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I think jnevel is right. The players and coaches will try to hang in there as long as possible like they did this year but I don’t get the sense that ownership and the front office will be very aggressive. It will be probably be another transition year trying to get big money off the books, build up the pipeline, and a few moves around the edges to win some games. If they accomplish nothing else I hope they can de-clutter the roster. We have way too many LH hitters, DH’s, second basemen, and catchers. The roster is pretty much a mess.
I learned a new word. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/enshittification
The concept does not just apply to on line entities. Excessive pursuit of profit degrades any kind of enterprise.
Once “baseball’s model organization”, the Cardinals look to reverse systemic decline https://redbirdrants.com/once-baseball-s-model-organization-the-cardinals-look-to-reverse-systemic-decline
This seems like a good place for this article. I enjoyed it. I am buying what they’re selling. It gives me hope.
Organizational Depth: The Outfield
by Gabe Simonds
Sep 8, 2025, 8:00 AM EDTAn in-depth article about what the future holds for our OFers in the near future. Warning: only read if you have a strong ticker. I guess those of us that follow the affiliates saw this coming.
Bradford Doolittle at ESPN wrote a column about the biggest success and biggest failure of each club.
St. Louis Cardinals
Biggest success: Matthew Liberatore
Well, we have to put something down. Frankly, even though the Cardinals have managed to stay around baseball’s middle, this has felt like a disheartening season. With just a little boost from the front office, the low bar of postseason contention in this year’s NL might have been cleared. St. Louis hasn’t received much in terms of breakout performances, though some of the younger players have shown progress. That pretty much describes Liberatore, the touted prospect St. Louis acquired way back on Jan. 9, 2020, from Tampa Bay for Randy Arozarena. Until 2025, Liberatore hadn’t been able to establish himself as a rotation regular, but he has made 27 starts and stayed within shouting distance of league average. His strikeout rates don’t scream “untapped upside!” but you never know.
Biggest failure: Season approach
Nothing about St. Louis baseball has made much sense for about a year. If the Cardinals had truly reset, that at least would have been a clear direction. As it stands, it’s still completely unclear why the Cardinals didn’t just try to build the best possible roster they could for the 2025 season. After this finally ends, the baton will pass to Chaim Bloom and perhaps he can paint a more coherent portrait. Let the Ray-ification of the Redbirds begin.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46269338/mlb-2025-30-teams-biggest-failure-success-season
This is not what I expect the Cardinals will do, but what I would like to see them do:
1. Let Mikolas walk.
2. Non-tender/outright King, Munoz, Roycroft, Pozo, Siani and Rom.
3. Trade Gorman and Walker.
4. Sign Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger.
5. Sign Max Scherzer to a 1 year contract with an option for a 2nd year.
6. Sign Zac Gallen to a 3 year contract (lower base with incentives) with an opt out after 2026 for him to rebuild his value.
7. Sign Maton.
8. Give Wetherholt the runway to win the 2b job.
9. Move Pallante to the pen or trade him.That would give the Cardinals an opportunity to be very competitive. It would also open opportunities for upcoming talent to fill in holes when they are ready and not rushed to the majors.
Give Wetherholt the runway to win the 2b job.
JJ has played 2B rarely this year, and not a single time in the last month. Still, I could see them starting him at 2B until Arenado is gone, if he’s not gone by opening day.
Forsch – I think you will get numbers 1, 2, and probably 8 on your list. Maybe half of 3 as Gorman could be traded. Zero reason to trade Walker. He’s worth nothing and the team can option him to AAA next Spring. I could see them trying to sign someone like Gallen, but I highly doubt Gallen personally would accept an offer. As for #9, it’s possible Pallante goes to the pen. They just need arms to replace him. The other items in your list are highly unlikely.
My guess is the Bloom crew envisions a Winn and Wetherholt left side. Who plays where is not as cast in stone as some would think, IMO.
JJ will be around 50 AAA games, so starting off 2026 there is not unreasonable.
Interesting thought, bb. I wonder if a team has ever had two quality shortstops alternate between the two left side positions… Winn’s arm is so good, he could be a real asset at third, as well.
I think the timing of Wetherholt’s debut will depend on his spring play. I bet the marketing folks will feature him heavily if he makes the team, as he may be the most prominent new face to sell fans that 2026 will be better.
I just hope that they don’t try to make Wetherholt the next “super utility” guy. We have enough guys that are bouncing all over to the detriment of their defense and bat. Plug him in at 2B and be done with it.
Bling, Wetherholt has started 20 games this year at 2b without an error. He has started 10 games at 3b with 2 errors and a .936 fielding %. What that tells me is that Wetherholt can handle 2b. It also tells me that he is versatile enough to handle any of the infield positions. I am not going to judge what position he will play in the majors based on what he has played in the last 30 days. He won’t play 3b regularly with Arenado on the team. He won’t play SS regularly with Winn on the team. That leaves 2b that he doesn’t have someone blocking him. Donovan can move to LF.
If we assume Walker to AAA for 2026 and Gorman traded away during this off-season the possible outfielders are Scott II, Nootbar, Donovan, Church, Burleson, and Siani. Am I missing anyone?
Saggesse, Donovan, Winn, Burleson, Contreras, Arenado for the infield with Crooks and Pages catching. Fermin is also available.
Maybe they acquire a RH hitting outfielder and Wetherholt takes 2b so the OF becomes Donovan – Scott II – and new OF guy? If that happens I figure Nootbar got traded?
Maybe they acquire a RH hitting outfielder and Wetherholt takes 2b so the OF becomes Donovan – Scott II – and new OF guy? If that happens I figure Nootbar got traded?
I would rather trade Donovan as I think he has a better shot to bring back a pitcher of value. A right handed OF bat wouldn’t be too expensive to acquire on the FA market.
Fangraphs recently did a writeup on the SS defense of prospects and they weren’t too kind regarding Wetherholt. In their estimation, SS or 3B would be stretching it, as JJ isn’t the smoothest and doesn’t have the most accurate arm.
Its going to depend upon whether he has a left side arm, and it seems like the org thinks he does. If so, they won’t play him at 2B, other than maybe temporarily if Arenado remains. But I tend to think they would let him play the left side in Memphis until it opens up in STL.
He looks to have the arm strength to play on the left side, but footwork and poor throws could be an issue. He seems to be a lot better at 2B so that’s where I would guess he ends up. Outfield becomes Donovan/Nootbaar/Scott. The team may ask Contreras again about waiving his NTC so Burleson would have a home. Otherwise, I think Burleson should be traded.
stlcard25
I would rather trade Donovan as I think he has a better shot to bring back a pitcher of value. A right handed OF bat wouldn’t be too expensive to acquire on the FA market
I agree. Donovan is also going to get a little expensive too as he is hitting his second arbitration year. I think the India-Singer / Bader-Montgomery trades are good models to look for in a trade.
I don’t see them trading Gorman yet. He can be the backup at all 4 infield spots next year (shifting Wetherholt from 2B to SS) and DH. It doesn’t hurt anything to keep him and he isn’t going to get a good return in a trade now.
Like Donovan, I can see them moving Nootbaar due to closeness to free agency. (It’s the old Tampa Bay way too)
I envision Winn and Wetherholt at SS and 2B respectively for the next several years beginning March 26, 2026.
Just read an interesting article on the cardinals in the Athletic. Theit perview was that that the cardinals were basically using this season to gauge whether a rebuild was needed or maybe just a soft reset i guess. Their line of thinking has us as at a rebuild which they believe the cardinals ownership will go draft and inhouse player development which could suggest multi year rebuild. So if thats true, a guy like donovan they may try to move, one he has fair value, two he might want to play for a contender. His conteact is up in 27. If the rebuild is true, gray may reconsider wanting to stay, same with contreras. Burleson,mcgreevy both have made good strides and i think they have cemented their spots. I think both of those players will be even better next season with the extea confidence. Nootbar, gorman, walker, even arenado, they may not be here next year. Libertore i expect to stay. Pallante im not so sure. I think he is what be is. What a rebuild if true means for marmol, not sure. Since hes under contract nextyear maybe he stays. I like tje idea of bringing in a new guy that has positive vibes and leadership skills to grow along with the team but likely depends on just what is left for next season if it is a full rebuild and how honest the team is with the fans.
I’m not sure how the team can be much less talented in 2026 than 2025, rebuild or not. Maybe if Gray and Contreras go. Donovan to Wetherholt is an even trade, to me. I think Noot to Koperniak would be as well. There’s not a whole lot else bolted down. If it’s a true teardown and rebuild, I would expect that we are left hoping and waiting on guys like JJ, Baez, Bernal, Crooks, Rodriguez, Doyle, Mathews, Hence, Henderson, Mautz and to a lesser extent Walker (who’s still 2nd youngest on the 40 man after Tink) to develop and produce.
I had forgotten about Koperniak. Why spend money on a FA of when you can just bring up a AAAA player on the cheap? The only issue is – he hits LH, lol.
Donovan would bring back the possible player but again If you have relatively young cost controlled starting pitching that has shown talent. Why would you give it up?
Gorman is done in STL IMO. Lars is likely the OF dealt.
I would like to see that sign 2 starters as well but they likely only grab one and they’ll roll Pallante out there. Would love for them to get Max or Verlander or both.
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