Cusecards wrote: ↑27 Dec 2025 10:52 am
#1- I hope they keep Donovan. I understand his trade value but unless he brings back a TOR Starter in a deal/package I keep him. And while he is good I don’t think he brings that return?
#2- JJ could bring a major lineup presence starting this season.
#3- Trade Noot and Arenado.
#4- Find a steady position for Herrera’s bat.
And the biggest key:
Make or break year for Walker and Gorman!
Whichever doesn’t emerge get rid of. They have some young promising Catchers, Baez, etc
Next offseason could the time to add a FA bat(s) after the smoke clears.
My hope, rightnow, is that Bloom is searching for the most productive bat he can find. A 3, 4 or 5 type hitter. By offering Romero, Nootbaar and Arenado to see what that could bring. Holding on to Donovan for the time being. If Bloom can come up with really productive hitter to add to what's already in place, the Cardinals could be very competitive in the Central division in '26.
Why would Bloom trade away arguably his most “productive hitter” and his best pitcher just so he could turn around and scramble to find their immediate replacements in order to “compete” in 2026?
The reason he did it is simple. He traded them for two pitchers who will provide additional rotation depth now while acquiring two high end arms at the lower levels and it frees up money to spend elsewhere he already signed may for 12 million and said he is looking to add another veteran starter and another bat perhaps to the outfield or infield. Burly was injured last season but the season before hit 21 home runs and drove in 78 runs he can replace Contreras numbers can he find someone to replace burlesons 18 home runs and 69 rbi yea I think so. He’s also going to bring in bullpen arms. It’s not hard to figure out what blooms plan is he mapped it out clearly for every one before the season. People just see
The shedding of payroll and that’s it the rest will come
I've been told by the well wishers here that his bat will easily be replaced for 2026.
So for a team that isnt looking to add a lot of payroll how is that going to happen?
Donovan isnt going to bring you such a bat at a controlled cost. A package of Donavan and a high end prospect wouldn't make sense given what the Cardinals are preaching unless perhaps one of their catching prospects are included but doubtful.
If the team was interested in feeling the need to have a bat such as Contreras for 2026 they wouldn't have traded him and his salary.
Melville wrote: ↑27 Dec 2025 11:47 am
Bloom will add a RH bat.
As to whether said bat will prove capable of replacing Contreras in the lineup remains to be seen.
I've read that the Dodgers are interested in acquiring Nootbaar. Do they have a RH hitter that a package of Nootbaar and Romero could bring back? Would Pages be a reach to hope for? It would probably mean sacrificing Donovan to get Pages.
Last edited by Shady on 27 Dec 2025 12:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
11WSChamps wrote: ↑27 Dec 2025 11:54 am
I've been told by the well wishers here that his bat will easily be replaced for 2026.
So for a team that isnt looking to add a lot of payroll how is that going to happen?
Donovan isnt going to bring you such a bat at a controlled cost. A package of Donavan and a high end prospect wouldn't make sense given what the Cardinals are preaching unless perhaps one of their catching prospects are included but doubtful.
If the team was interested in feeling the need to have a bat such as Contreras for 2026 they wouldn't have traded him and his salary.
IndCard75 wrote: ↑27 Dec 2025 11:58 am
We are tanking, not replacing Contreras. The goal the rest of this offseason is to trade Donovan and Arenado to make playing time for JW and Gorman.
Bloom has said he would like to add a veteran bullpen piece and a RH bat. Think along the lines of Miguel Andujar.
11WSChamps wrote: ↑27 Dec 2025 11:54 am
I've been told by the well wishers here that his bat will easily be replaced for 2026.
So for a team that isnt looking to add a lot of payroll how is that going to happen?
Donovan isnt going to bring you such a bat at a controlled cost. A package of Donavan and a high end prospect wouldn't make sense given what the Cardinals are preaching unless perhaps one of their catching prospects are included but doubtful.
If the team was interested in feeling the need to have a bat such as Contreras for 2026 they wouldn't have traded him and his salary.
It won’t be hard to replace
Ok so who's going to replace him?
No more delusional [nonsense] let's have some names and what it will cost in players and money.
11WSChamps wrote: ↑27 Dec 2025 11:54 am
I've been told by the well wishers here that his bat will easily be replaced for 2026.
So for a team that isnt looking to add a lot of payroll how is that going to happen?
Donovan isnt going to bring you such a bat at a controlled cost. A package of Donavan and a high end prospect wouldn't make sense given what the Cardinals are preaching unless perhaps one of their catching prospects are included but doubtful.
If the team was interested in feeling the need to have a bat such as Contreras for 2026 they wouldn't have traded him and his salary.
It won’t be hard to replace
Ok so who's going to replace him?
No more delusional [nonsense] let's have some names and what it will cost in players and money.
Well burleson can easily replace his numbers when healthy he hit 21 home runs and drove in 78 so if he is healthy he will easily replace Contreras numbers so then it’s who can replace bursleons 18 home runs and 69 rbi and that wil be even easier to replace. Like I said you instant gratification need the team and offseason to be competed now crowd don’t like it but bloom clearly laid out his plan and at the end of the offseason you will see he did indeed kept his plan of not giving up on competing now while building for the future. I get it the patience for you and a lot of others to wait until the offseason is over is non existent you need instant gratification or you complain and go doom and gloom but you will see
11WSChamps wrote: ↑27 Dec 2025 11:54 am
I've been told by the well wishers here that his bat will easily be replaced for 2026.
So for a team that isnt looking to add a lot of payroll how is that going to happen?
Donovan isnt going to bring you such a bat at a controlled cost. A package of Donavan and a high end prospect wouldn't make sense given what the Cardinals are preaching unless perhaps one of their catching prospects are included but doubtful.
If the team was interested in feeling the need to have a bat such as Contreras for 2026 they wouldn't have traded him and his salary.
It won’t be hard to replace
Ok so who's going to replace him?
No more delusional [nonsense] let's have some names and what it will cost in players and money.
Well burleson can easily replace his numbers when healthy he hit 21 home runs and drove in 78 so if he is healthy he will easily replace Contreras numbers so then it’s who can replace bursleons 18 home runs and 69 rbi and that wil be even easier to replace. Like I said you instant gratification need the team and offseason to be competed now crowd don’t like it but bloom clearly laid out his plan and at the end of the offseason you will see he did indeed keep his plan of not giving up on competing now while building for the future. I get it the patience for you and a lot of others to wait until the offseason is over is non existent you need instant gratification or you complain and go doom and gloom but you will see
Are you learning impaired?
I've said numerous times I'm not in the knee jerk instant oatmeal crowd so stop including me in it. GOT IT?
Just as I figured you have no answer and Burleson doesn't bat right handed.
I've concluded you're in over your head in this discussion.
Logic if you can fathom that suggests acquiring a player with Contreras like production with payroll and prospects is going to be challenging given the present course Bloom is on.
From assessing the fine moves Bloom has already made. I am optimistic he will get the needed hitter for '26. Hopefully, without having to trade Donovan. Possibly, acquiring a #3 type hitter so Burleson can move to #5 in the lineup.
Last edited by Shady on 27 Dec 2025 12:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
11WSChamps wrote: ↑27 Dec 2025 11:54 am
I've been told by the well wishers here that his bat will easily be replaced for 2026.
So for a team that isnt looking to add a lot of payroll how is that going to happen?
Donovan isnt going to bring you such a bat at a controlled cost. A package of Donavan and a high end prospect wouldn't make sense given what the Cardinals are preaching unless perhaps one of their catching prospects are included but doubtful.
If the team was interested in feeling the need to have a bat such as Contreras for 2026 they wouldn't have traded him and his salary.
It won’t be hard to replace
Ok so who's going to replace him?
No more delusional [nonsense] let's have some names and what it will cost in players and money.
Well burleson can easily replace his numbers when healthy he hit 21 home runs and drove in 78 so if he is healthy he will easily replace Contreras numbers so then it’s who can replace bursleons 18 home runs and 69 rbi and that wil be even easier to replace. Like I said you instant gratification need the team and offseason to be competed now crowd don’t like it but bloom clearly laid out his plan and at the end of the offseason you will see he did indeed keep his plan of not giving up on competing now while building for the future. I get it the patience for you and a lot of others to wait until the offseason is over is non existent you need instant gratification or you complain and go doom and gloom but you will see
Are you learning impaired?
I've said numerous times I'm not in the knee jerk instant oatmeal crowd so stop including me in it. GOT IT?
Just as I figured you have no answer and Burleson doesn't bat right handed.
I've concluded you're in over your head in this discussion.
Logic if you can fathom that suggests acquiring a player with Contreras like production with payroll and prospects is going to be challenging given the present course Bloom is on.
I think you may be too dumb to understand that it doesn’t matter where the production comes from. Burlseon replaces Contreras numbers easily if healthy very easily then the bat he picks up just needs to replace his numbers which is 18 home runs 69 RBI and why should I have to predict an exact name who he picks up that’s dumb. And yes you are instant gratification knee jerk because you immediately started crying and whining and attacking me because I said wait until the offseason is over bloom clearly laid out his plan and has been sticking to it but nope you have to cry and whine and attack anyone who says have patience
Shady wrote: ↑27 Dec 2025 11:21 am
My point is, why not have a two-fold objective? Rebuild for the future while still trying to win the Central Division in '26. At least a wildcard. I really believe that is what's going on now with Bloom......
Burleson will replace Contreras and Contreras will not be missed.
I also look for a great year from Walker. At 23 going on 24 it will be his time. I'm not always optimistic, but one more bat and another starting pitcher I believe they will contend the NLC.
Everyone knows me by now; I don't make these predictions very often.
IndCard75 wrote: ↑27 Dec 2025 11:58 am
We are tanking, not replacing Contreras. The goal the rest of this offseason is to trade Donovan and Arenado to make playing time for JW and Gorman.
Bloom has said he would like to add a veteran bullpen piece and a RH bat. Think along the lines of Miguel Andujar.
STL is not tanking.
100% correct!
They are resetting and going to build around younger talent either from the farm system or via trade.
I chuckle because none of the players dealt are worth the $$ they are under contract for and are clearly past their primes.
The only exception would be Donovan IF dealt and Noot who is just not that good!
As for those who advocate spending $$ on exactly WHO should they spend on???
OldRed wrote: ↑27 Dec 2025 12:43 pm
Burleson will replace Contreras and Contreras will not be missed.
I also look for a great year from Walker. At 23 going on 24 it will be his time. I'm not always optimistic, but one more bat and another starting pitcher I believe they will contend the NLC.
Everyone knows me by now; I don't make these predictions very often.
That would be ideal. If Walker could match something comparable to Contreras' '25 production. That could fill the current void in the MOTO. However, that is a huge "if" going into '26.
Last edited by Shady on 27 Dec 2025 12:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
