photo: Bill DeWitt III, Bill DeWitt Jr., John Mozeliak, Chaim Bloom (FanDuel Sports Midwest)
The Cardinal Nation’s annual review of the top stories affecting the St. Louis Cardinals during the prior calendar year is back for 2025, its 21st year. The Top Stories of the Year are based on my view of the importance of the key events surrounding the team during the prior 12 months.
As a refresher, a link to the top stories of each year from 2005 through 2024 can always be found via “STORIES OF THE YEAR”, located on the red bar on the left side of the page, in the list directly underneath the site logo.
Also, join the discussion about this series at The Cardinal Nation’s free forum.
The Cardinal Nation’s Top 10 Stories of 2025
Many of the top stories of 2025 are about change, specifically people leaving the organization and others coming in, which is an understandable by-product from a team that has uncharacteristically missed the playoffs in three consecutive seasons.
Because 2025’s outcome on the field was not a surprise, I am breaking with tradition and not making it the number one story. Sadly, it seemed clear from the start that the 2025 Cardinals were not a division title contender.
Aftershocks from St. Louis’ continuing struggles appear throughout our 2025 Top 10 Cardinals stories, but not all are negative.
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No trifecta in the draft lottery
The team’s recent poor on-field results in positives in several areas, one of which is helping to restock the farm system. St. Louis’ ugly 71-win 2023 season put the Cardinals squarely in the 2024 Draft Lottery, from which they received the seventh overall selection. The club used the pick on University of West Virginia shortstop JJ Wetherholt.
In 2025, with the fifth overall pick gained via the lottery, the Cardinals chose University of Tennessee left-hander Liam Doyle. Wetherholt and Doyle are currently the top two prospects in the system.
However, for 2026, the Cardinals’ good fortune ran out. Back in the lottery, held in December 2025, the Cardinals fared poorly this time, having to settle with the number 13 selection.
It wasn’t all bad, though. Due to their declining economic status relatively, St. Louis received another Competitive Balance pick for 2026, this time between the first and second rounds. The Cardinals are certainly not expected to sign a qualifying offer free agent this winter, so they should again have 21 selections in the 2026 draft’s 20 rounds, including four picks in the first 90 overall.
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Rob Cerfolio (Brian Walton/The Cardinal Nation) Player development investment continues
The Cardinals have reaffirmed their intent to increase investment in player development and performance as their primary vehicle to regain prominence. In late 2024, an entirely new player development senior leadership group took over, led by Assistant General Manager Rob Cerfolio, Farm Director Larry Day and Director of Performance Carl Kochan. At least eight new positions were created.
With the announcement of the 2026 coaches and staff, Cerfolio’s group is expanding by more than a dozen additional new positions, including new coordinators and additional coaching positions at the affiliate level.
Many spots were filled by outside hires though some internal promotions occurred, as well. Some positions will be higher profile than others, but each will play a role in developing the next wave of major leaguers.
The latter is the most important objective, but takes time. However, an interim measure indicates progress is being made. Geoff Pontes of Baseball America grades the Cardinals farm system as the “Most Improved” in baseball during 2025. This is attributed to multiple factors including high potential players newly drafted and acquired, breakouts by returning players and an improved development structure.
BA has not yet released its initial 2026 farm system rankings, but at midseason 2025, the Cardinals were in the middle of the pack, at 14th, improved from 18th last February.
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More money trouble on the TV side
After an earlier bankruptcy, Main Street Sports Group is in trouble again. The rightsholder for Cardinals television broadcasts under the FanDuel Sports Network branding, along with 28 other professional teams in three major sports, is trying to sell a majority stake in the business. Without an influx of new funds, a shutdown is likely by spring.
The new problems came to light in part as Main Street missed a scheduled payment to the Cardinals in late December, per media reports. Prior to that, FanDuel Sports Midwest disclosed Cardinals coverage changes planned for 2026 that appeared to be focused on cost-cutting.
If Main Street is unable to sell and instead ceases operations, broadcast rights would revert to the teams and leagues. After an earlier round by Main Street to cut less profitable team rights in 2023, MLB established infrastructure to produce telecasts on behalf of teams. This has moved to ESPN for 2026, which could also pick up the Cardinals and five other MLB clubs whose rights are currently held by Main Street. The Cardinals are also exploring self-production options.
Though the situation is uncertain, it is expected that fans will be able to watch the Cardinals in 2026. Where and at what price are still unknowns, however.
- Herrera to catch again
The twisted post-Yadier Molina journey for Cardinals catching plans are aimed in yet another direction. As 25-year-old Ivan Herrera has solidified his offensive value, his defensive home is being re-evaluated.
After Herrera’s difficulties throwing out basestealers were taken advantage of by opponents, the Cardinals stopped playing him behind the plate in mid-June. Other than a strange four-game dalliance in left field, Herrera was restricted to designated hitter duties for the remainder of the 2025 season.
It did not hurt his offense as Herrera’s 136 OPS+ was highest on the team and his 19 home runs were the most by a Cardinal returning for 2026.
Following the season, Herrera underwent surgery to remove bone spurs in his elbow. The Cardinals say they intend to play him behind the plate at least part-time in 2026. Those competing for playing time are expected to include Pedro Pages, Jimmy Crooks and Yohel Pozo.
Herrera’s ability (or inability) to catch regularly will be crucial to enabling the Cardinals to clear up a catching logjam that currently includes five backstops on the 40-man roster. It has been an ok problem to have short-term, but clarity is needed for the long haul.
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Oliver Marmol (Steve Mitchell/Imagn) Marmol’s lame duck status may change
The facts state that in his last three years as the manager of the Cardinals, Oliver Marmol’s team missed the playoffs all three times. Trying to draw a cause-and-effect relationship is where fans differ.
Supporters point to the 93-win division title 2022 season as proof that the now-39-year-old can get the job done. Detractors blame the manager in varying degrees for the more difficult recent history. Supporters point to a decline in player talent levels, and so on.
In the spring of year three of his initial three-year contract (2024), Marmol signed a two-year extension covering 2025 and 2026.
The combination of the recent downturn of the team and Marmol again heading into his final year under contract in 2026 has led to speculation about his future.
Upon taking over in October, new President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom quickly confirmed that Marmol will return in 2026. Bloom also said that though the two sides had not yet begun talks about an extension, he expected they would do so during the current off-season.
With the team shedding salary and refocusing on player development, a return to the old glory days is not likely for the next few seasons. Marmol may remain at the helm at least through this phase.
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(Baseball Reference) Another losing year in 2025
As revenues dipped with the team fortunes on the field and their television contract fell in value, the Cardinals disclosed plans to cut their big-league player payroll. The new plan for 2025 was to focus on their younger players. However, they got caught in the middle, unable to unload the costly contract of veteran Nolan Arenado. Other expensive Cardinals, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras, chose to stay and their no-trade protection confirmed their preference.
Further, a pair of former first-round selections who initially experienced major league success only to backslide in 2024 did not substantially rebound in 2025. Of course, I am referring to infielder Nolan Gorman and outfielder Jordan Walker.
At the deadline, with the season heading nowhere, the Cardinals traded away impending free agents Steven Matz, Phil Maton and Ryan Helsley for prospects.
Others stepped up, including Ivan Herrera, Alec Burleson and Michael McGreevy, but there wasn’t enough pitching or offense to get the 2025 Cardinals past 78 wins. That was five fewer victories than in 2024, but it kept them out of last place.
The 2025 team finished 19 games out of first, but only seven out of the division cellar. Fan apathy reached depths not experienced in the DeWitt decades.
At 2.25 million in announced attendance, averaging less than 28,000 per game, the 2025 Cardinals ranked a dismal and disappointing 11th in the National League and 19th in MLB. The actual buns in seats were considerably less, which accelerated the next few stories – clearing out expensive contracts, remaking the roster and restocking the farm system.
- Trades not made – yet
Though the calendar year is almost over, the off-season baseball calendar is not.
So far, this winter, second baseman Brendan Donovan has been the subject of some of the most frequent trade rumors in the Hot Stove League. To a bit of a lesser extent, reliever and second half 2025 closer JoJo Romero is also in demand, according to the rumor mill.
Nolan Arenado probably wishes there were more rumors about him, and momentum for trading Lars Nootbaar was quashed when it was disclosed that his post-surgery rehab from heel surgery may continue into the 2026 regular season.
The common thread is that these players have one or more seasons of team cost control ahead (though in Arenado’s case, the cost outweighs his likely production). That makes them more appealing to potential buyers. It also makes the asking price higher. Bloom has never said they aren’t available, but that the offer would have to be exceptional.
Reportedly over half the MLB teams have reached out to Bloom, just about Donovan. That had to facilitate further conversations about others, as well.
It won’t make or break the Cardinals finances either way, so perhaps none of the players in the rumor mill will be traded, with Arenado both the most urgent and most difficult to move. But if they are, the return may help rebuild the pitching pipeline.
- Willson to Boston
I rank this story third after Sonny Gray only because it came later and as such, was slightly less surprising. By the time December 21st came around, it was clear that the Cardinals were in full sell mode. It was only a matter of time before other shoes dropped.
So, the fact that Willson Contreras was traded for three pitchers seemed to be the next page in Bloom’s playbook. But what was unexpected is that his destination was the same as Gray’s – Bloom’s former employer, the Boston Red Sox.
Contreras was three years into his five-year contract signed as a catcher to replace future Hall of Famer Yadier Molina. Early on, some pitchers did not like his work behind the plate, leading to public embarrassment for the team and the player. An aborted move to left field (that they later clumsily tried again with Herrera) added to the confusion before Contreras settled in at first base following the departure of Paul Goldschmidt.
Being a consistent force with the bat meant Contreras was desirable to other teams, even more so after former Mets star Pete Alonso came off the market. Still, the perceived value of Contreras’ remaining contract (plus their desire to maximize the player return) meant the Cardinals had to include $8 million in the trade.
From Boston, the Cardinals again received pitching. One is an MLB-experienced starter in Hunter Dobbins plus a pair of prospects, Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita. Dobbins has five years of team control before free agency.
2025 standout Alec Burleson seems most likely to assume Contreras’ former job at first base. However, it is unclear where Contreras’ offensive replacement will come from as he averaged a consistent 2.8 bWAR per season as a Cardinal.
- End of the Gray Era
Like with Contreras, Sonny Gray’s contract gave him no-trade protection. Also, like Contreras, prior to the 2025 season, Gray said he preferred to remain a Cardinal.
That stance changed after another year of no-playoff baseball and dwindling crowds in St. Louis, not to mention the likelihood that the 35-year-old Gray could see the end of his career down the road.
Bloom struck quickly. In a trade that was formalized two days before Thanksgiving, Gray and $20 million cash headed to Boston for MLB starting pitcher Richard Fitts and prospect Brandon Clarke plus cash or a player to be named later.
Bloom’s version of the rebuild of the Cardinals started with a bang as he traded his best pitcher, the team’s ace. For ownership, this was primarily about clearing payroll, most of which will not be redeployed in the next year or two. But at least Bloom was able to secure useful players in return. Fitts should step into the rotation, but he will not provide similar results to Gray.
- Mozeliak retires, Bloom takes over
After the 2024 season, Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak confirmed his intention to step down following the 2025 season. And that is what he did. The transition indicated that after focusing on player development in 2025, special assistant Chaim Bloom would take over for Mozeliak, on a five-year contract.
The general manager position will remain open for the second consecutive year, with Bloom’s hands firmly on the controls heading into 2026.
The need for change had been brewing for multiple years. As homegrown stars Yadier Molina, Albert Pujols and Adam Wainwright reached the end of their long and productive MLB careers and retired as Cardinals, replacements with that kind of potential impact were nowhere to be found in the system.
In recent years, the Cardinals acquired a pair of celebrated corner infielders to anchor the lineup, Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado. They were joined by free agent pitcher Sonny Gray and catcher Willson Contreras as the club tried to keep up by acquiring expensive veterans.
In the background, the minor league system fell behind as spending and focus was diverted upward and important draft picks and international spending power were forfeited to sign the MLB free agents. The farm system was no longer producing the necessary pitching while several high-profile prospect hitters did not produce as hoped.
Mozeliak’s approach only delayed the inevitable as the Cardinals learned the roster was no longer deep enough to support consistent contention to win the division, let alone contend for the World Series. Fans grew weary of “be patient” messaging, staying home in increasing numbers.
Hence, the addition of Bloom to refocus on building a stronger farm system. The goal is to always have a supply of MLB-ready (and cost-effective) players to call upon. This new-old path is intended to restore the Cardinals player pipeline to prominence and therefore the big-league team, as well.
The organization is betting its future on it.
But before we move the Mozeliak era to a chapter in the history books, let’s give the man his due.
Since 2007, Mozeliak served as the Cardinals general manager and president of baseball operations. He first joined the organization in 1995, hired by his GM predecessor, Walt Jocketty and held various jobs including scouting director and assistant GM.
Mozeliak’s tenure on top included 10 postseason berths, two National League pennants, and the 2011 World Series championship. The Cardinals posted a franchise-record 15 consecutive winning seasons from 2008 through 2022, and St. Louis was the winningest team in the NL during that decade and a half heyday. Mozeliak is sure to become a Cardinals team Hall of Famer one day.
But all good things come to an end as Mozeliak walked out the front door following the 2025 season. Best wishes wherever his future takes him.
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