Cardinals picked as most interesting team to watch this offseason for NL Central

[ramfandan]

Article selected one team from each division :
NL
East - Phillies
Central - Cardinals
West - Giants

AL
East - Orioles
Central - Tigers
West- A's

https://www.mlb.com/news/interesting-te ... -offseason

Cardinals

It is reasonable if it is still taking you a while to recover from that World Series. It may take a few weeks to shake that one off and move on. (And if you’re a Blue Jays fan, it may take the rest of your life.)

But the offseason is, in fact, here. That means it’s time to start looking forward not just to the 2026 season, but all the activity the Hot Stove is going to provide. The Dodgers winning another World Series just raises the stakes for all the teams that didn’t win the World Series. There are a lot of teams with an even greater sense of urgency.

The latest free agent and trade rumors
So here’s a look at a team from each division that promises to be particularly interesting this winter. Maybe it’s a team that needs to make significant moves to get over the hump. Maybe it’s a team with new management wanting to take big swings. Maybe it’s a team that’s somewhere in between. But if you’re looking for the teams with the most interesting offseasons coming up, here they are:

CARDINALS

The Cardinals probably aren’t major contenders in the NL Central next year, even if the Brewers can’t repeat last year’s success, the Cubs don’t bring back Kyle Tucker or the Reds can’t build off their first full-year postseason appearance since 2013. But this is still a prideful organization that has gone three straight seasons without making the playoffs, and one with a new president of baseball operations in Chaim Bloom who has been biding his time for a year waiting to remake this organization.


The Cardinals look like they’re going to have a massive overhaul this offseason, and the presumed trade of Nolan Arenado is the least of it. Just about anyone who isn’t Masyn Winn or top prospect JJ Wetherholt is probably available if it’ll boost the already-improving Cardinals farm system, and that includes big names such as Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, Brendan Donovan, Lars Nootbaar, Nolan Gorman and perhaps even former top prospect Jordan Walker.

A year ago, it seemed like St. Louis might have a very busy, roster-reshaping offseason. That amounted to very little in reality, but don’t expect the same result with Bloom now in the big chair. The Cardinals are about to look very, very different. There is no team more open for business.

[C-Unit]

That's refreshing because last offseason the Cardinals were noted for doing literally zero. It feels pretty safe to say that won't be how this off-season goes.

[ramfandan]

That's refreshing because last offseason the Cardinals were noted for doing literally zero. It feels pretty safe to say that won't be how this off-season goes.

As the last line stated , 'there is no team more open for business ' . I had stated after Bloom's takeover that he would 'clean house' this offseason.
I look for a lot of wheelin dealin . I know some think I may be too optimistic OR are taking the 'I'll believe it when I see it ' stance . That's fine too. Just think that Bloom is going to jump into the pool with both feet regarding the rebuild.

[sdaltons]

I know there's a lot of hype but I could also see it being a sort of slower transition and he doesn't just blow it all up right out of the gate

[rage-STL]

My question is, what are the Cubs waiting for? If there were ever a time to spend money and put a stranglehold on the division, it’s now. How many HRs would Pete Alonso hit playing at Wrigley? Bring Schwarber home. Sign Cease. Hit the gas.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cubs take a couple big swings this offseason.

[ramfandan]

I know there's a lot of hype but I could also see it being a sort of slower transition and he doesn't just blow it all up right out of the gate

Hear what you are saying . Guess in my mind , 'cleaning house' for me would be if this offseason , he traded Donovan, Arenado , Sonny Gray, and JoJo Romero that would be considered by most MLB media types significant moves .. 4 established veteran major leaguers .. 2 position starters, your best starting pitcher arguably, and a good late inning reliever.

[hugeCardfan]

I won't mind some big changes as long as there is a consistent theme. I want to enter the 2026 season knowing what the goal is and that steps have been taken to get us there.

[Strummer Jones]

My question is, what are the Cubs waiting for? If there were ever a time to spend money and put a stranglehold on the division, it’s now. How many HRs would Pete Alonso hit playing at Wrigley? Bring Schwarber home. Sign Cease. Hit the gas.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cubs take a couple big swings this offseason.

Please, stop. I can only hate Pete Alonso (and the Cubs) SO much.

(Non) jokes aside...I'm just glad we've got a plan now. An actionable plan with steps and a goal that's not just "we'll see what happens"! It's a low bar now, but it's a bar that we hadn't been meeting in some time.

[ramfandan]

I won't mind some big changes as long as there is a consistent theme. I want to enter the 2026 season knowing what the goal is and that steps have been taken to get us there.

I believe Bloom at his introductory press conference laid out his goal .. To improve the team for the long term . While not citing the number of years nor using the word 'rebuild ' (the dreaded word in baseball circles ), Bloom seemed to indicate generally if there is improvement in 2026 in the process that is good but the moves he will be making starting this winter is not intended to turn the team into a contender in the short term. Look for veterans to be dealt for young prospects mostly. Bloom wants to bolster the farm system in order to develop guys for the major league team. At least that is the message I heard when listening to Bloom .

[Melville]

Super Slo mo was defined by caution, fear, timidity, and doubt - as he himself made clear in comments he made over the years.
Bollom will get some things right and some things wrong - but he won't be terrified as Mo was.

[An Old Friend]

My question is, what are the Cubs waiting for? If there were ever a time to spend money and put a stranglehold on the division, it’s now. How many HRs would Pete Alonso hit playing at Wrigley? Bring Schwarber home. Sign Cease. Hit the gas.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cubs take a couple big swings this offseason.

Cubs ownership basically sold out their flexibility to get private equity investment. They’re now focused on bottom line profitability more than ever. I don’t think anyone expects them to make meaningful payroll moves in front of the looming CBA battle royale

[Carp4Cy]

I know there's a lot of hype but I could also see it being a sort of slower transition and he doesn't just blow it all up right out of the gate

Hear what you are saying . Guess in my mind , 'cleaning house' for me would be if this offseason , he traded Donovan, Arenado , Sonny Gray, and JoJo Romero that would be considered by most MLB media types significant moves .. 4 established veteran major leaguers .. 2 position starters, your best starting pitcher arguably, and a good late inning reliever.

Taking active payroll below $20m isn’t interesting to me. It’s franchise killing. There won’t be any fans for a while, especially since he didn’t replace that (buzz) in the dugout.

[Chitownredbird]

IMHO I think Bloom would like to trade Arenado, Gray and Contreras for prospects none of whom I would expect to see in Stl until end of the season at earliest. I also think a veteran RH hitting OF will be acquired and that we’ll see more of a Tampa Bay platoon than we’ve ever seen before.

I hope I’m right because that could be an interesting team to watch. Regardless, I’ll pay for Extra Innings and watch every game.

[2ninr]

Interesting. Those teams seem like they could be likely to trade with each other.

[2ninr]

My question is, what are the Cubs waiting for? If there were ever a time to spend money and put a stranglehold on the division, it’s now. How many HRs would Pete Alonso hit playing at Wrigley? Bring Schwarber home. Sign Cease. Hit the gas.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cubs take a couple big swings this offseason.

Cubs ownership basically sold out their flexibility to get private equity investment. They’re now focused on bottom line profitability more than ever. I don’t think anyone expects them to make meaningful payroll moves in front of the looming CBA battle royale

Current speculation is they are tidying up their books much as the Cardinald will attempt to do. Immanaga and Kittridge already gone with them unlikely to sign Tucker.

[alw80]

I don't think anyone has any idea how teams are going to operate this offseason with the owner imposed lockout coming in '27. Everyone is literally uneducated guessing.