What can we really expect in 2026?

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

The focus from my perspective is player development.

While I love the idea of a super prospect being acquired via trade veterans or minor for minor trade.

It seems to me the biggest improvement will be the returning players themselves. Not due to the natural progression but with the new labs being built and utilized along with additional staff being in place to work with these players.

Is this realistic expectations from your opinion? Can this one leg alone support this team into a playoff contender?

[AZ_Cardsfan]

The focus from my perspective is player development.

While I love the idea of a super prospect being acquired via trade veterans or minor for minor trade.

It seems to me the biggest improvement will be the returning players themselves. Not due to the natural progression but with the new labs being built and utilized along with additional staff being in place to work with these players.

Is this realistic expectations from your opinion? Can this one leg alone support this team into a playoff contender?

I think you have realistic expectations. I think at least one or two players have break out seasons giving hope and excitement to the clubs chances in 2027 and beyond.

[bretto12]

If Walker and Gorman get it together, and JJ turns out to be the real thing....maybe they finish .500.. The pitching still needs to get better. I'm looking forward to Seggase's second season and Scott will have a chance to get his bat going. If Scott can hit 230, I'd be happy, but I would like to see his OBP improve so he can use his speed.
I'm also looking forward to some of the AAA pitchers reaching the majors. Not a playoff team, but it will be interesting to look for improvment.

[Cardinals1964]

If Walker and Gorman get it together, and JJ turns out to be the real thing....maybe they finish .500.. The pitching still needs to get better. I'm looking forward to Seggase's second season and Scott will have a chance to get his bat going. If Scott can hit 230, I'd be happy, but I would like to see his OBP improve so he can use his speed.
I'm also looking forward to some of the AAA pitchers reaching the majors. Not a playoff team, but it will be interesting to look for improvment.

Set your expectations low enough and you’re bound to be happy.

[Cardinals1964]

The focus from my perspective is player development.

While I love the idea of a super prospect being acquired via trade veterans or minor for minor trade.

It seems to me the biggest improvement will be the returning players themselves. Not due to the natural progression but with the new labs being built and utilized along with additional staff being in place to work with these players.

Is this realistic expectations from your opinion? Can this one leg alone support this team into a playoff contender?

I think you have realistic expectations. I think at least one or two players have break out seasons giving hope and excitement to the clubs chances in 2027 and beyond.

What would be considered a breakout season? Burrelson 30+ Hrs?
Gorman 30+? Walker 20+? Herrera throwing out 1 runner? 2 players batting over .280?

[dugoutrex]

boring baseball and lots and lots of losing

[rage-STL]

I expect the pitchers to throw strikes. I expect the defense to field the ball and play catch. I expect the hitters to put the ball in play. I expect the base runners to be smart and aggressive. I expect the team to compete and play with pride.

These are professional athletes that have climbed various ranks of organized baseball to reach the majors. The game is not new to anyone involved. It’s on Oli and his staff to hold their players to a certain standard. Play good baseball, win or lose. That’s what I expect.

[11WSChamps]

Last place in the Central.

[Hoosier59]

Last year I had some posters call me an extreme optimist when I posted my predictions for certain players. I confess I was overly optimistic, and not very many players reached my expectations! Donovan did, minus the games he lost due to injuries. I was pretty close on Burleson, he just fell a little bit short on my prediction of homers and RBI’s. Herrera was pretty spot on except for the games he missed, due to injuries. Most everyone else fell short, some very short of predictions.
This coming season is a hard one to gage. We don’t even know what players will still be here and where they will play, nor do we know how Oli will set his lineup. I can pretty accurately predict that I won’t agree with it very much! lol!
Where does Winn hit, top of the order, middle, or bottom? I feel he should hit second if Donovan is gone. I think Masyn has matured enough to handle that spot and do whatever is required for in each at bat. If his knee holds up I expect a .280+ average, with 30 steals and around 90 runs scored.
Burleson will be slightly better than last year in most offensive categories. One key will be who hits behind him, and whether he gets pitched to very often.
Herrera will hit at about the same pace, hopefully he stays healthy for 550 or more at bats.
Wetherholt will do well, but when will he get his chance? Hopefully he’ll break camp with the team.
One guy I think breaks out, if given steady playing time, is Saggese. He was the AA player of the year 3 years ago, then had a down year in AAA the next season. Last year before being recalled, he was hitting .317 in his second stint in AAA.
He was coming on in the second half when Winn was out injured, and he received steady playing time. I think he makes the adjustments, has gained confidence, and will be a reliable hitter this coming season.

[ecleme22]

A surprisingly good season.

[C-Unit]

It would be very encouraging if we see one of Walker (I hope) or Gorman finally get comfortable. It would add one more viable part of the future we could think about heading into next offseason. Outside of that, I don't think we should want Baez to be rushed to the big leagues in 2026. I'm fine with waiting until 2027 to see him, and hopefully this year we're seeing him have another big season with Memphis to follow-up what he did last year. I would like to see Jose Fermin get to display consistent skills warranting of a fulltime utility role going forward. It would be nice to see Crooks hit a little bit. He didn't do much in his short callup, but his minor league numbers suggest he should be able to hit enough to hold down a spot somewhere low in the batting order.

For Wetherholt, I'm ready to watch. I'll temper my expectations but the idea of his hit tool coming to the big leagues is exciting.

I'm intrigued by the pitching. With the names they've brought in, it doesn't seem like they'll have a problem covering the innings. You have several starting pitchers now who, although do not have a super high ceiling, do have six years of control and the potential to grow. Maybe by 2027, we will have some names we can feel confident to at least fill out the back half of the rotation, picking from the group of Liberatore (who I see as a steady #3/4 starter), McGreevy (same), Dobbins and Fitts. We should also have seen Doyle for ourselves by then too, with optimism he can be towards the top of the rotation.

I see May as a complete wildcard. He could prove himself to be a #2 starter to backup Doyle. He just as easily miss the whole season, or be limited to 3-inning piggyback starts. He could end up in the bullpen or entirely ineffective. We should have zero expectations and take what we get.

If Herrera and Winn both continue to produce, there should be extensions ready for them. Wetherholt also.

[TheFantasyStud]

My hopes for minimums

Nootbaar .260 AVG / 80 R / 20HR / 60 RBI / 10 SB
Donavan .285 / 80 / 15 / 70 / 5
Herrera .270 / 80 / 25 / 90 / 5
Burleson .280 / 70 / 25 / 80 / 5
Gorman .240 / 60 / 30 / 80 / 0
Walker .275 / 70 / 25 / 75 / 15
Wetherholt .260 / 75 / 15 / 50 / 15
Winn .270 / 60 / 15 / 50 / 20
Scott .240 / 70 / 10 / 50 / 50


Dreaming big
Walker being a 30/20
And Gorman reaching 35 bombs
Scott 75 SBs
Herrera 30 hrs
Nootbaar a .380 OBO
Burleson .300 avg
Winn 30 SBs
Wetherholt 20/20

[cardsrmyteam]

boring baseball and lots and lots of losing

Trey needs to sell just like AB III finally did. Let's hope if happens sooner rather than later. Generational transitions have not gone well for the Cardinals.

[ramfandan]

While we don’t know yet the 2026 roster (with more trades ti come ), it seems quite likely the media in their 2026 preseason predictions will predict thf Cardinals 5th in NL Central.
Two reasons.. 1) team in rebuild and 2) Pirates improving thru trades

So that will be the national prediction as I see it.
A few predict 4th but not many.
Players enjoy underdog role.

[Voldemort]

Dead last in the NL Central.
Less than 23,000/game attendance.
Sell off/trade off any player doing well at the trade deadline.
The players Cardinal fans have been waiting on to produce prove that the potential that they had was a sales job by Mo.
The Cardinals will become the Pirates of old.

[HOUCARD]

If Walker and Gorman get it together, and JJ turns out to be the real thing....maybe they finish .500.. The pitching still needs to get better. I'm looking forward to Seggase's second season and Scott will have a chance to get his bat going. If Scott can hit 230, I'd be happy, but I would like to see his OBP improve so he can use his speed.
I'm also looking forward to some of the AAA pitchers reaching the majors. Not a playoff team, but it will be interesting to look for improvment.

Scott needs to learn how to bunt for hits.