4 simple moves to fix the team for 2026

[Red Bird Classic]

Seems like some are seeking a 1 year fix for the Cardinals.
Feel they will be very disappointed if they think a few moves will fix things. 2026 will be just the start of the changes.
This rebuild is going to take more time than one year.

Bloom/Cerfolio will be attempting to improve the team for the long term.

Those with limited patience will be quite frustrated.
Sure some on CT will evaluate Bloom after the Winter Meetings and make a final determination on his POBO ability based on that.

For me, I am looking forward to hearing what his long term plan is to make Cardinals playoff competitive again. That should come in early November.

You did really great till the first sentence of that last paragraph.

It should read: I'm looking forward to hearing what his long-term plan is to make the Cardinals World Series competitive again.

The team can't be fixed in one offseason.

[Red Bird Classic]

This will not happen with our current ownership, but here is what I'd do.

1) Sign Kyle Tucker. He is having a down year in Chicago, but I think he could be had for 10/300. That would take him to his age 38 season. I don't think it's risky, he's really good, not sure what went wrong for him in Chicago though.

2) Trade Noot + Donovan to Seattle for 1 of their SP's. Woo, Giilbert, Kirby, Bryce Miller...

3) Sign Muncy or Story to play 3B. 2/30 would get either, maybe 2/35.

4) Find a way to deal Arenado, return doesn't matter.

These moves don't make us world beaters, and the rotation isn't great but I think they'd compete for a WC spot.

2B - Wetherholt
SS - Winn
RF - Tucker
3B Story/Muncy
DH - Herrera/Burly
1B - Contreras/Burly
LF - Walker
C - Crooks
CF - Scott

SP - Woo/Gilbert/Kirby/Miller
SP - Gray
SP - Libby
SP - Matthews
SP - McGreevy

This would simply return the Cardinals to the situation we've mostly not enjoyed had since 2011: a team that can compete if all you want is a low seeded playoff spot.

No thanks.

The team should focus on rebuilding a serious World Series contender.

[Cusecards]

Seems like some are seeking a 1 year fix for the Cardinals.
Feel they will be very disappointed if they think a few moves will fix things. 2026 will be just the start of the changes.
This rebuild is going to take more time than one year.

Bloom/Cerfolio will be attempting to improve the team for the long term.

Those with limited patience will be quite frustrated.
Sure some on CT will evaluate Bloom after the Winter Meetings and make a final determination on his POBO ability based on that.

For me, I am looking forward to hearing what his long term plan is to make Cardinals playoff competitive again. That should come in early November.

+1

Let's hope Bloom doesn't perform a Mozeliak and finish his offseason work in early November. A trade or trades must be made to acquire at least one starting pitcher. And not the Mo version of a starter. We need a bonafide upper rotation guy. After that, a bat would help. Preferably at one of 2b, 3b, or OF.

From what I read Bloom has had success with developing farm systems.
The Cards badly need to upgrade and develop in their system.
2024 & 2025 drafts look promising. Hopefully those picks develop and more to follow?

Yes, Bloom was hired to strengthen the farm system. It is something BDW has wanted to do for a decade. But Johnny bow ties was inept and let the minor league system deteriorate. Its astonishing that someone could be so bad at their job and not be fired. Its one thing to have a weak farm system if you sign any free agents that fill needs. Mozeliak has been exceptionally bad at that too. The man is a lazy, arrogant, inept, fool. Bloom should be a great change.

Fingers crossed.
Cards do have money to spend on FA’s but have to be judicious.
Especially in developing pitching!

Adding one starter helps. Two are needed but I dont see it happening. I think they get a starter through trade.

Not sure if Mathews will be ready next April?
I think Roby could have been if he didn’t go down.
Pallante could hang on at #5 but probably the BP.
I could see them also adding a vet via Free
Agency (a Lynn/Gibson type signing).
You mention trade and they could certainly put together an interesting package for a cost controlled SP.
They have catching depth in the system to deal from.
They have an excess of LH bats.
They could also include a decent pitching prospect if they get a better prospect back.
Question is? How aggressive would they get in a trade?
Donovan?
Walker?
Gorman?
One of Crooks/Bernal/Rodriguez??
Could get interesting?

[kyace]

I see Noot being moved this off-season but not to Mariners as they have plenty of lh hitters. The emergence of Cole Young lessens their pursuit of Donovan so I don’t see them as trade partners now. The time to trade with them was the past off-season.
Dodgers seem like a good fit for Nootbar as they will need a left hand outfield bat for a few years until their top outfield prospects are ready. Noots two remaining years fits the timeline.
They have some interesting controllable pitchers that are coming off tj surgery in late 2024. River Ryan and Kyle Hurt are two that could be dealt. Ryan has the most upside as a #2 starter. He will be 27 but still has 6 years of control.

[ICCFIM2]

I see Noot being moved this off-season but not to Mariners as they have plenty of lh hitters. The emergence of Cole Young lessens their pursuit of Donovan so I don’t see them as trade partners now. The time to trade with them was the past off-season.
Dodgers seem like a good fit for Nootbar as they will need a left hand outfield bat for a few years until their top outfield prospects are ready. Noots two remaining years fits the timeline.
They have some interesting controllable pitchers that are coming off tj surgery in late 2024. River Ryan and Kyle Hurt are two that could be dealt. Ryan has the most upside as a #2 starter. He will be 27 but still has 6 years of control.

This is exactly the kind of trades they need to make this offseason. It may or may not work out. But, six years of control on 1 or 2 upside SP prospects. If 1 of them works out, Doyle works out and Liberatore can be a #3 then the Cards can fill in the back end of a rotation instead of the front end.

[ICCFIM2]

This will not happen with our current ownership, but here is what I'd do.

1) Sign Kyle Tucker. He is having a down year in Chicago, but I think he could be had for 10/300. That would take him to his age 38 season. I don't think it's risky, he's really good, not sure what went wrong for him in Chicago though.

2) Trade Noot + Donovan to Seattle for 1 of their SP's. Woo, Giilbert, Kirby, Bryce Miller...

3) Sign Muncy or Story to play 3B. 2/30 would get either, maybe 2/35.

4) Find a way to deal Arenado, return doesn't matter.

These moves don't make us world beaters, and the rotation isn't great but I think they'd compete for a WC spot.

2B - Wetherholt
SS - Winn
RF - Tucker
3B Story/Muncy
DH - Herrera/Burly
1B - Contreras/Burly
LF - Walker
C - Crooks
CF - Scott

SP - Woo/Gilbert/Kirby/Miller
SP - Gray
SP - Libby
SP - Matthews
SP - McGreevy

This is exactly how the Cards got themselves into this situation to begin with, they traded talent, received / signed aging players in return onto a team not good enough to win. The above team is better than what we have, but has aging talent at 3B, an overpay in RF and a pitching staff not good enough to win. If we can all be patient and wait 1 more year, the Gray contract will be gone. The Cards might be enticed to buy out Arenado if they cannot trade him before 2027. Donovan will still be good. I would like to see them trade a bunch of the current ML roster and try to get 2 Woo level pitchers. Hopefully Doyle will be strong by 2027. Then they can have 2 of Libby, McGreevy and Matthews as the 4 and 5 starters. That is a staff good enough to win. Wetherholdt, Winn, Donovan and maybe Herrera at 1B. Scott or Church in CF and either players that emerge in LF and RF or Burleson plus a big free agent signing. But, Tucker I do not want yet. Story and Muncy I never want.

If Tucker is signed he’ll be here for awhile……this team doesn’t compete without at least one productive bat in OF

He will. But, this team likely won't really compete until 2028. Too many issues with SP to compete in 2026. Perhaps in 2027, but more likely in 2028. These long term contracts tend to not age well. So why waste the first 2 years of it on a team not ready and then effectively pay too much on the back-end when the team is competitive. There will be another Kyle Tucker equivalent player available after the 2027 season to get when the window opens up. Then they need to go for it. I disagree with your comment overall, I disagree with the timing of when to get the guy they need.

[O.O]

Saw a report projecting Tucker at 400m

i quit

[JuanAgosto]

Seems like some are seeking a 1 year fix for the Cardinals.
Feel they will be very disappointed if they think a few moves will fix things. 2026 will be just the start of the changes.
This rebuild is going to take more time than one year.

Bloom/Cerfolio will be attempting to improve the team for the long term.

Those with limited patience will be quite frustrated.
Sure some on CT will evaluate Bloom after the Winter Meetings and make a final determination on his POBO ability based on that.

For me, I am looking forward to hearing what his long term plan is to make Cardinals playoff competitive again. That should come in early November.

+1

Let's hope Bloom doesn't perform a Mozeliak and finish his offseason work in early November. A trade or trades must be made to acquire at least one starting pitcher. And not the Mo version of a starter. We need a bonafide upper rotation guy. After that, a bat would help. Preferably at one of 2b, 3b, or OF.

From what I read Bloom has had success with developing farm systems.
The Cards badly need to upgrade and develop in their system.
2024 & 2025 drafts look promising. Hopefully those picks develop and more to follow?

Yes, Bloom was hired to strengthen the farm system. It is something BDW has wanted to do for a decade. But Johnny bow ties was inept and let the minor league system deteriorate. Its astonishing that someone could be so bad at their job and not be fired. Its one thing to have a weak farm system if you sign any free agents that fill needs. Mozeliak has been exceptionally bad at that too. The man is a lazy, arrogant, inept, fool. Bloom should be a great change.

Fingers crossed.
Cards do have money to spend on FA’s but have to be judicious.
Especially in developing pitching!

Adding one starter helps. Two are needed but I dont see it happening. I think they get a starter through trade.

Not sure if Mathews will be ready next April?
I think Roby could have been if he didn’t go down.
Pallante could hang on at #5 but probably the BP.
I could see them also adding a vet via Free
Agency (a Lynn/Gibson type signing).
You mention trade and they could certainly put together an interesting package for a cost controlled SP.
They have catching depth in the system to deal from.
They have an excess of LH bats.
They could also include a decent pitching prospect if they get a better prospect back.
Question is? How aggressive would they get in a trade?
Donovan?
Walker?
Gorman?
One of Crooks/Bernal/Rodriguez??
Could get interesting?

I think they shop Donovan this winter.

[imadangman]

This will not happen with our current ownership, but here is what I'd do.

1) Sign Kyle Tucker. He is having a down year in Chicago, but I think he could be had for 10/300. That would take him to his age 38 season. I don't think it's risky, he's really good, not sure what went wrong for him in Chicago though.

2) Trade Noot + Donovan to Seattle for 1 of their SP's. Woo, Giilbert, Kirby, Bryce Miller...

3) Sign Muncy or Story to play 3B. 2/30 would get either, maybe 2/35.

4) Find a way to deal Arenado, return doesn't matter.

These moves don't make us world beaters, and the rotation isn't great but I think they'd compete for a WC spot.

2B - Wetherholt
SS - Winn
RF - Tucker
3B Story/Muncy
DH - Herrera/Burly
1B - Contreras/Burly
LF - Walker
C - Crooks
CF - Scott

SP - Woo/Gilbert/Kirby/Miller
SP - Gray
SP - Libby
SP - Matthews
SP - McGreevy

One thing I take out of this is how good the lineup looks if you have enough good hitters to push Herrera down to 5th.

[HorseTrader]

Seems like some are seeking a 1 year fix for the Cardinals.
Feel they will be very disappointed if they think a few moves will fix things. 2026 will be just the start of the changes.
This rebuild is going to take more time than one year.

Bloom/Cerfolio will be attempting to improve the team for the long term.

Those with limited patience will be quite frustrated.
Sure some on CT will evaluate Bloom after the Winter Meetings and make a final determination on his POBO ability based on that.

For me, I am looking forward to hearing what his long term plan is to make Cardinals playoff competitive again. That should come in early November.

+1

Let's hope Bloom doesn't perform a Mozeliak and finish his offseason work in early November. A trade or trades must be made to acquire at least one starting pitcher. And not the Mo version of a starter. We need a bonafide upper rotation guy. After that, a bat would help. Preferably at one of 2b, 3b, or OF.

2B or 3B is going to be filled by Wetherholt. Inquiring on Ketel Marte would make a lot of sense.

There’s no way I see them actually doing this, but adding Dylan Cease & Ketel Marte with Wetherholt coming up would be a massive push in the right direction.

It would take a lot to get Marte. They’d want JJ.

Probably not as much as you think. He's owed $91 mill for his age 32-37 seasons. Plus there was a report that some of the other players are unhappy with his habit of taking days off. Might be able to get him for Arenado, IF the Cards were dumb enough to take all of Marte's contract

https://www.mlb.com/news/torey-lovullo- ... e-off-days

[Cusecards]

Seems like some are seeking a 1 year fix for the Cardinals.
Feel they will be very disappointed if they think a few moves will fix things. 2026 will be just the start of the changes.
This rebuild is going to take more time than one year.

Bloom/Cerfolio will be attempting to improve the team for the long term.

Those with limited patience will be quite frustrated.
Sure some on CT will evaluate Bloom after the Winter Meetings and make a final determination on his POBO ability based on that.

For me, I am looking forward to hearing what his long term plan is to make Cardinals playoff competitive again. That should come in early November.

+1

Let's hope Bloom doesn't perform a Mozeliak and finish his offseason work in early November. A trade or trades must be made to acquire at least one starting pitcher. And not the Mo version of a starter. We need a bonafide upper rotation guy. After that, a bat would help. Preferably at one of 2b, 3b, or OF.

From what I read Bloom has had success with developing farm systems.
The Cards badly need to upgrade and develop in their system.
2024 & 2025 drafts look promising. Hopefully those picks develop and more to follow?

Yes, Bloom was hired to strengthen the farm system. It is something BDW has wanted to do for a decade. But Johnny bow ties was inept and let the minor league system deteriorate. Its astonishing that someone could be so bad at their job and not be fired. Its one thing to have a weak farm system if you sign any free agents that fill needs. Mozeliak has been exceptionally bad at that too. The man is a lazy, arrogant, inept, fool. Bloom should be a great change.

Fingers crossed.
Cards do have money to spend on FA’s but have to be judicious.
Especially in developing pitching!

Adding one starter helps. Two are needed but I dont see it happening. I think they get a starter through trade.

Not sure if Mathews will be ready next April?
I think Roby could have been if he didn’t go down.
Pallante could hang on at #5 but probably the BP.
I could see them also adding a vet via Free
Agency (a Lynn/Gibson type signing).
You mention trade and they could certainly put together an interesting package for a cost controlled SP.
They have catching depth in the system to deal from.
They have an excess of LH bats.
They could also include a decent pitching prospect if they get a better prospect back.
Question is? How aggressive would they get in a trade?
Donovan?
Walker?
Gorman?
One of Crooks/Bernal/Rodriguez??
Could get interesting?

I think they shop Donovan this winter.

They might for the right return?
Have to give to get!

[ClassicO]

Lemme get this straight, the majority owner wanted to strengthen the farm system for ten years but it got weaker?

Ha. I thought the same thing. If you've heard BDW on his radio appearances on ESPN, it's clear he calls the shots. He's very knowledgeable about the team, and when he pleads his case every year, I find myself understanding, if not agreeing, with his point of view. So yes, he's fully at fault for not having far better: 1) player development with far more emphasis on the minors, and 2) not investing in the international free agent market, which is where the Cards have been woeful.

[butsir01]

Lemme get this straight, the majority owner wanted to strengthen the farm system for ten years but it got weaker?

Ha. I thought the same thing. If you've heard BDW on his radio appearances on ESPN, it's clear he calls the shots. He's very knowledgeable about the team, and when he pleads his case every year, I find myself understanding, if not agreeing, with his point of view. So yes, he's fully at fault for not having far better: 1) player development with far more emphasis on the minors, and 2) not investing in the international free agent market, which is where the Cards have been woeful.

Wait, we did get Miles and, indirectly, The Feddster, from that there newfangled international market.

[rockondlouie]

Seems like some are seeking a 1 year fix for the Cardinals.
Feel they will be very disappointed if they think a few moves will fix things. 2026 will be just the start of the changes.
This rebuild is going to take more time than one year.

Bloom/Cerfolio will be attempting to improve the team for the long term.

Those with limited patience will be quite frustrated.
Sure some on CT will evaluate Bloom after the Winter Meetings and make a final determination on his POBO ability based on that.

For me, I am looking forward to hearing what his long term plan is to make Cardinals playoff competitive again. That should come in early November.

+1

Let's hope Bloom doesn't perform a Mozeliak and finish his offseason work in early November. A trade or trades must be made to acquire at least one starting pitcher. And not the Mo version of a starter. We need a bonafide upper rotation guy. After that, a bat would help. Preferably at one of 2b, 3b, or OF.

2B or 3B is going to be filled by Wetherholt. Inquiring on Ketel Marte would make a lot of sense.

There’s no way I see them actually doing this, but adding Dylan Cease & Ketel Marte with Wetherholt coming up would be a massive push in the right direction.

It would take a lot to get Marte. They’d want JJ.

HUGE PASS

No way you deal JJW for problem child Marte.

[alw80]

Payroll is going backwards not forwards. They are not spending money this offseason.

[Wattage]

This will not happen with our current ownership, but here is what I'd do.

1) Sign Kyle Tucker. He is having a down year in Chicago, but I think he could be had for 10/300. That would take him to his age 38 season. I don't think it's risky, he's really good, not sure what went wrong for him in Chicago though.

2) Trade Noot + Donovan to Seattle for 1 of their SP's. Woo, Giilbert, Kirby, Bryce Miller...

3) Sign Muncy or Story to play 3B. 2/30 would get either, maybe 2/35.

4) Find a way to deal Arenado, return doesn't matter.

These moves don't make us world beaters, and the rotation isn't great but I think they'd compete for a WC spot.

2B - Wetherholt
SS - Winn
RF - Tucker
3B Story/Muncy
DH - Herrera/Burly
1B - Contreras/Burly
LF - Walker
C - Crooks
CF - Scott

SP - Woo/Gilbert/Kirby/Miller
SP - Gray
SP - Libby
SP - Matthews
SP - McGreevy

Story 2/35? Are you crazy? Story is just 2024 arenado for the last 4 years. And no- muncy would cost more than that