What year will the Cardinals be competitive?

[Cardinals1964]

What’s your opinion when the Cardinals will be good again?
I’m predicting 2030.
The team setup is horrific.
You have the leagues 2nd worst hitter catching.
You have a bad fielding catcher playing 1st.
A catcher playing left or DH.
A backup catcher that can hit but not catch.
4 of the top 10 Cardinals prospects are catchers.
None of those top 10 Cardinal catching prospects are top 10 catching prospects in MLB.
What were they thinking?
I’m not a hater. I’m a realist.
I tune in today to watch young prospects play after the trade deadline and all I see is the same people on the field. Is this what we are going to watch next year?
What changes next year? JJ? One person won’t turn this around.

[desertrat23]

I know posting old song lyrics is Sikeston Bulldog’s thing, but…

…in the year 2525.

[Cardinals1964]

I know posting old song lyrics is Sikeston Bulldog’s thing, but…

…in the year 2525.

I was a little more optimistic than that.

[JuanAgosto]

Could be 2026 with really good moves and a dedicated goal to win. All these people saying they need to suck to rebuild. How many young players do you see in this organization that are ready to be MLB players? NOT ENOUGH!

We have one guy in Memphis (Wetherholt) who looks ready. We have another (Crooks), who probably gets a look in 2026. And we have a few currently in StL who cant cut it.

Trim some fat. Bring up the two guys in Memphis. Acquire two starting pitchers. And find a legit bat. That makes you competitive. And it doesn't hamper your youth movement. Those worth keeping will still have the opportunity to play.

[DickyBennett]

Literally trim some fat off this team

Get more athletic

[mattmitchl44]

Other teams took 3, 4, 5 years to do a deep rebuild, so I'd guess something like 2028.

[imadangman]

Other teams took 3, 4, 5 years to do a deep rebuild, so I'd guess something like 2028.

The game is changed now. Smart front offices seem to be able to pull off a quicker turnaround, like 1 or 2 years.

[RunSup]

Second half of 2027. After the lockout / strike. If the season is list, 2028. I expect them to actually be honest about this now.

Multiple pitching prospects who have recently undergone TJ surgery should be healthy and ready to contribute

Joe Doyle will be ready to start in the bigs. Barring injury

The catching prospects (Bernal / Crooks) should be ready to contribute.

Maturation of several other pitching and hitting prospects should be close

The FO should be ready to add on. So a trade or FA or 2 works.

[sikeston bulldog2]

I know posting old song lyrics is Sikeston Bulldog’s thing, but…

…in the year 2525.

I was a little more optimistic than that.

Will man even be alive?

Here’s the deal. Under the Bulldog rebuild it was to cut the contracts, play the kids, cut what can’t play, this off season. Also adds bat or Ace.

2026- play. Same Mo. play the kids . Lose. Cut. Add the opposite of what you got last off season.
2027 compete.

We have gone 19 years between WS as our longest drought. We are currently at 12. 2030 would be near franchise longest drought.

That’s record territory.

[Talkin' Baseball]

We will be "better" next year, but I agree with RunSup, we will become competitive after the lockout.

[VegasVinny]

If by competitive, you mean competing for a Wild Card spot, 2027. If all most goes well in the development wing and the club augments the team with productive FA signings, they could compete for an NL Central title in 2028.

[Hoosier59]

I don’t think anyone outside the organization has a clue. When will the DeWitts decide to spend again? After the lockout? Probably, but by then little Bill might be running things, so who knows what he’ll do?
The facts are, that several of their young players simply have to start figuring things out. Too many of them have a few weeks of hot streaks, then several weeks of not being able to hit at all. Also, they seem to all be hot or cold at the same time! That’s not normal.
Many of these players looked very promising while playing in the minors, but have really failed upon being called up. I really think it’s an organization thing, until things change there, it’s just going to be the same ole, same ole! Maybe Bloom is the answer, but if the DeWitts won’t raise payroll, the Cardinals we are seeing now, is going to be the norm.

[45s]

two more years to get out of the ridiculously bad contracts they have

then a true rebuild can begin...minimum three years..

so 2029

[Talkin' Baseball]

two more years to get out of the ridiculously bad contracts they have

then a true rebuild can begin...minimum three years..

so 2029

Mikolas is gone in about 60 days. I am hopeful that they will actually pony up to get rid of Arenado. That leaves Contreras and Gray. Their contracts are not good, but at least they are productive. I don't think they are interfering with a rebuild. If Arenado is still here, he is in the way for sure.