For the "trade everybody" crowd

[rockondlouie]

Who would you keep and build around leaving aside the no trade deal players. What does your 2026 rotation and lineup look like?

Hererra
&
Libby

JJW + Doyle when called up.

I'd deal anyone else in the right trade.

2026 Rotation:

-Gray
-Libby
-McGreevy
-ACQUIRED STARTER via trade
-Leahy

Curious why Libby is a keeper

I think he's got upside.

Give him this winter to fully train as a starter (remember Mo/Oli didn't move him into the SR until the final week of STing, more stupidity from this duo).

Fair enough. Lefties for some reason peak at older age. I'm troubled he throws a lot of pitches per inning.

They do indeed

[cardsrmyteam]

Who would you keep and build around leaving aside the no trade deal players. What does your 2026 rotation and lineup look like?

lol if you are building a team around any of the players currently on the team your team is in trouble. The team is filled with complementary players at best none of them are players you build around. I like herrrera a lot and think he will continue to get better but if someone is willing to trade a lot for him do it

+1000, this core is not going to get you over the hump.

Herrera is not a DH, since Mo has decided he's not a catcher he is a hindrance to the lineup and needs to be moved as his power compared to other DH's is minimal
Gorman is still a work in progress
Donovan is a nice player, but by the time the St. Louis Pirates might be good from internal development you will have squandered his time here (just like what the Pirates, Reds, Marlins, etc do with their talent).
Burleson is a role player on 20 other teams.
Noot is not who Mo thought he was going to be
Saggesse is an AAAA player.
The list goes on and on.

The only way this "talent" thing works is to trade everything at the MLB for prospects and then pray the overloading of the farm system creates something, but that also requires an investment in the farm system. So we at a cross roads, you either trade it all and pray for the future or you need to rework this lineup with plus hitters and defenders.

It will be interesting to see which route Chaim goes in fixing Mo's problems.

[Carp4Cy]

What the 2028 roster looks like is more important.

The 2028 roster isn’t going to be the first year for anyone important unless we sign them as a FA. And if so, why not a year or 2 sooner?

Its likely the first year they'll really try and compete again.

Then you are wasting multiple years of JJW’s service time and others, without anyone else at his level behind him in our system who is worth waiting on. And there never will be because we can’t draft that high again for a long time.

[sikeston bulldog2]

What the 2028 roster looks like is more important.

The 2028 roster isn’t going to be the first year for anyone important unless we sign them as a FA. And if so, why not a year or 2 sooner?

Its likely the first year they'll really try and compete again.

Then you are wasting multiple years of JJW’s service time and others, without anyone else at his level behind him in our system who is worth waiting on. And there never will be because we can’t draft that high again for a long time.

Yes. You’re on it. Now you see how difficult it is to solve this power player outage. There just simple aren’t many of them. Same with stud pitchers. Where they at?

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

Wetherholt 3b
Herrera. LF
Donovan. 2b
Contreras. 1b
Nootbaar RF
Winn. SS
Gorman. DH
Pozo. C
Scott. CF

Bench
Burleson (getting plenty pt at 1b, LF, DH)
Walker (Platoon in RF)
Sagese
Crooks (platoon with Pozo)

Rotation.
Gray.
Liberatore.
Addition.
McGreevy.
Leahy

Bullpen
Pallante
King
Graceffo
Svanson
Addition
O'Brien
Romero

What about the new pitcher from TN? I would think he would be one of the top 5 pitchers.

I considered him. But do they throw him into the MLB fire to start 2026? Im not sure.

He’s the number 2 prospect behind JJ. I would think he’s a lock next year.

[Quincy Varnish]

Wetherholt 3b
Herrera. LF
Donovan. 2b
Contreras. 1b
Nootbaar RF
Winn. SS
Gorman. DH
Pozo. C
Scott. CF

Bench
Burleson (getting plenty pt at 1b, LF, DH)
Walker (Platoon in RF)
Sagese
Crooks (platoon with Pozo)

Rotation.
Gray.
Liberatore.
Addition.
McGreevy.
Leahy

Bullpen
Pallante
King
Graceffo
Svanson
Addition
O'Brien
Romero

What about the new pitcher from TN? I would think he would be one of the top 5 pitchers.

I considered him. But do they throw him into the MLB fire to start 2026? Im not sure.

He’s the number 2 prospect behind JJ. I would think he’s a lock next year.

No. Why would you think that?

[JuanAgosto]

Wetherholt 3b
Herrera. LF
Donovan. 2b
Contreras. 1b
Nootbaar RF
Winn. SS
Gorman. DH
Pozo. C
Scott. CF

Bench
Burleson (getting plenty pt at 1b, LF, DH)
Walker (Platoon in RF)
Sagese
Crooks (platoon with Pozo)

Rotation.
Gray.
Liberatore.
Addition.
McGreevy.
Leahy

Bullpen
Pallante
King
Graceffo
Svanson
Addition
O'Brien
Romero

What about the new pitcher from TN? I would think he would be one of the top 5 pitchers.

I considered him. But do they throw him into the MLB fire to start 2026? Im not sure.

He’s the number 2 prospect behind JJ. I would think he’s a lock next year.

I agree. But probably on limited innings.

[ScotchMIrish]

Yeah probably right. Problem is they are going to HAVE to add a MOTO and a TOR arm from outside the organization.

I think JJ is a great hitter. Is he a MOTO bat, though? I don’t know, but probably not yet.

If we wait, Sonny will be gone then you need to replace him as well.

This ownership SUCKS!

I could see them adding a free agent SP this offseason. Probably a middle to lower rotation guy. They could attempt to trade for another SP or reliever.

As for a moto bat, I don't see DeWitt spending for one. Even though he could & should. I do not think adding a bat hurts the rebuild. If anything, it stabilizes the organization by letting the young guys fall into other spots in the lineup.

Probably true with a new guy stepping in to run the baseball operation. I don't see DeWitt going wild but I see him adding a respectable starting pitcher. Gray has had some hiccups this season and that won't get better with age. I think we more than 1 starting pitcher FA but 1 is probably more likely.

I haven't looked to see who will be available.

Yep, we need 2 legit bats and at least 1 legit SP.
Probably need a closer now too

If they would get the 2 bats and 1 SP through FA, and let Bloom trade for a #2 or #3 with some of the redundant pieces, this "rebuild" could be complete by the start of next season. Folks, it ain't that hard!
Unfortunately, the skill isn’t the issue. It's an owner who has gone cheap and is preventing the Cards from being good.

With the tv deal and attendance I don't see that happening. Maybe I'll be proven wrong.

Spending to be competitive (for the division title, not chasing the 3rd WC), would increase attendance and TV revenue.

I think they need to rework the tv deal. Make it more widely available as part of basic packages instead of the $20 a month price. That would also boost attendance as people regained interest. I just noticed no Arenado on your roster. What do you anticipate happening with him?

I agree about the TV situation. Paying an extra $20 for 1 channel on top of normal provider fees is ridiculous and greedy.

I think they eat a lot of cash to move Arenado this winter.

Arenado doesn't seem interested in waiving his no trade clause.

They need to have a tough talk with him about the future.

I understand why Arenado doesn't want to move. I attended 16 schools in 12 states growing up and I would not want to do that to my family if I had the option to stay put. His future might be play another year and retire. I doubt he agrees to a trade.

He may not agree. But the front office has to make the decision to move forward.

How do they move forward if he vetos a trade?

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

Wetherholt 3b
Herrera. LF
Donovan. 2b
Contreras. 1b
Nootbaar RF
Winn. SS
Gorman. DH
Pozo. C
Scott. CF

Bench
Burleson (getting plenty pt at 1b, LF, DH)
Walker (Platoon in RF)
Sagese
Crooks (platoon with Pozo)

Rotation.
Gray.
Liberatore.
Addition.
McGreevy.
Leahy

Bullpen
Pallante
King
Graceffo
Svanson
Addition
O'Brien
Romero

What about the new pitcher from TN? I would think he would be one of the top 5 pitchers.

I considered him. But do they throw him into the MLB fire to start 2026? Im not sure.

He’s the number 2 prospect behind JJ. I would think he’s a lock next year.

No. Why would you think that?

He’s the best pitcher in the minors, college kid with 3 years. Picked number 5. Why wouldn’t he?

[ScotchMIrish]

Who would you keep and build around leaving aside the no trade deal players. What does your 2026 rotation and lineup look like?

lol if you are building a team around any of the players currently on the team your team is in trouble. The team is filled with complementary players at best none of them are players you build around. I like herrrera a lot and think he will continue to get better but if someone is willing to trade a lot for him do it

+1000, this core is not going to get you over the hump.

Herrera is not a DH, since Mo has decided he's not a catcher he is a hindrance to the lineup and needs to be moved as his power compared to other DH's is minimal
Gorman is still a work in progress
Donovan is a nice player, but by the time the St. Louis Pirates might be good from internal development you will have squandered his time here (just like what the Pirates, Reds, Marlins, etc do with their talent).
Burleson is a role player on 20 other teams.
Noot is not who Mo thought he was going to be
Saggesse is an AAAA player.
The list goes on and on.

The only way this "talent" thing works is to trade everything at the MLB for prospects and then pray the overloading of the farm system creates something, but that also requires an investment in the farm system. So we at a cross roads, you either trade it all and pray for the future or you need to rework this lineup with plus hitters and defenders.

It isn't great but in mid August the team is above .500 therefore there must be a few keepers.
It will be interesting to see which route Chaim goes in fixing Mo's problems.

[Quincy Varnish]

What about the new pitcher from TN? I would think he would be one of the top 5 pitchers.

I considered him. But do they throw him into the MLB fire to start 2026? Im not sure.

He’s the number 2 prospect behind JJ. I would think he’s a lock next year.

No. Why would you think that?

He’s the best pitcher in the minors, college kid with 3 years. Picked number 5. Why wouldn’t he?

Because he hasn’t pitched an inning of pro ball.
Use your head.