Free Agent starters - little chance the Cards get anyone decent

[Cranny]

I'd like to see them go after B. Woodruff with a S. Gray like $70M/3 yr deal (Knowing Gray's $35M is off the books after next year).

Mikolas/Matz/Helsley/Fedde = $45+M off the books, plenty of payroll space to easily cover Woodruffs salary w/money left over.

2026 Rotation:

Woodruff
Gray
Libby
McGreevy
????? (trade for a current #4/5 young starter w/upside)

"Q"/Doyle (potentially sometime in 2026)


(And enough of the lockout talk! Players AREN'T PAID during a lockout so teams will still be signing free agents and BDWjr should NOT get away w/spreading horse manure)

Yeah, seems like most here on CT have already accepted that next year "we can't sign anybody" because of a possible work stoppage.
Even on this thread alone, people are talking about waiting till 2028. Wow!

Simply trying to ground my expectations in reality. The front office recently doubled down on suppressing payroll, and thus, won't be spending dollars on difference makers this offseason. So, with what (realistic) path to contention does that leave the 2026 team?

- Bloom trades excess roster pieces and pulls rabbits out of a couple hats
- Quinn Mathews and JJ Wetherholt break camp with the parent club, experience injury-free rookie seasons with no Walker/Gorman-type, um, learning curves
- Speaking of Walker, he produces a season we've all been awaiting
- Because payroll will be staying flat, we should realistically expect no more than one Phil Maton-type reliever, as that was all the team signed last year when they spouted off the same expectation-lowering message

A lot - not everything - has to go right and next to nothing can go wrong with any of the above.

Vinny,

Appreciate the conversation. Explain to me why we won't be adding any $ this offseason. I mean we are getting down to bare bones. I don't get it.

Lol bc the owner is cheap af and doesn't want to spend... it's really not that complicated, you just need to wake up to reality. They're even running out of reasonable sounding excuses at this point, they are virtually admitting it openly.

Guess they didn’t spend on Goldy, Arenado, Gray, and Contreras?

[rockondlouie]

I'd like to see them go after B. Woodruff with a S. Gray like $70M/3 yr deal (Knowing Gray's $35M is off the books after next year).

Mikolas/Matz/Helsley/Fedde = $45+M off the books, plenty of payroll space to easily cover Woodruffs salary w/money left over.

2026 Rotation:

Woodruff
Gray
Libby
McGreevy
????? (trade for a current #4/5 young starter w/upside)

"Q"/Doyle (potentially sometime in 2026)


(And enough of the lockout talk! Players AREN'T PAID during a lockout so teams will still be signing free agents and BDWjr should NOT get away w/spreading horse manure)

Yeah, seems like most here on CT have already accepted that next year "we can't sign anybody" because of a possible work stoppage.
Even on this thread alone, people are talking about waiting till 2028. Wow!

Simply trying to ground my expectations in reality. The front office recently doubled down on suppressing payroll, and thus, won't be spending dollars on difference makers this offseason. So, with what (realistic) path to contention does that leave the 2026 team?

- Bloom trades excess roster pieces and pulls rabbits out of a couple hats
- Quinn Mathews and JJ Wetherholt break camp with the parent club, experience injury-free rookie seasons with no Walker/Gorman-type, um, learning curves
- Speaking of Walker, he produces a season we've all been awaiting
- Because payroll will be staying flat, we should realistically expect no more than one Phil Maton-type reliever, as that was all the team signed last year when they spouted off the same expectation-lowering message

A lot - not everything - has to go right and next to nothing can go wrong with any of the above.

Vinny,

Appreciate the conversation. Explain to me why we won't be adding any $ this offseason. I mean we are getting down to bare bones. I don't get it.

Lol bc the owner is cheap af and doesn't want to spend... it's really not that complicated, you just need to wake up to reality. They're even running out of reasonable sounding excuses at this point, they are virtually admitting it openly.

Guess they didn’t spend on Goldy, Arenado, Gray, and Contreras?

That was THEN, what about NOW (re: 2026)?

[3dender]

I'd like to see them go after B. Woodruff with a S. Gray like $70M/3 yr deal (Knowing Gray's $35M is off the books after next year).

Mikolas/Matz/Helsley/Fedde = $45+M off the books, plenty of payroll space to easily cover Woodruffs salary w/money left over.

2026 Rotation:

Woodruff
Gray
Libby
McGreevy
????? (trade for a current #4/5 young starter w/upside)

"Q"/Doyle (potentially sometime in 2026)


(And enough of the lockout talk! Players AREN'T PAID during a lockout so teams will still be signing free agents and BDWjr should NOT get away w/spreading horse manure)

Yeah, seems like most here on CT have already accepted that next year "we can't sign anybody" because of a possible work stoppage.
Even on this thread alone, people are talking about waiting till 2028. Wow!

Simply trying to ground my expectations in reality. The front office recently doubled down on suppressing payroll, and thus, won't be spending dollars on difference makers this offseason. So, with what (realistic) path to contention does that leave the 2026 team?

- Bloom trades excess roster pieces and pulls rabbits out of a couple hats
- Quinn Mathews and JJ Wetherholt break camp with the parent club, experience injury-free rookie seasons with no Walker/Gorman-type, um, learning curves
- Speaking of Walker, he produces a season we've all been awaiting
- Because payroll will be staying flat, we should realistically expect no more than one Phil Maton-type reliever, as that was all the team signed last year when they spouted off the same expectation-lowering message

A lot - not everything - has to go right and next to nothing can go wrong with any of the above.

Vinny,

Appreciate the conversation. Explain to me why we won't be adding any $ this offseason. I mean we are getting down to bare bones. I don't get it.

Lol bc the owner is cheap af and doesn't want to spend... it's really not that complicated, you just need to wake up to reality. They're even running out of reasonable sounding excuses at this point, they are virtually admitting it openly.

Guess they didn’t spend on Goldy, Arenado, Gray, and Contreras?

Guess you haven't noticed any of the organizational shifts since those transactions?

[Cranny]

I'd like to see them go after B. Woodruff with a S. Gray like $70M/3 yr deal (Knowing Gray's $35M is off the books after next year).

Mikolas/Matz/Helsley/Fedde = $45+M off the books, plenty of payroll space to easily cover Woodruffs salary w/money left over.

2026 Rotation:

Woodruff
Gray
Libby
McGreevy
????? (trade for a current #4/5 young starter w/upside)

"Q"/Doyle (potentially sometime in 2026)


(And enough of the lockout talk! Players AREN'T PAID during a lockout so teams will still be signing free agents and BDWjr should NOT get away w/spreading horse manure)

Yeah, seems like most here on CT have already accepted that next year "we can't sign anybody" because of a possible work stoppage.
Even on this thread alone, people are talking about waiting till 2028. Wow!

Simply trying to ground my expectations in reality. The front office recently doubled down on suppressing payroll, and thus, won't be spending dollars on difference makers this offseason. So, with what (realistic) path to contention does that leave the 2026 team?

- Bloom trades excess roster pieces and pulls rabbits out of a couple hats
- Quinn Mathews and JJ Wetherholt break camp with the parent club, experience injury-free rookie seasons with no Walker/Gorman-type, um, learning curves
- Speaking of Walker, he produces a season we've all been awaiting
- Because payroll will be staying flat, we should realistically expect no more than one Phil Maton-type reliever, as that was all the team signed last year when they spouted off the same expectation-lowering message

A lot - not everything - has to go right and next to nothing can go wrong with any of the above.

Vinny,

Appreciate the conversation. Explain to me why we won't be adding any $ this offseason. I mean we are getting down to bare bones. I don't get it.

Lol bc the owner is cheap af and doesn't want to spend... it's really not that complicated, you just need to wake up to reality. They're even running out of reasonable sounding excuses at this point, they are virtually admitting it openly.

Guess they didn’t spend on Goldy, Arenado, Gray, and Contreras?

Guess you haven't noticed any of the organizational shifts since those transactions?

Of course I have. Do you really think Mo is going to make a long term commitment to a player this transition year?
He's giving to Bloom as much flexibility as possible.

[IndCard75]

Allow me to share some good news amidst the doom.
Super Slo is defined by caution, fear, and timidity.
Deep set fear of failure paralyzes him - as he has admitted.
"Chaim Not Afraid of Risk" Bloom will be different, as his career to date documents.
He has pieces to move in exchange for starting pitchers.
At the MLB level, he has parts with which to work.
Lars The Human Sushi-baar should be traded as I alone was first to understand and advise 4 seasons ago - and it appears STL finally grasps that.
Now that Herrera is no longer a catcher (being moved after I alone was first to understand and advise 3 seasons ago) - he has created potential redundancy in the outfield and at DH and STL may be able to make a choice between him and Walker.
Wetherholt's expected arrival for 2026 should move Donovan off second base - allowing him to return to his fulltime starter rotating super utility role, take over LF, or be a trade piece.
Though many appreciate Burleson's contribution (including me), if STL has no intention of pursuing an extension Bloom could look at moving him at peak value this winter.
And there are minor league pieces as well.
The big developmental jumps from Church and Joshua Baez this season could Bloom to make Scott available under the right circumstances.
Crooks and Bernal present an interesting dilemma as well - either would bring significant return.
Bottom line.
One from the list of Herrera or Walker.
One or two from the list of Mootbaar, Burleson, Donovan, or Scott.
One from the list of Crooks or Bernal.
Not advocating one way or the other, but Bloom can easily move 3 from this group and really not negatively impact the 2026 position player roster one bit.
A good spot to be in - for the right man.
We shall see if Bloom is.

I agree with most of this except I would subtract Herrera or Walker and add Gorman.
Unfortunately we will probably be stuck with Arenado leaving Gorman without a position.
So my guess Gorman Crooks for best SP they can get.
Possibly Alcantara but might be better options.
Nootbar traded for a RP.
Donovan LF
Herrera DH
JJW 2B
WC 1B
NA 3B
Winn SS
Walker RF
Pages C
Scott CF
Bench
Pozo till Bernal is ready.
Sagesse
Burly plays almost every day OF 1B DH

[Cardinals4Life]

Allow me to share some good news amidst the doom.
Super Slo is defined by caution, fear, and timidity.
Deep set fear of failure paralyzes him - as he has admitted.
"Chaim Not Afraid of Risk" Bloom will be different, as his career to date documents.
He has pieces to move in exchange for starting pitchers.
At the MLB level, he has parts with which to work.
Lars The Human Sushi-baar should be traded as I alone was first to understand and advise 4 seasons ago - and it appears STL finally grasps that.
Now that Herrera is no longer a catcher (being moved after I alone was first to understand and advise 3 seasons ago) - he has created potential redundancy in the outfield and at DH and STL may be able to make a choice between him and Walker.
Wetherholt's expected arrival for 2026 should move Donovan off second base - allowing him to return to his fulltime starter rotating super utility role, take over LF, or be a trade piece.
Though many appreciate Burleson's contribution (including me), if STL has no intention of pursuing an extension Bloom could look at moving him at peak value this winter.
And there are minor league pieces as well.
The big developmental jumps from Church and Joshua Baez this season could Bloom to make Scott available under the right circumstances.
Crooks and Bernal present an interesting dilemma as well - either would bring significant return.
Bottom line.
One from the list of Herrera or Walker.
One or two from the list of Mootbaar, Burleson, Donovan, or Scott.
One from the list of Crooks or Bernal.
Not advocating one way or the other, but Bloom can easily move 3 from this group and really not negatively impact the 2026 position player roster one bit.
A good spot to be in - for the right man.
We shall see if Bloom is.

I agree with most of this except I would subtract Herrera or Walker and add Gorman.
Unfortunately we will probably be stuck with Arenado leaving Gorman without a position.
So my guess Gorman Crooks for best SP they can get.
Possibly Alcantara but might be better options.
Nootbar traded for a RP.
Donovan LF
Herrera DH
JJW 2B
WC 1B
NA 3B
Winn SS
Walker RF
Pages C
Scott CF
Bench
Pozo till Bernal is ready.
Sagesse
Burly plays almost every day OF 1B DH

Not bad. I'd still try and shed Nado's contract and sign Eugenio Suarez. Makes the lineup so much better.

Also, I could see Burly being traded too.