To optimize the returns for their stars, the Cardinals will benefit from Chaim Bloom’s expertise in evaluating young talent. Consulting him could yield solid returns. But they also need to add different types of players.
Surprisingly, they should consider signing at least one free agent. It won’t be a star, but they need someone to fill a gap.
If it were up to me, I’d keep Gray and let Arenado, Contreras, and Helsley go. They have players who can take over at third base and catcher, but they still need a leader for the pitching staff, even during the rebuild.
If Gray is traded, perhaps they could look into reuniting with Michael Wacha.
Offensively, the team would benefit from centering everything around the young players, as they represent the future. These players need every opportunity to play, but I also think they should pursue a veteran right-handed bat.
It’s time to utilize the designated hitter position properly, rather than just as a way to rest players. With Paul Goldschmidt gone, I like the idea of giving Alec Burleson a shot at first base, but they definitely need a DH.
A player like Justin Turner could be a good target to provide veteran leadership in a young clubhouse. If the Cardinals are out of contention by the trade deadline, they could also trade him to a competing team.
These are just my thoughts—not revolutionary, but for next year’s team, they don’t need to be. Adding some valuable pieces that can contribute would benefit the clubhouse and give the younger players some mentors to rely on.
While the Cardinals are not expected to contend next year, I hope to avoid another 90-loss season, and they should strive to prevent that.
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