Does the team desperately need a RH bat and a young quality starter?
Yes - of course.
That has been true for years.
But that does not change the fact that this seasons Super Slo Mo and The Marmot put Mikolas in the rotation when McGreevy was clearly the best starter during spring training.
And, they both insisted that Lars The Human Sushi-baar was an elite core player rather than a 4th outfielder platoon player (as I correctly analyzed for the past 4 years) - and have foolishly given him more PA's than any other Cardinal.
And, it took them 3 years to realize Herrera will never be a suitable MLB starting catcher (I realized that within his first 30 days at the MLB level) - and wasted the opportunity to repurpose his bat at another position.
And, they essentially benched Gorman, the only elite power bat on the entire team for the first 2 months of the season - until injuries forced them to play him, at which time he immediately went on a tear.
And, they went into the season with no plan at all as to how to best use Burleson - who has been the most consistent hitter on the team.
Meanwhile, they have given 336 PA's to a guy they don't even want on the team.
One blunder after another - and this is far from a complete list.
And yet the team still has a winning record - meaning that while the talent level needs improvement, it is NOT nearly as big an issue as the "leadership" is.