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There is no such thing as being lucky enough through the draft, and through trading for an assemblage of mid-range prospects, to become a serious post-season contender.
agreed, waiting for or developing a pujols type is a dream. That's a once in an organization type draft player. He isn't your usual successful draft. I think our hope should be more on the draft and develop of the Evan Longoria, Andruw Jones, Julio Rodriguez type. perennial all stars, potentially sneak into the HOF. If we are waiting for the next Albert, we will most likely be waiting past all our liftetimes.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 08:09 amFine write. I can’t add a thing but good work. I did find something.woofy25 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 08:05 am I think if the next Pujols comes around for the Cardinals, they will figure out how to keep him through his prime. Meaning, if Walker had lived up to the hype, I think they'd have him locked up through most of his 20s already. I also think they will play in the Sonny Gray/Contreras type markets as well. But, they are certainly going to need their stars to come from within, and they will have to get savvy in the international market. There still has to be ways to find a competitive advantage there.
One thing is for certain, once the lockout is over, the Cardinals will have a ton of money to spend. I don't see them being in the top 10 any longer, but they can still be in the top half. If that's so, then they could very well go after a couple big name FAs if they have a core in place that warrants the investment.
No. Not a Pujols type. Too rare. I consider Albert a top 5 in my he game. That just won’t happen. I less caliber stud. Where ever he is.
Correct.mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 08:25 amIt depends.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 08:01 amSo let’s be clear. When the team spends, it won’t be top name. Is that correct.mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 07:55 am The "cake" of this is always going to be drafting, international prospect signings, and player development. Those things both generate talent for you directly and give you the trade chips to trade for talent.
Outright signing of expensive talent can only be the thin "icing" on the cake.
And you have to have your cake before you can ice it.
As for the cake, they are building that. So far, a group of young pitchers, who through attrition and herd mentality, may produce a gem.
If you believe, like I do, that they will bounce back at some point to a $170, $180, etc. million payroll, then I think there will be room for like 2 or 3 star/superstar level signings, but they will be rare.
What if the CBA changes, and ownership of young players decreases, arb., free agency, etc.rockondlouie wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 08:57 am ELITE players will only come via the draft.....less likely via trades since POBO/GM's don't normally deal ELITE players unless ordered to do so by ownership (re: can't afford them anymore)...... and almost 100% not via free agency since BDWJR will never, ever win a bidding war for a ELITE player.
So DRAFT it is, possibly via the draft and no chance from FA!
Fine write. I agree.Adam2 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 09:04 amagreed, waiting for or developing a pujols type is a dream. That's a once in an organization type draft player. He isn't your usual successful draft. I think our hope should be more on the draft and develop of the Evan Longoria, Andruw Jones, Julio Rodriguez type. perennial all stars, potentially sneak into the HOF. If we are waiting for the next Albert, we will most likely be waiting past all our liftetimes.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 08:09 amFine write. I can’t add a thing but good work. I did find something.woofy25 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 08:05 am I think if the next Pujols comes around for the Cardinals, they will figure out how to keep him through his prime. Meaning, if Walker had lived up to the hype, I think they'd have him locked up through most of his 20s already. I also think they will play in the Sonny Gray/Contreras type markets as well. But, they are certainly going to need their stars to come from within, and they will have to get savvy in the international market. There still has to be ways to find a competitive advantage there.
One thing is for certain, once the lockout is over, the Cardinals will have a ton of money to spend. I don't see them being in the top 10 any longer, but they can still be in the top half. If that's so, then they could very well go after a couple big name FAs if they have a core in place that warrants the investment.
No. Not a Pujols type. Too rare. I consider Albert a top 5 in my he game. That just won’t happen. I less caliber stud. Where ever he is.
You prove my point brilliantly.OldRed wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 09:02 amBrock, Flood, Groat, White, McGee and many others.
I think it's the only way teams like the Cardinals can acquire ELITE (re: superstar) players BDog.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 09:05 amWhat if the CBA changes, and ownership of young players decreases, arb., free agency, etc.rockondlouie wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 08:57 am ELITE players will only come via the draft.....less likely via trades since POBO/GM's don't normally deal ELITE players unless ordered to do so by ownership (re: can't afford them anymore)...... and almost 100% not via free agency since BDWJR will never, ever win a bidding war for a ELITE player.
So DRAFT it is, possibly via the draft and no chance from FA!
Then would a drafted player still be the way, knowing the stud will leave in 3-5 years. Cant we price ourselves out here too.
Name a couple that were added in the 80's other than trades.Melville wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 09:07 amYou prove my point brilliantly.OldRed wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 09:02 amBrock, Flood, Groat, White, McGee and many others.
That was the 1960's.
Pre free agency.
As for McGee, even then pieces had to be added from the outside (and he was one of them).
Ever more true now.
It never was top name. Even our own guy (Pujols,) We traded for than extended some good players. I expect us to extend our own guys and sign free agents where needed. If we have superstars, they will be home grown.sikeston bulldog2 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 08:01 amSo let’s be clear. When the team spends, it won’t be top name. Is that correct.mattmitchl44 wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 07:55 am The "cake" of this is always going to be drafting, international prospect signings, and player development. Those things both generate talent for you directly and give you the trade chips to trade for talent.
Outright signing of expensive talent can only be the thin "icing" on the cake.
And you have to have your cake before you can ice it.
As for the cake, they are building that. So far, a group of young pitchers, who through attrition and herd mentality, may produce a gem.
Die slowly? I disagree. Once eroded, who knows how quick it falls. I guess the question today is, how bad is the decay.shebashab wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 09:19 am First off there WILL be an extended lockout after '26. Personally I don't see baseball happening in '27 at all. With the current CBA there is no place where the smaller market teams can add high end talent through signing. For years the Rays just did the farm system better and traded potential high dollar young players to gather more cost controlled talent. Problem is that all the big markets have now invested into player development to the point that smaller markets have no pathway to competition. At the same time the gap through TV revenue has grown considerably. While we like to talk about the Money the Dodgers are willing to spend, in reality the difference in income between the Cards and Dodgers would completely cover the Dodgers payroll and luxury tax. Smaller market have to draw a line in the sand or the sport will slowly big a big city sport and will just die slowly.