What can we really expect in 2026?

[dugoutrex]

The focus from my perspective is player development.

While I love the idea of a super prospect being acquired via trade veterans or minor for minor trade.

It seems to me the biggest improvement will be the returning players themselves. Not due to the natural progression but with the new labs being built and utilized along with additional staff being in place to work with these players.

Is this realistic expectations from your opinion? Can this one leg alone support this team into a playoff contender?

"What can we really expect in 2026"?
Answer: a winning record.
Now, The Marmot is likely too weak of a manager to achieve it.
But it certainly is possible and should be the expectation.

We certainly don't know if it is possible. There is way to much expected roster turnover to know what we can expect yet.

Of course it is possible.
Based on the current roster, and Bloom's stated objective to again trade N/A, it should be expected.

"Based on the current roster"... Get back to me on that one. One of the things that we can expect for 2026 is that the current roster will not be the 2026 roster.

As mentioned, the removal of N/A - which is widely viewed as a fait accompli - will alone make the team better.

The removal of Arenado will be good for the structure of the roster, the development potential for someone, and payroll flexibility. If you think putting Gorman there for an extended run will make the team better, that's doubtful. I'm open to being pleasantly surprised. I hope I am, but that's not one of the things I am expecting with the 2026 team.

The team as of today has anywhere from 3 to 5 players who would be an upgrade over N/A at 3B - including Gorman.

Gormy can't even out hit Nolan Arenado - don't get me started about stone hands at 3rd ... yuck!

[Cardly]

It is easy to imagine 60-65 wins this season. This team shall be as bad as anyone has seen since forever. Well…at least since the 70’s. Heidi Cruz and that crew were brutal! Very brutal!

[Cranny]

It is easy to imagine 60-65 wins this season. This team shall be as bad as anyone has seen since forever. Well…at least since the 70’s. Heidi Cruz and that crew were brutal! Very brutal!

You have no idea what the Cards are going to look like in 2026 until the off season is over.

[ecleme22]

It is easy to imagine 60-65 wins this season. This team shall be as bad as anyone has seen since forever. Well…at least since the 70’s. Heidi Cruz and that crew were brutal! Very brutal!

You have no idea what the Cards are going to look like in 2026 until the off season is over.

None of us know, but I seriously doubt that absence of those traded, and will be traded, will make THAT much worse than 2023…

Conservatively speaking, I expect them to be somewhere around the 2024-2025 teams…

[icon]

The focus from my perspective is player development.

While I love the idea of a super prospect being acquired via trade veterans or minor for minor trade.

It seems to me the biggest improvement will be the returning players themselves. Not due to the natural progression but with the new labs being built and utilized along with additional staff being in place to work with these players.

Is this realistic expectations from your opinion? Can this one leg alone support this team into a playoff contender?

I do not expect much. Therefore, I doubt I shall be disappointed.

[12xu]

Growing pains. Dull and numbing.

[mattmitchl44]

What I'd hope to see in 2026:

1. Weatherholt getting his first shot in the majors and looking like he belongs there. Something along the lines of Walker's rookie year, maybe a little less offensively but more defensively.

2. Players like Winn, Burleson, Herrera, Liberatore, etc. stringing together another solid year which cements their performance levels from 2025. They Cardinals need these guys to confirm they are part of the core of the team going forward.

3. Walker and Gorman show some signs of life in terms of making progress towards the potential they came to the majors with. Anything that the Cardinals can get from them as "reclamation projects" would be significant.

4. More offense out of Victor Scott, or someone else, in CF.

5. Players like McGreevy, Saggese, Crooks, Svanson, Fitts, Dobbins, etc. getting more of an opportunity (or their first opportunity in STL) to show how they are really going to potentially fit into the Cardinals longer term plans.

6. Dustin May have a significant bounce back year. Same for Nootbaar when he gets healthy.

7. Maybe later in September seeing guys like Mathews, Doyle, etc. getting their chance to stake a claim to an Opening Day roster spot for 2027.

[WeeVikes]

What I'd hope to see in 2026:

1. Weatherholt getting his first shot in the majors and looking like he belongs there. Something along the lines of Walker's rookie year, maybe a little less offensively but more defensively.

2. Players like Winn, Burleson, Herrera, Liberatore, etc. stringing together another solid year which cements their performance levels from 2025. They Cardinals need these guys to confirm they are part of the core of the team going forward.

3. Walker and Gorman show some signs of life in terms of making progress towards the potential they came to the majors with. Anything that the Cardinals can get from them as "reclamation projects" would be significant.

4. More offense out of Victor Scott, or someone else, in CF.

5. Players like McGreevy, Saggese, Crooks, Svanson, Fitts, Dobbins, etc. getting more of an opportunity (or their first opportunity in STL) to show how they are really going to potentially fit into the Cardinals longer term plans.

6. Dustin May have a significant bounce back year. Same for Nootbaar when he gets healthy.

7. Maybe later in September seeing guys like Mathews, Doyle, etc. getting their chance to stake a claim to an Opening Day roster spot for 2027.

That would make for a really good year.

[sikeston bulldog2]

The focus from my perspective is player development.

While I love the idea of a super prospect being acquired via trade veterans or minor for minor trade.

It seems to me the biggest improvement will be the returning players themselves. Not due to the natural progression but with the new labs being built and utilized along with additional staff being in place to work with these players.

Is this realistic expectations from your opinion? Can this one leg alone support this team into a playoff contender?

All these threads that lead to this one question. Seems it’s been answered 50 million times, yet no resolve.

[nighthawk]

Something below .500? Just a guess.

[OldRed]

Something below .500? Just a guess.

Exactly why I thought .500 would be a good season.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Something below .500? Just a guess.

Exactly why I thought .500 would be a good season.

.500 in my youth used to be the initial want. .500 always represented a successful season. Games Behind- GB became popular later.

Seems after every cards game, jack would mention where we stood references.500.

[WLTFE]

Something below .500? Just a guess.

Exactly why I thought .500 would be a good season.

Red...you can't be pragmatic...you need to have a lot of hope and 'ifs'...which explains how this team got to where they are now.

[sikeston bulldog2]

Something below .500? Just a guess.

Exactly why I thought .500 would be a good season.

Red...you can't be pragmatic...you need to have a lot of hope and 'ifs'...which explains how this team got to where they are now.

Yes. We are kept together with band aids and baling wire. If we were a car, we’d be classified as a - beater.

[The Nard]

My hopes for minimums

Nootbaar .260 AVG / 80 R / 20HR / 60 RBI / 10 SB
Donavan .285 / 80 / 15 / 70 / 5
Herrera .270 / 80 / 25 / 90 / 5
Burleson .280 / 70 / 25 / 80 / 5
Gorman .240 / 60 / 30 / 80 / 0
Walker .275 / 70 / 25 / 75 / 15
Wetherholt .260 / 75 / 15 / 50 / 15
Winn .270 / 60 / 15 / 50 / 20
Scott .240 / 70 / 10 / 50 / 50


Dreaming big
Walker being a 30/20
And Gorman reaching 35 bombs
Scott 75 SBs
Herrera 30 hrs
Nootbaar a .380 OBO
Burleson .300 avg
Winn 30 SBs
Wetherholt 20/20

Well, I really doubt that the bottom 5 will reach those goals; and do expect Gorman and maybe 1-2 others to be gone soon.

But add a solid veteran outfielder in the mix, and you might achieve a surprise

And don’t think of trading Donovan. Extend him instead. Need his leadership, and example of how to play the game

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

My hopes for minimums

Nootbaar .260 AVG / 80 R / 20HR / 60 RBI / 10 SB
Donavan .285 / 80 / 15 / 70 / 5
Herrera .270 / 80 / 25 / 90 / 5
Burleson .280 / 70 / 25 / 80 / 5
Gorman .240 / 60 / 30 / 80 / 0
Walker .275 / 70 / 25 / 75 / 15
Wetherholt .260 / 75 / 15 / 50 / 15
Winn .270 / 60 / 15 / 50 / 20
Scott .240 / 70 / 10 / 50 / 50


Dreaming big
Walker being a 30/20
And Gorman reaching 35 bombs
Scott 75 SBs
Herrera 30 hrs
Nootbaar a .380 OBO
Burleson .300 avg
Winn 30 SBs
Wetherholt 20/20

Love to see Walker surge, those numbers would be outstanding. And Winn with his defense and those offensive numbers, talk about a real player.

If he can stay healthy, IMO the best to reach those numbers would be Hererra.