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jj, 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. They can have a low payroll, compete, and build for the future all at the same time.
25, that is why I said he would be lucky to give the Cardinals much more than a.500 record in his starts. Winning half of his starts would be the top end of expected results. Winning more than half would be luck. Realistic expectations would be about a third. That means a drop off of 10 wins and a 68-94 record.
Bling, just to be clear, you are OK with the Cardinals winning only 60-70 games in 2026? That is what they are looking at without Gray.
They aren’t going to get a major league ready starting pitcher for him. If the replacement is internal, he would be lucky to give the Cardinals much more than a .500 record in games he started. In Gray’s starts, the Cardinals were 21-11 this year.
#5 Josh Baez.
Pads, I hope Baez gets to finish developing before being brought up, unlike Carlson. I also hope he has the ability to keep adjusting as opponents adjust to him. He has a lot of talent.
Roby would be my 2nd highest pitching prospect and #3 overall if he could stay healthy. I’m wondering if he can do that.
Hence would be highly rated, also. However, injuries and lack of being able to be efficient hold him down on my list.
Rodriguez would have been after Baez, for me. Crooks and Bernal both seem like good prospects but they don’t scream “great”. They appear to be another Carson Kelly type player.
Bling, are you saying that we should trade Gray?
If so, who do we start in his place from the pitchers we currently have? What is the likelihood that his replacement pitches anywhere close to as good as Gray did in 2025?
I don’t see the benefit of trading Gray. We need starting pitching in the worst way. If we trade Gray, we have a disaster of a starting staff and no depth for any injuries. We won’t save money because we will probably have to send money with him to get anything of value in return. Then we have to pick up a starting pitcher to replace him.
Why would a former Cardinal player care if he is quoted about how poor of a manager Marmol is? He won’t be playing for him. I would think that if he is such a bad manager, there would be some more talk of that from players. I somewhat discount an anonymous poll. At this point, I can’t tell you who took the poll or where it was published.
This is one of the tougher years to rank, I think. There can be good arguments made for Rodriguez, Baez and Mathews, as well as a couple of others.
I have a feeling that it may be even tougher next year. Once some of our 2025 draftees and trade acquisitions get a year in our system, we may have some more gems.
#3 Josh Baez.
He started the season as a 21 year old in Peoria. Moved up to Springfield at the end of May. Turned 22 in late June. An OF with a cannon for an arm. He mostly plays RF but occasionally plays CF. In 499 PAs, he hit 20 HR, 3 triples, 23 doubles, 54 SB and a .287/.384/.500/.884 slash line with a 20.6% strikeout rate. From July 1 to the end of the season, he lowered his K rate to 17.6%. In addition, he walked about 12% of the time. If he continues this, he will be special.
Looking at Contreras’ salary, enthusiasm, desire to help the Cardinals win and production, I say keep him unless you can get a huge haul for him.
If the Cardinals get down to that $100 million mark in total salary, I will jump on the bandwagon about the DeWitt’s lining their pockets. They can have a competitive team in 2026 with a reasonable team salary without sacrificing the future.
If Jordan could get his BA up to the levels that it was in other stops in the minors, he could be very interesting. He turns 23 in December and seems to profile similar to Burleson.
Bling, how much have you looked at Jordan’s minor league stats? Have you noticed anything about him other than his .198 batting average in part of the year at Memphis, his hometown?
I didn’t think they should sell everything. It appears that the Cardinals have really upgraded the minors with the last 2 drafts and a little development this year. They might be closer to competing than some think. They need some quality starting pitching and a good hitting OFer.
The Rays are rumored to be looking for a catcher. The Cardinals are loaded with them. Could there be a match for a SP from the Rays? Rasmussen and Bradley would be my top 2 choices that they might be able to obtain for immediate help.
I would love to see Gorman and Walker adopt approaches where they try to hit to the opposite field all the time. I think they would hit better. That is only if they are still with the Cardinals.
LA, if your Edmunds comment is toward Sooner, I am pretty sure he meant Edman.
Also, there has been nothing saying they are going to the Tampa Bay method. They are going to at least go back to developing players in the minors. Ignoring the minors hasn’t worked.
Arenado for 2026 costs $22 million after the Rockies pay down. In 2027 he costs $17 million. Is that still underwater if a team doesn’t give up anything except a lottery ticket?
25, without adding anyone from the outside, we are probably looking at Leahy and Mathews as the other 2.
It was a little off the cuff but somewhat using your logic in my head. Gray has been better for the team than some realize.