3 Biggest remaining needs according to Denton

[ramfandan]

By John Denton cited in Cardinals.com article
Link : https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/card ... s-coverage

ORLANDO, Fla. -- When told on Wednesday that one baseball executive described MLB trade talks moving at a “glacial” pace, Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom furled his face and openly balked.

“That’s not how it has felt to me,” said an admittedly weary Bloom, who kept himself busy throughout the three days of MLB’s Winter Meetings conducting trade talks surrounding Cardinals mainstays Brendan Donovan, JoJo Romero, Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras. “To some degree, it’s binary -- either you have something or you don’t. Right now, we don’t.”

Winter Meetings presented by CohnReznick: Complete coverage
A Cardinals club in the beginning stages of a full-on rebuild left Orlando on Wednesday without a trade being made, but it certainly wasn’t because of a lack of trying. With the Cardinals already fielding several calls about Donovan and Romero, they were queried by the Mets with interest in Contreras, per a source, after first baseman Pete Alonso left for the Orioles in free agency.

Here is a look at the week that was:




BIGGEST REMAINING NEEDS

1) Find deals for Donovan, Romero, Arenado and Contreras to flood the franchise with promising prospects

Bloom, a Cards consultant the past two years, knows the Cards can’t seriously contend in 2026 even if he brought those players back. Instead, he wants to try and exchange Donovan and Romero at the height of their values for a bevy of promising prospects.

2) Add a veteran starting pitcher to a young staff

As currently constructed, the Cardinals expect Matthew Liberatore, Michael McGreevy, Andre Pallante, Kyle Leahy and Richard Fitts to compete for starting jobs. That group is noticeably light on experience, and they need veterans to eat innings. Tyler Mahle, Germán Márquez and Paul Blackburn might fit the club’s needs and budget.

3) Extend Oliver Marmol’s contract beyond 2026

Marmol guided the Cards to the playoffs in 2022, but he and the club have been home for the postseason each of the last three years. However, that doesn’t mean he has done a poor job. Marmol has masterfully handled the bullpen each of the past two seasons, and he helped the Cardinals make it through 2025 without losing a starting pitcher to an arm injury. He and many coaches on his staff have backgrounds in player development and those skills are going to be needed more than ever in 2026 and ‘27.

[Melville]

By John Denton cited in Cardinals.com article
Link : https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/card ... s-coverage

ORLANDO, Fla. -- When told on Wednesday that one baseball executive described MLB trade talks moving at a “glacial” pace, Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom furled his face and openly balked.

“That’s not how it has felt to me,” said an admittedly weary Bloom, who kept himself busy throughout the three days of MLB’s Winter Meetings conducting trade talks surrounding Cardinals mainstays Brendan Donovan, JoJo Romero, Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras. “To some degree, it’s binary -- either you have something or you don’t. Right now, we don’t.”

Winter Meetings presented by CohnReznick: Complete coverage
A Cardinals club in the beginning stages of a full-on rebuild left Orlando on Wednesday without a trade being made, but it certainly wasn’t because of a lack of trying. With the Cardinals already fielding several calls about Donovan and Romero, they were queried by the Mets with interest in Contreras, per a source, after first baseman Pete Alonso left for the Orioles in free agency.

Here is a look at the week that was:




BIGGEST REMAINING NEEDS

1) Find deals for Donovan, Romero, Arenado and Contreras to flood the franchise with promising prospects

Bloom, a Cards consultant the past two years, knows the Cards can’t seriously contend in 2026 even if he brought those players back. Instead, he wants to try and exchange Donovan and Romero at the height of their values for a bevy of promising prospects.

2) Add a veteran starting pitcher to a young staff

As currently constructed, the Cardinals expect Matthew Liberatore, Michael McGreevy, Andre Pallante, Kyle Leahy and Richard Fitts to compete for starting jobs. That group is noticeably light on experience, and they need veterans to eat innings. Tyler Mahle, Germán Márquez and Paul Blackburn might fit the club’s needs and budget.

3) Extend Oliver Marmol’s contract beyond 2026

Marmol guided the Cards to the playoffs in 2022, but he and the club have been home for the postseason each of the last three years. However, that doesn’t mean he has done a poor job. Marmol has masterfully handled the bullpen each of the past two seasons, and he helped the Cardinals make it through 2025 without losing a starting pitcher to an arm injury. He and many coaches on his staff have backgrounds in player development and those skills are going to be needed more than ever in 2026 and ‘27.

"He and many coaches on his staff have backgrounds in player development...".
Background?
Perhaps.
Success?
Very little.
Competence?
None.

[ScotchMIrish]

By John Denton cited in Cardinals.com article
Link : https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/card ... s-coverage

ORLANDO, Fla. -- When told on Wednesday that one baseball executive described MLB trade talks moving at a “glacial” pace, Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom furled his face and openly balked.

“That’s not how it has felt to me,” said an admittedly weary Bloom, who kept himself busy throughout the three days of MLB’s Winter Meetings conducting trade talks surrounding Cardinals mainstays Brendan Donovan, JoJo Romero, Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras. “To some degree, it’s binary -- either you have something or you don’t. Right now, we don’t.”

Winter Meetings presented by CohnReznick: Complete coverage
A Cardinals club in the beginning stages of a full-on rebuild left Orlando on Wednesday without a trade being made, but it certainly wasn’t because of a lack of trying. With the Cardinals already fielding several calls about Donovan and Romero, they were queried by the Mets with interest in Contreras, per a source, after first baseman Pete Alonso left for the Orioles in free agency.

Here is a look at the week that was:




BIGGEST REMAINING NEEDS

1) Find deals for Donovan, Romero, Arenado and Contreras to flood the franchise with promising prospects

Bloom, a Cards consultant the past two years, knows the Cards can’t seriously contend in 2026 even if he brought those players back. Instead, he wants to try and exchange Donovan and Romero at the height of their values for a bevy of promising prospects.

2) Add a veteran starting pitcher to a young staff

As currently constructed, the Cardinals expect Matthew Liberatore, Michael McGreevy, Andre Pallante, Kyle Leahy and Richard Fitts to compete for starting jobs. That group is noticeably light on experience, and they need veterans to eat innings. Tyler Mahle, Germán Márquez and Paul Blackburn might fit the club’s needs and budget.

3) Extend Oliver Marmol’s contract beyond 2026

Marmol guided the Cards to the playoffs in 2022, but he and the club have been home for the postseason each of the last three years. However, that doesn’t mean he has done a poor job. Marmol has masterfully handled the bullpen each of the past two seasons, and he helped the Cardinals make it through 2025 without losing a starting pitcher to an arm injury. He and many coaches on his staff have backgrounds in player development and those skills are going to be needed more than ever in 2026 and ‘27.

"He and many coaches on his staff have backgrounds in player development...".
Background?
Perhaps.
Success?
Very little.
Competence?
None.

I agree although I wouldn't paint them all with a broad brush. If Bloom knows baseball like reportedly does he has spent 2 years figuring out who is competent and who isn't.

I contend Marmol is here to usher the team through the dump portion of the rebuild. When it looks like we are ready to turn it around he will be gone.

[Melville]

By John Denton cited in Cardinals.com article
Link : https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/card ... s-coverage

ORLANDO, Fla. -- When told on Wednesday that one baseball executive described MLB trade talks moving at a “glacial” pace, Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom furled his face and openly balked.

“That’s not how it has felt to me,” said an admittedly weary Bloom, who kept himself busy throughout the three days of MLB’s Winter Meetings conducting trade talks surrounding Cardinals mainstays Brendan Donovan, JoJo Romero, Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras. “To some degree, it’s binary -- either you have something or you don’t. Right now, we don’t.”

Winter Meetings presented by CohnReznick: Complete coverage
A Cardinals club in the beginning stages of a full-on rebuild left Orlando on Wednesday without a trade being made, but it certainly wasn’t because of a lack of trying. With the Cardinals already fielding several calls about Donovan and Romero, they were queried by the Mets with interest in Contreras, per a source, after first baseman Pete Alonso left for the Orioles in free agency.

Here is a look at the week that was:




BIGGEST REMAINING NEEDS

1) Find deals for Donovan, Romero, Arenado and Contreras to flood the franchise with promising prospects

Bloom, a Cards consultant the past two years, knows the Cards can’t seriously contend in 2026 even if he brought those players back. Instead, he wants to try and exchange Donovan and Romero at the height of their values for a bevy of promising prospects.

2) Add a veteran starting pitcher to a young staff

As currently constructed, the Cardinals expect Matthew Liberatore, Michael McGreevy, Andre Pallante, Kyle Leahy and Richard Fitts to compete for starting jobs. That group is noticeably light on experience, and they need veterans to eat innings. Tyler Mahle, Germán Márquez and Paul Blackburn might fit the club’s needs and budget.

3) Extend Oliver Marmol’s contract beyond 2026

Marmol guided the Cards to the playoffs in 2022, but he and the club have been home for the postseason each of the last three years. However, that doesn’t mean he has done a poor job. Marmol has masterfully handled the bullpen each of the past two seasons, and he helped the Cardinals make it through 2025 without losing a starting pitcher to an arm injury. He and many coaches on his staff have backgrounds in player development and those skills are going to be needed more than ever in 2026 and ‘27.

"He and many coaches on his staff have backgrounds in player development...".
Background?
Perhaps.
Success?
Very little.
Competence?
None.

I agree although I wouldn't paint them all with a broad brush. If Bloom knows baseball like reportedly does he has spent 2 years figuring out who is competent and who isn't.

I contend Marmol is here to usher the team through the dump portion of the rebuild. When it looks like we are ready to turn it around he will be gone.

Collective analysis.
Not individual.
Overall, simple terrible group.

[craviduce]

if they extend Oli, then the first person in line at BLoom's Q&A during Winter Warmup should ask : "What the hell is wrong with you?"

[TheFantasyStud]

if they extend Oli, then the first person in line at BLoom's Q&A during Winter Warmup should ask : "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Best post of the day!!

[Hoosier59]

As of right now I’m not going to Winter Warmup as I usually do, so someone please ask him that very question! I’d do it if I was going.

[scoutyjones2]

Same things needed going into the meeting


Not sure how Dick Fitts in the starting rotation

See what I did there

Cade Winquest might be better than Fitts. Yankees hadn't made a rule 5 pick in 15:years

[cardstatman]

Same things needed going into the meeting


Not sure how Dick Fitts in the starting rotation

See what I did there

Cade Winquest might be better than Fitts. Yankees hadn't made a rule 5 pick in 15:years

He will most likey be offered back to St. Louis.

The Cards may decline though, since they are not highly valuing a "win quest" in 2026.

[scoutyjones2]

Same things needed going into the meeting


Not sure how Dick Fitts in the starting rotation

See what I did there

Cade Winquest might be better than Fitts. Yankees hadn't made a rule 5 pick in 15:years

He will most likey be offered back to St. Louis.

The Cards may decline though, since they are not highly valuing a "win quest" in 2026.

I see what you did there

[Cardinals4Life]

Same things needed going into the meeting


Not sure how Dick Fitts in the starting rotation

See what I did there

Cade Winquest might be better than Fitts. Yankees hadn't made a rule 5 pick in 15:years

Winquest is very good. He is, however, not MLB ready yet. Not sure what Yankees were thinking. I wluld imagine he will be offered back at some point this season.

[scoutyjones2]

Same things needed going into the meeting


Not sure how Dick Fitts in the starting rotation

See what I did there

Cade Winquest might be better than Fitts. Yankees hadn't made a rule 5 pick in 15:years

Winquest is very good. He is, however, not MLB ready yet. Not sure what Yankees were thinking. I wluld imagine he will be offered back at some point this season.

Will be interesting to see. Not sure how Fitts is MLB ready having tossed so few innings

[ramfandan]

Same things needed going into the meeting


Not sure how Dick Fitts in the starting rotation

See what I did there

Cade Winquest might be better than Fitts. Yankees hadn't made a rule 5 pick in 15:years

Winquest is very good. He is, however, not MLB ready yet. Not sure what Yankees were thinking. I wluld imagine he will be offered back at some point this season.

Will be interesting to see. Not sure how Fitts is MLB ready having tossed so few innings

Well , as famously said in a courtroom ... If the glove doesn't Fitts , you must acquit ! My only question now ....Is it Rawlings or Wilson ?

[BrockFloodMaris]

Same things needed going into the meeting


Not sure how Dick Fitts in the starting rotation

See what I did there

Cade Winquest might be better than Fitts. Yankees hadn't made a rule 5 pick in 15:years

Yeah, that 4.52 ERA at high A Peoria at 25 years old sure screams “sleeper all star”, don’t it?

[Ozziesfan41]

By John Denton cited in Cardinals.com article
Link : https://www.mlb.com/cardinals/news/card ... s-coverage

ORLANDO, Fla. -- When told on Wednesday that one baseball executive described MLB trade talks moving at a “glacial” pace, Cardinals president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom furled his face and openly balked.

“That’s not how it has felt to me,” said an admittedly weary Bloom, who kept himself busy throughout the three days of MLB’s Winter Meetings conducting trade talks surrounding Cardinals mainstays Brendan Donovan, JoJo Romero, Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras. “To some degree, it’s binary -- either you have something or you don’t. Right now, we don’t.”

Winter Meetings presented by CohnReznick: Complete coverage
A Cardinals club in the beginning stages of a full-on rebuild left Orlando on Wednesday without a trade being made, but it certainly wasn’t because of a lack of trying. With the Cardinals already fielding several calls about Donovan and Romero, they were queried by the Mets with interest in Contreras, per a source, after first baseman Pete Alonso left for the Orioles in free agency.

Here is a look at the week that was:




BIGGEST REMAINING NEEDS

1) Find deals for Donovan, Romero, Arenado and Contreras to flood the franchise with promising prospects

Bloom, a Cards consultant the past two years, knows the Cards can’t seriously contend in 2026 even if he brought those players back. Instead, he wants to try and exchange Donovan and Romero at the height of their values for a bevy of promising prospects.

2) Add a veteran starting pitcher to a young staff

As currently constructed, the Cardinals expect Matthew Liberatore, Michael McGreevy, Andre Pallante, Kyle Leahy and Richard Fitts to compete for starting jobs. That group is noticeably light on experience, and they need veterans to eat innings. Tyler Mahle, Germán Márquez and Paul Blackburn might fit the club’s needs and budget.

3) Extend Oliver Marmol’s contract beyond 2026

Marmol guided the Cards to the playoffs in 2022, but he and the club have been home for the postseason each of the last three years. However, that doesn’t mean he has done a poor job. Marmol has masterfully handled the bullpen each of the past two seasons, and he helped the Cardinals make it through 2025 without losing a starting pitcher to an arm injury. He and many coaches on his staff have backgrounds in player development and those skills are going to be needed more than ever in 2026 and ‘27.

Right about 1 and 2 big swing and a miss on 3 he and his staff a background in player development but not a successful one

[stlgolf]

2027 - So you’re telling me there’s a chance.

C) Herrera / Crooks
1B) Eldridge Acquired from San Fran
2B) Saggese
SS) Winn
3B) Wetherholt
LF) Montes Acquired from Seattle
CF) Scott II
RF) Walker
DH) Rainiel

SP) Perez Aquired from Miami
SP) Espino Acquired from Cleveland
SP) Liberatore
SP) Fitts
SP) Matthews
SP) Hence

RP) McGreevy
RP) Hjerpe
RP) Mautz
RP) Henderson
RP) Davis
RP) Roby
RP) Clark

CL) Doyle