The problem with rebuilding

[ilcubuffs]

The problem with rebuilding IS rebuilding. Letting the personnel who put the organization into such a negative position make major decisions is absolutely moronic. It shows you are clueless HOW the organization fell so far.

Playing a year of below avg MLB to determine the talent level is a lie. Supposedly have personnel from minors to MLB to determine the skill set of each player. SO either you hired incompetent personnel or you are scamming the fans. Pretty sure most fans know the skill level of Gorman, Fermin, Burleson, Mikolas, the catchers, et al.

[The Nard]

In this type of situation, the club would need to wade into the costly FA market. Open that vault!

It’s impossible to turn this large omelet over, without ruining it. So, aim for 2 major acquisitions - 1st a prime starter, and 2ndly, a proven slugger. Want to take a chance on Devers, for example?

And open up your rotation to a couple from your farm - Matthew’s being 1.

Beef up your RP corps through trades of your undesirables on the current roster. You’ll get some middling pitchers or just prospects. However you’ll open up your 26-man for JJ and a couple of others that deserve a shot.

So yes, another rebuilding year is in the “cards” for 2026. But if you have the right mix, you may see some good results in the 2bd half of the season.

Much has been spoken by and written about the Cards front office's intention to commit to a player development strategy, as opposed to a free agent signing strategy. They are already well on their way to shedding themselves of high MLB contracts, and appear willing to shed more, with our existing NTCs being the guiding force.

I think my job as a fan is to get behind this player drafting and developing strategy and hold the new regime accountable to their performance to that plan. MLB wins and losses will fall in priority for a couple years.

I understand, but to achieve a higher level of play, you have to bring talent in from the outside. You can’t build a competitive team entirely from within.

[Clubmaker2]

the could sign a number two and compete next season, but will just wait, not have a team that would compete in any playoffs, and then sign a pitcher in 2027/8 that they have always and will always need. The org will not produce zito,hudson, and mulder ,,,, so just sign that pitcher now rather than wait. And for 100th time Houston built but did what, they went and got Verlander...

[45s]

The problem with rebuilding IS rebuilding. Letting the personnel who put the organization into such a negative position make major decisions is absolutely moronic. It shows you are clueless HOW the organization fell so far.

Playing a year of below avg MLB to determine the talent level is a lie. Supposedly have personnel from minors to MLB to determine the skill set of each player. SO either you hired incompetent personnel or you are scamming the fans. Pretty sure most fans know the skill level of Gorman, Fermin, Burleson, Mikolas, the catchers, et al.

That personnel you speak of includes ownership…

It seems that the club will have the same owners…..given their history, I question how much authority bloom will have…….so, it could be a wash, rinse, and wash again..

The H situation included a new owner who hired a new GM….with one instruction….”fix it”…you have total authority

Tough times, empty seats, revolving door of players…….but the owner was willing to accept it for long term success…

All respect here….but….I just don’t see that kind of commitment from Stl ownership

[cardstatman]

Every year one third of MLB is "rebuilding".

90% of those rebuilding teams are unsuccessful at returning to the World Series in the next 10+ years.

The way to go is to build momentum, get into the playoffs as often as possible, and you will win it all sooner or later.

Please note that Cardinals have made the playoffs in 40% of the last 10 years. That's a 60% failure rate.

They are off the tracks. They made the playoffs in 12 of the previous 16 years and went to the NLCS 9 times, the WS 4 times, and won 2 WS titles. That's success.

Maybe we can't always be that good since Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina don't come around every day. However, we should be doing better.

[Rojo Johnson]

In my opinion the Cardinals don't have talented players to trade and make improvements.

What’s the problem? You never addressed it. My thoughts. The problem with rebuilds is time and patience. Neither of which we have much of.

I'm 80 years old; Mr. DeWitt is 83, you would think he would be out of patience.

He’s taking it with him.

[AnExParrot]

Every year one third of MLB is "rebuilding".

90% of those rebuilding teams are unsuccessful at returning to the World Series in the next 10+ years.

The way to go is to build momentum, get into the playoffs as often as possible, and you will win it all sooner or later.

Please note that Cardinals have made the playoffs in 40% of the last 10 years. That's a 60% failure rate.

They are off the tracks. They made the playoffs in 12 of the previous 16 years and went to the NLCS 9 times, the WS 4 times, and won 2 WS titles. That's success.

Maybe we can't always be that good since Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina don't come around every day. However, we should be doing better.

No, not 1/3 of the league is rebuilding - Pirates, Royals, A's, etc. aren't rebuilding, they're never builts.

To the Royals credit, in the not so distant past, when they had a glut of young, cheap, farm-raised talent they spent some money to get them over the hump.

Edit to change half to 1/3

[OregonRedbird]

Absolutely love this thread, and thank all of you for the intelligent observations. Great reading. Hoping Chaim does a Whitey, reimagines the roster, makes some moves and takes some shots. We've half-[ashed] it since 2012.

[Ozziesfan41]

In my opinion the Cardinals don't have talented players to trade and make improvements.

There was interest in Donovan and Burleson at the deadline. That was an opportunity to flip high floor, low ceiling players like them and Nootbaar for higher upside minor leaguers. It's not like they are set up to contend next year anyway. Hopefully Bloom makes some of these trades in the winter. I don't mind more losses next year if it puts them on a path to contention later.

+1 and should have traded helsley and fedde in the offseason also before their value went down they weren’t rebuilding they were going with their usually strategy to sustain mediocrity. Hopefully bloom will have the guts to actually do a rebuild

[cardsrmyteam]

. . . . It NEVER ends.

[scoutyjones2]

In my opinion the Cardinals don't have talented players to trade and make improvements.

There was interest in Donovan and Burleson at the deadline. That was an opportunity to flip high floor, low ceiling players like them and Nootbaar for higher upside minor leaguers. It's not like they are set up to contend next year anyway. Hopefully Bloom makes some of these trades in the winter. I don't mind more losses next year if it puts them on a path to contention later.

What will tell you "it puts them on a path to contention?". And how much "later?"

[Cardinals1964]

In my opinion the Cardinals don't have talented players to trade and make improvements.

You can’t rebuild when your core players suck. Your old players refuse to be traded. You know nothing about baseball ( Mo not you).

[JuanAgosto]

No problem with rebuilding this team. Just let the new guy do it. The current guy wouldn't know where to start.

[Othawhitemeat]

Definitely glad we are rebuilding with Chaim. He was a stud at Tampa Bay w/ a limited payroll. While he was not popular w/ Boston, he was forced to do some things ownership asked that set him up to fail. The team is starting to produce from all the talent he has accumulated. I expect Dimwitt will try and be cheap until at least 2027, but my goodness if the CBA produces a real salary cap as we literally will only have Contreras contract and whatever is left on Arenado as currently placed. Next year will be painful, but we have already been so mediocre.

1) Good news is that we are better off than some teams that do a scrap start rebuild. We have some players that might land some talent if we decide to ship them in Donovan, Noot, Burly, Herrera, and depends if Gorman/Walker can get their average up a little bit in September - definitely not saying we should trade them all or sell low, but I do think Bloom has made some savvy trades when at Boston that are paying dividends now.

2) We do seem to have some players we can build around in Winn, JJW, Doyle, Rodriguez?.

3) Usually a prospect or 2 will blossom - we have some that could either be a B player that sparks up or underrated and shows up aka Donovan/Matt Carpenter/Allen Craig before injury - Josh Baez seems to have turned it around this year and could be a very talented player if he keeps ascending, Ixan Henderson pitching, maybe Quinn Matthews rebuilds some next year, etc.
b) The other Baez, Ortiz, Prieto, Saggese, Scott, Libby, Bernal, Church, Crooks to name a few - some could end up being something or a trade chip. It does take time to develop.

4) If Gray/Contreras waive no-trade, might get to really start fresh and waive some clutter in Willson.

5) Hopefully, Dewitt will pump some money in 2027 or at least sell the dang team. The team will be bare in contracts unless we sign someone like Winn/Donny/JJW to an extension.

We are not bare like some of these teams, but we just got to make the right moves. That is the key, IMO, is making the right trades which is what Mo is terrible at unless it is a slam dunk Arenado/Goldy type move. Bloom strikes me as smarter with that stuff. If we can admit 2026 will suck, but if some of our talent develops and we spend some in 2027, we could have a chance for some long-term success and not be so boring!