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Wattage wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 21:51 pm

Whatashame wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 18:02 pm The outfield has to be a priority, period. For years we have been running out some of the least productive outfielders in baseball. To do nothing is criminal. An outfield of Nootbaar, Scott ll and Walker again next year would be a slap in the face of every fan of this team.

Sure there’s lots to do but the outfield has to be front and center.

While our offense is pretty weak as well, our starting pitching era is 25th out of 30 in mlb and sonny gray is only getting older and we do t really ha e prispe ts to step up next year.

Acquiring 2 pitchers to replace mikolas and pallante id say is a much greater need than outfield since putchers can single handedly lose a game.

I hear ya and I’m all for adding starting pitching but you can’t run the same outfield out there in 2026 that we did in 2025. I’d like to think we have someone(s) who can step up but I think it’s been proven that it’s unlikely. Even if we take fliers on wild cards, something has to change in that outfield.

The offseason has the potential to go in a number of directions.
Arenado for example creates a domino affect based on whether he stays or goes.
We could certainly use a big bat at corner OF but I see the rotation as being the higher priority!
Personally...I would deal Noot...and I could live with corner OF being handled by some combination of Donovan, Burleson, and Herrera.
I guess you also toss in Walker who still has an option year.

The Cardinals will not be looking to improve the team for 2026. For one thing, they don’t have the assets to move to do so, nor will they be players in the FA market, at least not in a big way. That does not mean they will be inactive. There is a lot of redundancy on this roster. The moves made will be with an eye towards clearing out some log jams and rebalancing the roster. That it and of itself should bring some improvements. That being said, 2026 will probably look a lot like 2025. Young guys getting a chance to play and fail and play again. But…for those of you who were around, it may be like the 1973 Big Red. It was the first year of the Don Coryell Era. For the third straight year they went 4-9-1. (For God, For Country, Four-Nine-and-one). However, there was a different feel to it, an excitement for 1974. That could be what we see in 2026.

Cusecards wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 21:59 pm The offseason has the potential to go in a number of directions.
Arenado for example creates a domino affect based on whether he stays or goes.
We could certainly use a big bat at corner OF but I see the rotation as being the higher priority!
Personally...I would deal Noot...and I could live with corner OF being handled by some combination of Donovan, Burleson, and Herrera.
I guess you also toss in Walker who still has an option year.

It truly is all intertwined. Predicting offseason trades in September rather difficult, along with
not knowing what the commitment level will be. I expect nothing in that regard with the caveat that
any decrease fan interest may want to be adverted. At the end of the season they will subtract Miles, Matz, Fedde'
Hels, along with at least $5 million from NA salary decrease. Near $50 million. Give Sonny a $10 million
raise and some arbs should still leave some pocket money if they choose to just stay where they are.

The rotation was incredibly healthy this season. Almost impossible to think that will happen again.
That has to be addressed.

I have hesitation on more than 1 of your cOF group being out there at once. Burleson could replace Walker there for a 200 point increase
in OPS and improved defense, IMO, go sign Bellinger who can age to 1B call it a day

I think work Herrea in the OF in ST and sign Joc Pederson.

Why Pederson? Cheap as hell. He’s been DHing the last two years, but there’s no way he finds an mlb contract as a DH.

All other acquisitions are spent on pitching.

renostl wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 23:14 pm

Cusecards wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 21:59 pm The offseason has the potential to go in a number of directions.
Arenado for example creates a domino affect based on whether he stays or goes.
We could certainly use a big bat at corner OF but I see the rotation as being the higher priority!
Personally...I would deal Noot...and I could live with corner OF being handled by some combination of Donovan, Burleson, and Herrera.
I guess you also toss in Walker who still has an option year.

It truly is all intertwined. Predicting offseason trades in September rather difficult, along with
not knowing what the commitment level will be. I expect nothing in that regard with the caveat that
any decrease fan interest may want to be adverted. At the end of the season they will subtract Miles, Matz, Fedde'
Hels, along with at least $5 million from NA salary decrease. Near $50 million. Give Sonny a $10 million
raise and some arbs should still leave some pocket money if they choose to just stay where they are.

The rotation was incredibly healthy this season. Almost impossible to think that will happen again.
That has to be addressed.

I have hesitation on more than 1 of your cOF group being out there at once. Burleson could replace Walker there for a 200 point increase
in OPS and improved defense, IMO, go sign Bellinger who can age to 1B call it a day

Good points on the money coming off the books.
Except hard to predict what the payroll will be as a result of decreased attendance.
New guy in Bloom.
Should be interesting either way!

ecleme22 wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 23:22 pm I think work Herrea in the OF in ST and sign Joc Pederson.

Why Pederson? Cheap as hell. He’s been DHing the last two years, but there’s no way he finds an mlb contract as a DH.

All other acquisitions are spent on pitching.

I think that you'd have to trade for him and
Pages is out hitting him.

Cusecards wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 23:28 pm

renostl wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 23:14 pm

Cusecards wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 21:59 pm The offseason has the potential to go in a number of directions.
Arenado for example creates a domino affect based on whether he stays or goes.
We could certainly use a big bat at corner OF but I see the rotation as being the higher priority!
Personally...I would deal Noot...and I could live with corner OF being handled by some combination of Donovan, Burleson, and Herrera.
I guess you also toss in Walker who still has an option year.

It truly is all intertwined. Predicting offseason trades in September rather difficult, along with
not knowing what the commitment level will be. I expect nothing in that regard with the caveat that
any decrease fan interest may want to be adverted. At the end of the season they will subtract Miles, Matz, Fedde'
Hels, along with at least $5 million from NA salary decrease. Near $50 million. Give Sonny a $10 million
raise and some arbs should still leave some pocket money if they choose to just stay where they are.

The rotation was incredibly healthy this season. Almost impossible to think that will happen again.
That has to be addressed.

I have hesitation on more than 1 of your cOF group being out there at once. Burleson could replace Walker there for a 200 point increase
in OPS and improved defense, IMO, go sign Bellinger who can age to 1B call it a day

Good points on the money coming off the books.
Except hard to predict what the payroll will be as a result of decreased attendance.
New guy in Bloom.
Should be interesting either way!

Indeed.
I absolutely don't have any knowledge.
Attendance IMO, might be a reason to attempt something.
Pocketing $35 million on top of the 2025 cuts could make attendance go even lower.

KeeptheRamsinSTL wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 15:27 pm

RobbieRe wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 14:32 pm Is a power hitting outfielder on the Cardinals radar this offseason?

The Cardinals were rumored to be interrested in Spencer Jones at the trade deadline. I hope Bloom will reach out to the Yankees this winter and try to get him. He will not come cheap in terms of the talent that we would have to give up but this team needs a power hitter. I feel like he would be a good fit on this team.

I don't like him. There is talent there, but too many red flags in his profile. I don't think he ends up being what the talent level could be. Could be wrong.

Whatashame wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 21:59 pm

Wattage wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 21:51 pm

Whatashame wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 18:02 pm The outfield has to be a priority, period. For years we have been running out some of the least productive outfielders in baseball. To do nothing is criminal. An outfield of Nootbaar, Scott ll and Walker again next year would be a slap in the face of every fan of this team.

Sure there’s lots to do but the outfield has to be front and center.

While our offense is pretty weak as well, our starting pitching era is 25th out of 30 in mlb and sonny gray is only getting older and we do t really ha e prispe ts to step up next year.

Acquiring 2 pitchers to replace mikolas and pallante id say is a much greater need than outfield since putchers can single handedly lose a game.

I hear ya and I’m all for adding starting pitching but you can’t run the same outfield out there in 2026 that we did in 2025. I’d like to think we have someone(s) who can step up but I think it’s been proven that it’s unlikely. Even if we take fliers on wild cards, something has to change in that outfield.

Burleson and Scott won't change nor should they. Walker and nootbar...that's tougher. Walker to me has exhausted too many opportunities. Nootbar should go to. However, I think it is likely that they are back, at least one of them. I think this team is an ace, a high end impact bat, and a bullpen stud away from actually being a pretty good team, but we won't do anything but raise ticket prices and cut salary. I think the owners are trying to sell the team or setting up for that.

Lineup next year:
Wetherholt 3b
Winn ss
Donovan 2b
Burleson LF
Contreras 1b
Herrera DH
Walker RF
Crooks C
Scott CF

I know Scott is not hitting enough, but he doesn't have to improve that much to be a very positive player due to his gold glove caliber fielding. They say defense up the middle in baseball can be game changing. Crooks is a high end defensive prospect at catcher. Winn, Donovan and Scott- there isn't a better defense up the middle in baseball. Add an ace and a power bat- which they wont and this team is contending.

Thru all this dialogue not but one mention of who this stud is. That’s right. That’s the issue. He ain’t there. If he were, would we get him.

See the problem.

sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 04:37 am Thru all this dialogue not but one mention of who this stud is. That’s right. That’s the issue. He ain’t there. If he were, would we get him.

See the problem.

Going to have to get him like the Rays did with Parades or Caminero.

Alex Reyes Cy Young wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 05:51 am

sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑18 Sep 2025 04:37 am Thru all this dialogue not but one mention of who this stud is. That’s right. That’s the issue. He ain’t there. If he were, would we get him.

See the problem.

Going to have to get him like the Rays did with Parades or Caminero.

Three ideas- farm development, trade, FA signings.

Trade- who and at what price. Do we have the assets. Others will be bidding too.
FA- expensive. And very few difference makers.
Farm- home grown. Rarely pan out. Cheap.

Where do you go, what do you do.

Bloom will have plenty of financial resources this winter and a couple pitchers and an outfielder will be gotten. He will not be chasing options with long term deals or sending prospects over via trades.

He will be targeting short term (1yr deals with an option) lottery ticket solutions that will be able to be flipped for more prospects at the trade deadline if they happen to be playing well and we are not in contention.

2025 was about getting payroll flexibility, 2026 is going to be about maintaining that flexibility while continuing to build prospect assets while 2027 becomes the big splash/FA and Division Crown I believe while 2026 confirms which prospects/rookies are there to build the team around.

2026 could have been the year if Gorman/Walker became cemented in their roles but sadly that didn't pan out.

renostl wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 23:31 pm

ecleme22 wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 23:22 pm I think work Herrea in the OF in ST and sign Joc Pederson.

Why Pederson? Cheap as hell. He’s been DHing the last two years, but there’s no way he finds an mlb contract as a DH.

All other acquisitions are spent on pitching.

I think that you'd have to trade for him and
Pages is out hitting him.

My bad, I forgot he is on a multi-year deal.

Alex Reyes Cy Young wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 17:33 pm

The Nard wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 17:31 pm

Rojo Johnson wrote: ↑17 Sep 2025 15:16 pm Some guy named Piscotty. They say he’s gonna be a good one.

I was thinking of Carlson.

Why not both?

You need three so Bader?