Your 2026 Cardinals Bold Predictions/Hot Takes

[rockondlouie]

2026 Team > 2025 Team

JJW wins NL ROY

VSII steals 50+ bases

Libby wins 15 games w/a sub 3.60 ERA

Cardinals trade Noot, JoJo, May and Burleson midseason

libby sub 3.60? bold indeed

You did ask for "bold".

[45s]

attendance falls well under 2 mil as the fibs finally..

WISE UP

fibs?

Just my unique spin…

BFIBS if that makes you feel better…

[Adam2]

2026 Team > 2025 Team

JJW wins NL ROY

VSII steals 50+ bases

Libby wins 15 games w/a sub 3.60 ERA

Cardinals trade Noot, JoJo, May and Burleson midseason

libby sub 3.60? bold indeed

You did ask for "bold".

I did lol. We will circle back to this around all star break. Maybe your boldness is accurate?

[scoutyjones2]

attendance falls well under 2 mil as the fibs finally..

WISE UP

fibs?

Just my unique spin…

BFIBS if that makes you feel better…

Yours is better and real.

[Carp4Cy]

2026 Team > 2025 Team

JJW wins NL ROY

VSII steals 50+ bases

Libby wins 15 games w/a sub 3.60 ERA

Cardinals trade Noot, JoJo, May and Burleson midseason

certainly hoping for #2.

#5 is a curious decision, especially May and Burly. I can see trading Noot because he just never seems to give us quite what we need. But the eternal counterpoint is - if he doesn't give us value, what can we expect in return? So his trade becomes a nothing burger more/less.

The same goes for May and maybe Burleson, with a caveat. If they are inconsistent or hurt, then what value do we get back in the trade? If not needle moving, then that decreases the impetus. But if they improve and contribute at a significant level, then why not keep them and make them part of the future? Both have an option or control for next year and are young enough to extend for much much longer, IF they are the real deal.

It comes down to a broader question of, do we get addicted to eternally trading everyone at age 2x, in a greedy collection of uncertain prospects, or do we at some point decide to actually utilize those we have developed and try to add more to that and actually improve the ML team incrementally over a couple of years? The fact that we've already traded the guys who are 34, 36, and 34, and now the next batch we would consider trading are Significantly younger indicates that continuing to just trade away for prospects sake is now a different exercise, and could maybe lack the focus of eventually building a healthy core of 24-32 yo producers who can stay here a while still making a lot lot less than Ohtani and Tucker (affordable in realistic 2026 terms).

May is essentially on a one year contract (mutual 2027 option he surely will opt out of) so he's definitely trade bait mid year if he's off to a good start, could bring back a solid return.

Burly (IMO) is another strong trade asset who can bring back a solid prospect.

The easy replacement would be to give I. Hererra a 1st baseman's mitt (he's not a catcher, no future behind the plate once Bernal and especially R.R. are ready) this spring and prep him to takeover once Burly is traded.

Of course both May and Burly have to not only be healthy but off to good first halves to maximize the return.

And no, I don't see us ever becoming the Pirates.

2026 should be the final season dealing away players who really don't fit, either because of their age or pending free agency status, into the L-T plan.

The players I listed should be the final tranche of players C. Bloom needs to deal before BDWJr starts to allow him to add via an increased payroll.

JMO

I can see trading Burly if we think Hererra is a better option at 1B and we have no other position for him. But sill, why do we need even more prospects? Seems like he could be traded for equivalent current young production at another position of need and help us out even more with less risk.

[Melville]

1. Burleson/Wetherholt/Winn/Gorman will be a top 4 NL infield if The Marmot, and health, allows each of them to start 125 games or more.
2. Walker will lose the starting RF job within the first 100 games.
3. Crooks will start more games in the final 80 games than any of the other catchers.

I could see 1 & 3. I have trouble seeing the #2- but maybe???

And now 3 on the pitching side.
1. May leads the team in strikeouts on July 1, but not after game 162.
2. Svanson takes over the closer ole.
3. Hence finally makes his MLB debut this season - and it will be as a reliever - and avoids the DL.

Number 3 certainly is bold with his history.

Point being, it will not happen unless he is moved to the bullpen - as I have correctly advised for the past 4 years.

I agree on that, I have posted many times in here over the years that his optimal place is the pen. He will never be able to handle the workload of a competent starter.

You are unquestionably correct.

[ClassicO]

1. Burleson/Wetherholt/Winn/Gorman will be a top 4 NL infield if The Marmot, and health, allows each of them to start 125 games or more.
2. Walker will lose the starting RF job within the first 100 games.
3. Crooks will start more games in the final 80 games than any of the other catchers.

1 is not possible if Gorman is at 3b.

All depends on health and The Marmot.
Unless his stupidity gets in the way yet again and he prevents any of this group from starting 125 or more games, there is a 100% probability that my analysis will be proven correct.
It is more certain than sunrise.

So to be clear, Marmol will be an idiot if he doesn’t continue to play Gorman, even if he turns out to be a huge defensive liability (as he has been), and is a well below average base runner (which he is)? Hmmm.

I’m all for giving him a good chance to succeed this year, but it is highly likely that will be as a DH.

[clemonsonroots]

For 2026 what are your bold predictions/hot takes. 1 -3 things that are unlikely to happen but not impossible...Mine...

1 - Victor Scott has more stolen bases than any player has home runs this year

2 - Nolan Gorman hits 32+ home runs and gets his career back on track

3 - Dustin May gets at least 1 Cy Young Vote

yours? anything goes

My hot take is none of that happens. Wish it would. My predictions- jj finishes 2nd to the Pittsburgh kid in roy voting. Walker figures some things out and hits .270 with 20 hr. Our wins leader is Leahy with 13. Svanson leads team in saves with 21 and is our lone all star representitive. Team surprises with 80 wins, but still under .500. Playoffs interrupted not by a labor dispute but by a world wide global disclosure/event.

[kyace]

Start with the bad. JJ will not live up to fans expectations. He will still be a good and maybe very good player but not a star. I see him like Donovan with an ops around 120.
Herrra disappoints as a catcher and spends time in left field, DH and some first base.
Nootbaar is delayed in playing until Late May and struggles in his return. Cards end up dealing him before the deadline just to end the saga.
Good news/Bad news, Gorman starts out hot and has 20 plus homers by mid June. Then he slumps and nagging injuries limit him and he ends up with 30 homers. Cards face another offseason not sure what they have in him.
Good news: Cards pitching is much better than anticipated. Starters and bullpen so much so that the team is hovering around the .500 mark come July. However they are still in 4th place in their division and Bloom deals May, a catcher and some bull pen pieces at the deadline for prospects.
Bernal takes over the starting catcher position by August.
Victor Scott hits around .275 with improved bunting skills. Has 30 steals by July. Ends up with 50 steals on the year.
Ferman does so well off the bench he gets more playing time as the season goes on.
One of Jordan Walker or Burlerson is traded at the trade deadline.

[HighHeat23]

Melville will make dozens of posts claiming he, and only he, has correctly predicted for months/years/since the beginning of time (depending on the topic). He will also continue to claim...even though no one except, I suspect, bogus accounts agrees...how it's never about him.

RWeb (or whatever handle he uses now) and Goldfan will (buzz) and moan with no constructive posts.

Bulldog will continue to make outstanding musical references!

[sikeston bulldog2]

Melville will make dozens of posts claiming he, and only he, has correctly predicted for months/years/since the beginning of time (depending on the topic). He will also continue to claim...even though no one except, I suspect, bogus accounts agrees...how it's never about him.

RWeb (or whatever handle he uses now) and Goldfan will (A female canine animal, especially a dog) and moan with no constructive posts.

Bulldog will continue to make outstanding musical references!

Very kind of you. Thank you.

[Voldemort]

Melville will make dozens of posts claiming he, and only he, has correctly predicted for months/years/since the beginning of time (depending on the topic). He will also continue to claim...even though no one except, I suspect, bogus accounts agrees...how it's never about him.

RWeb (or whatever handle he uses now) and Goldfan will (A female canine animal, especially a dog) and moan with no constructive posts.

Bulldog will continue to make outstanding musical references!

Nomination for most accurate post in this thread!!!

[rockondlouie]

2026 Team > 2025 Team

JJW wins NL ROY

VSII steals 50+ bases

Libby wins 15 games w/a sub 3.60 ERA

Cardinals trade Noot, JoJo, May and Burleson midseason

certainly hoping for #2.

#5 is a curious decision, especially May and Burly. I can see trading Noot because he just never seems to give us quite what we need. But the eternal counterpoint is - if he doesn't give us value, what can we expect in return? So his trade becomes a nothing burger more/less.

The same goes for May and maybe Burleson, with a caveat. If they are inconsistent or hurt, then what value do we get back in the trade? If not needle moving, then that decreases the impetus. But if they improve and contribute at a significant level, then why not keep them and make them part of the future? Both have an option or control for next year and are young enough to extend for much much longer, IF they are the real deal.

It comes down to a broader question of, do we get addicted to eternally trading everyone at age 2x, in a greedy collection of uncertain prospects, or do we at some point decide to actually utilize those we have developed and try to add more to that and actually improve the ML team incrementally over a couple of years? The fact that we've already traded the guys who are 34, 36, and 34, and now the next batch we would consider trading are Significantly younger indicates that continuing to just trade away for prospects sake is now a different exercise, and could maybe lack the focus of eventually building a healthy core of 24-32 yo producers who can stay here a while still making a lot lot less than Ohtani and Tucker (affordable in realistic 2026 terms).

May is essentially on a one year contract (mutual 2027 option he surely will opt out of) so he's definitely trade bait mid year if he's off to a good start, could bring back a solid return.

Burly (IMO) is another strong trade asset who can bring back a solid prospect.

The easy replacement would be to give I. Hererra a 1st baseman's mitt (he's not a catcher, no future behind the plate once Bernal and especially R.R. are ready) this spring and prep him to takeover once Burly is traded.

Of course both May and Burly have to not only be healthy but off to good first halves to maximize the return.

And no, I don't see us ever becoming the Pirates.

2026 should be the final season dealing away players who really don't fit, either because of their age or pending free agency status, into the L-T plan.

The players I listed should be the final tranche of players C. Bloom needs to deal before BDWJr starts to allow him to add via an increased payroll.

JMO

I can see trading Burly if we think Hererra is a better option at 1B and we have no other position for him. But sill, why do we need even more prospects? Seems like he could be traded for equivalent current young production at another position of need and help us out even more with less risk.

Unless you want him to be a F-T DH then giving Hererra a 1st baseman's mitt this spring would be the wise move IMO given he's got the greater upside over Burly as a hitter.

Burly isn't as young as some may think, he'd be going into his age 28 season in 2027 w/two years of control and due for a hefty raise into the $5-6M/yr range.

He'd be a solid trade chip in a solo trade either midseason or this coming offseason given he'd hit FA (2029) just as the Cardinals should be back into solid playoff contention.

Given the new direction BDWJr is taking the team (back to his draft & develop days) and why he brought in a strong POBO in C. Bloom to steer the ship it makes all the sense in the world to acquire as many prospects as you can for players who don't fit the L-T plan.

Think of prospects the same way you think of lottery tickets, the more you have the greater the odds you hit on one or two being winners.

None of us likes this (well, except matt) but it's where we are because Dewitt & Mo ran the franchise into the ground.

S u c k s but it is what it is.

[HighHeat23]

Melville will make dozens of posts claiming he, and only he, has correctly predicted for months/years/since the beginning of time (depending on the topic). He will also continue to claim...even though no one except, I suspect, bogus accounts agrees...how it's never about him.

RWeb (or whatever handle he uses now) and Goldfan will (A female canine animal, especially a dog) and moan with no constructive posts.

Bulldog will continue to make outstanding musical references!

Very kind of you. Thank you.

Anytime buddy!

[butsir01]

Dirt Cheap runs out of beer and bourbon several times during the season.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Melville will make dozens of posts claiming he, and only he, has correctly predicted for months/years/since the beginning of time (depending on the topic). He will also continue to claim...even though no one except, I suspect, bogus accounts agrees...how it's never about him.

RWeb (or whatever handle he uses now) and Goldfan will (A female canine animal, especially a dog) and moan with no constructive posts.

Bulldog will continue to make outstanding musical references!

Very kind of you. Thank you.

Anytime buddy!

For fun- pull up some utube classics- live venues- Lynard Skynard-Free Bird Oakland coliseum 1979.

Ac/DC live Rio.

Zeppelin- live Kashmir

Enjoy.