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j, 25, and LA, I think we are all on the same page. This team CAN compete/improve in 2026 with basically the same, or slightly higher, payroll. It needs to make smart, shrewd decisions that are not 100% based on payroll and the future.
The competitive advantage the Cardinals should have is that they should not be limited by small market payroll.
Unfortunately, MLB had made it painfully clear they do not want the Cardinals to try to compete. and it appears, the Cardinals have accepted MLB’s dictate.
Maybe I’m totally off base, but there would have to be decent mid rotation options on the market that could be had on one or two year deals that wouldn’t break the bank or crush the future development pipeline.
– Nick Martinez
– Chris Bassitt
– Merrill Kelly
– Zack Littellbut there would have to be decent mid rotation options on the market that could be had on one or two year
deals that wouldn’t break the bank
or crush the future development pipeline.
I’m personally not OK with that
if the only payoff is to Bill’s wallet.
The only reason to go into Pirate/Rays mode is
to secure the $70 million in MLB welfare for billionaires.
It really irks that Cardinal fans need to fit all of their ideas for the future of this team based on what BDW is willing to spend. This franchise and its fans deserve better. What we need is a new owner willing to build a winning team instead if scrimping and watching every dime that comes out of his pocket. Screw him.
Trade noot and gorman to tigers for Flaherty.
Free agent SP, zac gallen or Michael King if arenados salary is off loaded plus mikolas 18 million is going away. If trade gray try to sign gallen and another 29-30 year old mid rotation guy vs just 1. Maybe King or Efflin
Tyler Mahle, Dustin May, griffin canning or maybe take a chance on Jordan Montgomery. Most of these guys are fairly inexpensive with decent ceilings and short term commitment if they suck an egg.
They need inexpensive bats and to offload Flaherty’s 20 million if he does not opt out himself if they want to try and keep Skubal, if they dont then they can get all they need from that trade i suppose.
Flaherty was Mikolas-esque this year. I’m not sure that he’s much of an upgrade to the rotation other than providing innings.
Good point, def wanting to go in a higher ceiling direction than our man Mikolas. Guess I’m nostalgic and hope Jack has another year of dominance in him. 🙂
It’s my opinion that even if they off don’t off load Arenado they can still afford to sign a Gallen or King to a 20-25 million a year 3-to-4-year contract. We need to hire at least 1 mid to upper arm either through trade or FA. And I believe Bloom will. Quinn Mathews and then the real stud Liam Doyle are just around the corner. Stay strong cardinal faithful.
I don’t want Flaherty back. His 2025 wasn’t very good. Maybe he bounces back, idk. I like LAs 4 suggestions that might be able to get 1 year contracts. Or maybe Gallen on a 2 year deal?
I wonder Bloom will be looking at guys who have been pitching in Asia trying to reclaim their career.
I can’t imagine the Cardinals are going to sign or trade for any pitcher this off season making $20M-$25 per year. They would be better off just keeping Gray. They aren’t going to sign anyone better than him this year.
Yeah, they may not but they could financially, if they off load Arenado’s salary they would be even money after paying 25 million to king or someone like him and still under budget from last season which was around 130 million, I think.
Why not keep Gray and add another #2 or 3 guy which as much as I love Gray, that’s what he is as well today. They would fill it out with Libby, McGreevy and maybe Quinn Mathews or Pallante if he figures his sh** out before season starts but that would be a solid rotation and pray Weatherholt hits the majors like he has the last 2 levels, and we will more than contend for a wild card.
Glass half full kind of guy here when it comes to 2 birds on a bat. 🙂
And I trust Bloom will look high and low for the best value when it comes to pitching whether that is in Japan or sitting in triple a in Boston or Tampa.
They will be fortunate if they can offload even a fraction of Arenado’s salary. It won’t be much. If it were me I would keep both Arenado and Gray but that apparently is not what they plan to do.
Arenado had a severe platoon split this year. hit .217 vs RHP. Ouch. Hit .294 vs LHP. So if somebody needs the right handed hitting half of a 3B platoon split, he could have a market, but most of his contract wouldn’t.
Which team has a need for more right handed bats in their lineup that can also play elite infield defense because that team has a lot of pitchers that allow a lot of ground ball contact? That’s probably the team he ends up on.
Jnevel said:
Which team has a need for more right handed bats in their lineup that can also play elite infield defense because that team has a lot of pitchers that allow a lot of ground ball contact? That’s probably the team he ends up on.
That sounds a lot like a team we are all familiar with!
The Cardinal Way is now as a feeder club for MLB.
Yes, until they can build their own feeder clubs up to provide quality big leaguers that can contend.
The Cardinal Way is now as a feeder club for MLB.
JJ, I get that this recent run has been demoralizing for many of us, but I don’t think that the above statement is or will prove to be true. There is definitely room for improvement when it comes to spending on the roster, and I do think that we’ll see it eventually. It doesn’t hurt to get the player development pipeline back onto the track where it was from 2009-2017ish, and I’m hopeful that Bloom is the guy to do that while the Dewitts rebuild their payroll muscle to move us back up into the upper third-ish again longer term.
I’m wondering if Curtis Taylor, the TCN Memphis Starting Pitcher of the Year, could hold down a rotation spot for awhile. This poster, Anthony Becerra, might be Taylor’s little brother writing under a pseudonym for all I know, but he did make some positive and verifiable comments about Taylor. Of course, spring training will ultimately tell the tale.
Taylor should definitely get a shot. I don’t see what we would have to lose. He could potentially be a cheap innings eater. If he doesn’t cut it then DFA and move on. Not much risk involved since it doesn’t appear they are going to be trying to win in 2026 anyway.
It’s way to early, but I read on several sites where the Cards will pick 8th, based on non eligible teams, etc. I really like what I’ve read about this kid.
Ace Reese, 3B, Mississippi State
The SEC’s 2025 Newcomer of the Year after transferring from Houston, Reese batted .352/.422/.718 with 21 homers in his first season in Starkville. His power is real and plays to all fields, though there are questions about whether he can remain at third base vs. winding up in left field or at first.
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