How do we get elite talent on our team. The three methods are draft, trade, or sign.
Once the rebuild enters its final phase, the outfield saturation will be the final stage.
But here is a problem. Not the farm. Not trading. But free agent signings.
Let’s assume we spend in off season 26. How do we convince players to come back to STL. Most here will say money. Money talks.
I think on the farm we are ok. As for trades, we are building a strong young base.
So it comes down to signings to complete the whole structure of acquisitions.
I think Blooms biggest challenge is restoring the franchise name. It’s been bruised.
Thoughts.
I believe you are correct on two of your three points.
Trading or signing to acquire elite players is how it is done.
There are fans of the team who foolishly believe (you are not among them) that Bloom can acquire elite talent through the draft - which is nonsense.
Even if a team consistently drafts in the top 5-10 spots for several years in a row, it will never create a core of elite players through the draft process.
It simply is not possible.
If it were, the A's would be a powerhouse right now - and they are not.
Same is true of Baltimore.
And Pittsburgh.
And many others.
Sure, across a 5 year stretch, if extremely lucky and if drafting at the extreme top of the board, they may land and develop one truly elite player and perhaps a handful of good ones.
At best.
That is the reality.
A team can develop a competent core capable of playing slightly above .500 ball - but will never be anything more unless it acquires via trade or FA, several high end MLB players who are established and at the peak of their careers.
No different than the NFL or NBA.
Or any other competitive business.
The highest level of talent in any field must be acquired as needed by any organization.
It's not the norm but the Braves have proven it's possible:
Acuna - International FA
Albies - International FA
Riley - Drafted
Strider - Drafted
Harris - Drafted
At one point, there was some overlap with Freddie Freeman as well - Drafted
How do we get elite talent on our team. The three methods are draft, trade, or sign.
Once the rebuild enters its final phase, the outfield saturation will be the final stage.
But here is a problem. Not the farm. Not trading. But free agent signings.
Let’s assume we spend in off season 26. How do we convince players to come back to STL. Most here will say money. Money talks.
I think on the farm we are ok. As for trades, we are building a strong young base.
So it comes down to signings to complete the whole structure of acquisitions.
I think Blooms biggest challenge is restoring the franchise name. It’s been bruised.
Thoughts.
I believe you are correct on two of your three points.
Trading or signing to acquire elite players is how it is done.
There are fans of the team who foolishly believe (you are not among them) that Bloom can acquire elite talent through the draft - which is nonsense.
Even if a team consistently drafts in the top 5-10 spots for several years in a row, it will never create a core of elite players through the draft process.
It simply is not possible.
If it were, the A's would be a powerhouse right now - and they are not.
Same is true of Baltimore.
And Pittsburgh.
And many others.
Sure, across a 5 year stretch, if extremely lucky and if drafting at the extreme top of the board, they may land and develop one truly elite player and perhaps a handful of good ones.
At best.
That is the reality.
A team can develop a competent core capable of playing slightly above .500 ball - but will never be anything more unless it acquires via trade or FA, several high end MLB players who are established and at the peak of their careers.
No different than the NFL or NBA.
Or any other competitive business.
The highest level of talent in any field must be acquired as needed by any organization.
I'll add the Cubs as well.
Imanaga - International FA
Suzuki - International FA
PCA - Draft
Happ - Draft
Hoerner- Draft
Steele - Draft
Those Int'l FAs did not come with contracts the Cardinals couldn't afford. Draft & Dev and International FAs is how the Cardinals will compete moving forward. Maybe they can develop a strong enough farm system to both get productive guys to the big leagues and trade prospects for big league talent. That would be the ideal.
How do we get elite talent on our team. The three methods are draft, trade, or sign.
Once the rebuild enters its final phase, the outfield saturation will be the final stage.
But here is a problem. Not the farm. Not trading. But free agent signings.
Let’s assume we spend in off season 26. How do we convince players to come back to STL. Most here will say money. Money talks.
I think on the farm we are ok. As for trades, we are building a strong young base.
So it comes down to signings to complete the whole structure of acquisitions.
I think Blooms biggest challenge is restoring the franchise name. It’s been bruised.
Thoughts.
I believe you are correct on two of your three points.
Trading or signing to acquire elite players is how it is done.
There are fans of the team who foolishly believe (you are not among them) that Bloom can acquire elite talent through the draft - which is nonsense.
Even if a team consistently drafts in the top 5-10 spots for several years in a row, it will never create a core of elite players through the draft process.
It simply is not possible.
If it were, the A's would be a powerhouse right now - and they are not.
Same is true of Baltimore.
And Pittsburgh.
And many others.
Sure, across a 5 year stretch, if extremely lucky and if drafting at the extreme top of the board, they may land and develop one truly elite player and perhaps a handful of good ones.
At best.
That is the reality.
A team can develop a competent core capable of playing slightly above .500 ball - but will never be anything more unless it acquires via trade or FA, several high end MLB players who are established and at the peak of their careers.
No different than the NFL or NBA.
Or any other competitive business.
The highest level of talent in any field must be acquired as needed by any organization.
I'll add the Cubs as well.
Imanaga - International FA
Suzuki - International FA
PCA - Draft
Happ - Draft
Hoerner- Draft
Steele - Draft
Those Int'l FAs did not come with contracts the Cardinals couldn't afford. Draft & Dev and International FAs is how the Cardinals will compete moving forward. Maybe they can develop a strong enough farm system to both get productive guys to the big leagues and trade prospects for big league talent. That would be the ideal.
Another good write. Both- productive players, and trade prospects. Only thing missing is FA signing.
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.
Who and when have the Cards EVER signed the top FA??? I’m not really sure why this even is listed as the option of the past and one that won’t be chosen going forward. It’s never happened.
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.
Who and when have the Cards EVER signed the top FA??? I’m not really sure why this even is listed as the option of the past and one that won’t be chosen going forward. It’s never happened.
I'm saying star/superstar level players, and I would include re-signing such players to essentially full market value extensions.
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.
Who and when have the Cards EVER signed the top FA??? I’m not really sure why this even is listed as the option of the past and one that won’t be chosen going forward. It’s never happened.
I'm saying star/superstar level players, and I would include re-signing such players to essentially full market value extensions.
So players like Gray, Goldschmidt, Holliday, etc.
When Goldy signed the 130mil deal….largest in Cards history …..Trout and Harper inked $300mil deals.
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.
So let’s be clear. When the team spends, it won’t be top name. Is that correct.
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.
It depends.
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.
I wouldn't label 2-3 Goldy and Gray types as rare. I'd call them core. 2 or 3 of those is not nothing or "rare". It would be a massive uplift to any roster.
How do we get elite talent on our team. The three methods are draft, trade, or sign.
Once the rebuild enters its final phase, the outfield saturation will be the final stage.
But here is a problem. Not the farm. Not trading. But free agent signings.
Let’s assume we spend in off season 26. How do we convince players to come back to STL. Most here will say money. Money talks.
I think on the farm we are ok. As for trades, we are building a strong young base.
So it comes down to signings to complete the whole structure of acquisitions.
I think Blooms biggest challenge is restoring the franchise name. It’s been bruised.
Thoughts.
You start by not tanking. You get a reputation for tanking and what player wants to sign with you long term? They've lost some and gotten some high draft picks because of it. They've made some trades and who knows if they will pan out or not, but they haven't signed top tier talent. And worse they've not even attempted to sign any. Being consistent is restoring the franchise name, and they had that for nearly two decades and then they changed. Now they want to tank for whatever reason.
How do we get elite talent on our team. The three methods are draft, trade, or sign.
Once the rebuild enters its final phase, the outfield saturation will be the final stage.
But here is a problem. Not the farm. Not trading. But free agent signings.
Let’s assume we spend in off season 26. How do we convince players to come back to STL. Most here will say money. Money talks.
I think on the farm we are ok. As for trades, we are building a strong young base.
So it comes down to signings to complete the whole structure of acquisitions.
I think Blooms biggest challenge is restoring the franchise name. It’s been bruised.
Thoughts.
You start by not tanking. You get a reputation for tanking and what player wants to sign with you long term? They've lost some and gotten some high draft picks because of it. They've made some trades and who knows if they will pan out or not, but they haven't signed top tier talent. And worse they've not even attempted to sign any. Being consistent is restoring the franchise name, and they had that for nearly two decades and then they changed. Now they want to tank for whatever reason.
How do we get elite talent on our team. The three methods are draft, trade, or sign.
Once the rebuild enters its final phase, the outfield saturation will be the final stage.
But here is a problem. Not the farm. Not trading. But free agent signings.
Let’s assume we spend in off season 26. How do we convince players to come back to STL. Most here will say money. Money talks.
I think on the farm we are ok. As for trades, we are building a strong young base.
So it comes down to signings to complete the whole structure of acquisitions.
I think Blooms biggest challenge is restoring the franchise name. It’s been bruised.
Thoughts.
You start by not tanking. You get a reputation for tanking and what player wants to sign with you long term? They've lost some and gotten some high draft picks because of it. They've made some trades and who knows if they will pan out or not, but they haven't signed top tier talent. And worse they've not even attempted to sign any. Being consistent is restoring the franchise name, and they had that for nearly two decades and then they changed. Now they want to tank for whatever reason.
Because it’s the only realistic option they have
You mean for our billionaire owner to gut payroll and decide that the team will lose? That's an option I guess.
How do we get elite talent on our team. The three methods are draft, trade, or sign.
Once the rebuild enters its final phase, the outfield saturation will be the final stage.
But here is a problem. Not the farm. Not trading. But free agent signings.
Let’s assume we spend in off season 26. How do we convince players to come back to STL. Most here will say money. Money talks.
I think on the farm we are ok. As for trades, we are building a strong young base.
So it comes down to signings to complete the whole structure of acquisitions.
I think Blooms biggest challenge is restoring the franchise name. It’s been bruised.
Thoughts.
You start by not tanking. You get a reputation for tanking and what player wants to sign with you long term? They've lost some and gotten some high draft picks because of it. They've made some trades and who knows if they will pan out or not, but they haven't signed top tier talent. And worse they've not even attempted to sign any. Being consistent is restoring the franchise name, and they had that for nearly two decades and then they changed. Now they want to tank for whatever reason.
Because it’s the only realistic option they have
You mean for our billionaire owner to gut payroll and decide that the team will lose? That's an option I guess.
For this club to be competitive again without a rebuild, it would require the owner to massively overpay for free agents…..and not just one….they need at least three or four..
If….they could even convince top free agents to go to Stl…
This ownership is not going to do that…..he’s just not..
Perhaps you should just accept where the Stl franchise is in the realm of mlb…..
How do we get elite talent on our team. The three methods are draft, trade, or sign.
Once the rebuild enters its final phase, the outfield saturation will be the final stage.
But here is a problem. Not the farm. Not trading. But free agent signings.
Let’s assume we spend in off season 26. How do we convince players to come back to STL. Most here will say money. Money talks.
I think on the farm we are ok. As for trades, we are building a strong young base.
So it comes down to signings to complete the whole structure of acquisitions.
I think Blooms biggest challenge is restoring the franchise name. It’s been bruised.
Thoughts.
You start by not tanking. You get a reputation for tanking and what player wants to sign with you long term? They've lost some and gotten some high draft picks because of it. They've made some trades and who knows if they will pan out or not, but they haven't signed top tier talent. And worse they've not even attempted to sign any. Being consistent is restoring the franchise name, and they had that for nearly two decades and then they changed. Now they want to tank for whatever reason.
Because it’s the only realistic option they have
You mean for our billionaire owner to gut payroll and decide that the team will lose? That's an option I guess.
You are correct. Your model works for normal offseasons. It does fine in a teams yearly reset. Yes sir.
I feel we got ourselves deeper than normal. And the fixes/band aids, were not gonna work this time.
Maybe this will reestablish our system, as it seems the industry is leaving us behind.
As for intentional losing. I don’t think that’s the intent, although I’m sure the org knows it is a possibility and will also be perceived as intentional losing.
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.
Who and when have the Cards EVER signed the top FA??? I’m not really sure why this even is listed as the option of the past and one that won’t be chosen going forward. It’s never happened.
I'm saying star/superstar level players, and I would include re-signing such players to essentially full market value extensions.
So players like Gray, Goldschmidt, Holliday, etc.
When Goldy signed the 130mil deal….largest in Cards history …..Trout and Harper inked $300mil deals.
A guy who's signed to be a 4 or 5 WAR player is a star/superstar even if he isn't Trout, Soto, Judge, etc.
OldRed wrote: ↑24 Feb 2026 08:53 am
It's going to be difficult unless they get very lucky with what they have.
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. It does not and cannot happen.
Brock, Flood, Groat, White, McGee and many others.
You prove my point brilliantly.
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.
Name a couple that were added in the 80's other than trades.
That's my point.
Herzog was famous for trading to acquire talent.
Those teams were not built around elite drafted players.
