Goold: Donovan's market starting to materialize

[ronnie76]

I'm confused as to why they would want to keep Burleson. He's close to peak trade value and is unlikely to be very productive 3-4 years from now. Seems like wasted value no?

As nice as it would be to have 3 to 4 players that come through the system and hit the team wheels a turning at age 24 or so it is just almost impossible. Burleson is not an extreme player in that he is one play away from tearing something and being out weeks at a time. He is a consistent hitter that gives you average glove play. I would argue a great guy to have in the 5 to 7 hole hitting for you. There is nothing that says he cannot keep it going for another 5 years other than fans projections of he just got lucky a couple years in a row. Sell high now. There has to be good support roles on the team to compliment the great ones. Look at this last Dodgers win against Toronto. It was not Ohtani, Betts or even Freeman that made the decisive plays to win it for them. It was a lot of support guys. That is what Burly is and a pretty good one at it. Learn to appreciate what he really brings to the team. If we had a legit 1 thru 4 hitters then Donovan-Winn-Burleson as your 5 thru 7 guys would make for one dangerous team. Herrera and Wetherholt could be good #2 and #4 hitters find the 1 and the 3 and the team as is would be a good base. This team could be dangerous after the 2027 lockout if they develop the pitching. That is still a good window to have Burleson in.

Makes sense, but unless something dramatic happens, I don't think they feel the team will be ready to compete again until 2028 at the earliest with '29/'30 being the more likely timeline. By then, the chances of Burleson being a good complimentary piece are very low.

2028?....2029/2030???
You guys are ridiculous thinking it should take the Cardinals that long to compete. That's absolutely INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I certainly do not disagree, in that it shouldn't take that long. However, unless they hit the jackpot on a couple of trades or begin spending significantly more than they have in the past, I'm afraid '28 will be the soonest we see a playoff run.

[sikeston bulldog2]

I'm confused as to why they would want to keep Burleson. He's close to peak trade value and is unlikely to be very productive 3-4 years from now. Seems like wasted value no?

As nice as it would be to have 3 to 4 players that come through the system and hit the team wheels a turning at age 24 or so it is just almost impossible. Burleson is not an extreme player in that he is one play away from tearing something and being out weeks at a time. He is a consistent hitter that gives you average glove play. I would argue a great guy to have in the 5 to 7 hole hitting for you. There is nothing that says he cannot keep it going for another 5 years other than fans projections of he just got lucky a couple years in a row. Sell high now. There has to be good support roles on the team to compliment the great ones. Look at this last Dodgers win against Toronto. It was not Ohtani, Betts or even Freeman that made the decisive plays to win it for them. It was a lot of support guys. That is what Burly is and a pretty good one at it. Learn to appreciate what he really brings to the team. If we had a legit 1 thru 4 hitters then Donovan-Winn-Burleson as your 5 thru 7 guys would make for one dangerous team. Herrera and Wetherholt could be good #2 and #4 hitters find the 1 and the 3 and the team as is would be a good base. This team could be dangerous after the 2027 lockout if they develop the pitching. That is still a good window to have Burleson in.

Makes sense, but unless something dramatic happens, I don't think they feel the team will be ready to compete again until 2028 at the earliest with '29/'30 being the more likely timeline. By then, the chances of Burleson being a good complimentary piece are very low.

2028?....2029/2030???
You guys are ridiculous thinking it should take the Cardinals that long to compete. That's absolutely INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I certainly do not disagree, in that it shouldn't take that long. However, unless they hit the jackpot on a couple of trades or begin spending significantly more than they have in the past, I'm afraid '28 will be the soonest we see a playoff run.

The issue is simple. We have allowed ourselves to get deeper into the hole than tolerable. What once we could trade or buy ourselves back to mediocrity, has reached a level that neither or both methods will apply.

We are knee deep in the hoopla.

[ramfandan]

Will be a ton of speculation as to when the Cardinals will be competitive for division titles and beyond that .
For me, I am keeping an open mind as to when that will happen.
Of course , hitting on a few things will speed up the process such as :
Will JJ Wetherholt become an All Star type player
WIll Liam Doyle be a top end starter in our rotation
Might Josua Baez become our right fielder and add thump to the team
the development of our 3rd ranked prospect Raniel Rodriguez
How high we select in the 2026 Player Draft in Round 1 and who we select
Will P Tanner Franklin be our Jacob Misiorowski and become a fireball starter

Those are just a few things I will be watching closely as Bloom rebuilds.

[mattmitchl44]

I'm confused as to why they would want to keep Burleson. He's close to peak trade value and is unlikely to be very productive 3-4 years from now. Seems like wasted value no?

As nice as it would be to have 3 to 4 players that come through the system and hit the team wheels a turning at age 24 or so it is just almost impossible. Burleson is not an extreme player in that he is one play away from tearing something and being out weeks at a time. He is a consistent hitter that gives you average glove play. I would argue a great guy to have in the 5 to 7 hole hitting for you. There is nothing that says he cannot keep it going for another 5 years other than fans projections of he just got lucky a couple years in a row. Sell high now. There has to be good support roles on the team to compliment the great ones. Look at this last Dodgers win against Toronto. It was not Ohtani, Betts or even Freeman that made the decisive plays to win it for them. It was a lot of support guys. That is what Burly is and a pretty good one at it. Learn to appreciate what he really brings to the team. If we had a legit 1 thru 4 hitters then Donovan-Winn-Burleson as your 5 thru 7 guys would make for one dangerous team. Herrera and Wetherholt could be good #2 and #4 hitters find the 1 and the 3 and the team as is would be a good base. This team could be dangerous after the 2027 lockout if they develop the pitching. That is still a good window to have Burleson in.

Makes sense, but unless something dramatic happens, I don't think they feel the team will be ready to compete again until 2028 at the earliest with '29/'30 being the more likely timeline. By then, the chances of Burleson being a good complimentary piece are very low.

2028?....2029/2030???
You guys are ridiculous thinking it should take the Cardinals that long to compete. That's absolutely INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I certainly do not disagree, in that it shouldn't take that long. However, unless they hit the jackpot on a couple of trades or begin spending significantly more than they have in the past, I'm afraid '28 will be the soonest we see a playoff run.

It still comes down to what your definition of "to compete" is.

If your definition of "to compete" is squeak into the playoffs as a WC and hope for the best, the kind of "high level mediocrity" approach the Cardinals have taken recently - then maybe you could do that in 2027 to 2028. But that likely gets you stuck in "high level mediocrity" without a clear path to pushing past that to being better over the long term.

But if your definition of "to compete" is to really develop a roster that has a good chance to get to the NLCS or WS, that's going to require more patience and be more like 2028 to 2029.

[Cardinals4Life]

I'm confused as to why they would want to keep Burleson. He's close to peak trade value and is unlikely to be very productive 3-4 years from now. Seems like wasted value no?

As nice as it would be to have 3 to 4 players that come through the system and hit the team wheels a turning at age 24 or so it is just almost impossible. Burleson is not an extreme player in that he is one play away from tearing something and being out weeks at a time. He is a consistent hitter that gives you average glove play. I would argue a great guy to have in the 5 to 7 hole hitting for you. There is nothing that says he cannot keep it going for another 5 years other than fans projections of he just got lucky a couple years in a row. Sell high now. There has to be good support roles on the team to compliment the great ones. Look at this last Dodgers win against Toronto. It was not Ohtani, Betts or even Freeman that made the decisive plays to win it for them. It was a lot of support guys. That is what Burly is and a pretty good one at it. Learn to appreciate what he really brings to the team. If we had a legit 1 thru 4 hitters then Donovan-Winn-Burleson as your 5 thru 7 guys would make for one dangerous team. Herrera and Wetherholt could be good #2 and #4 hitters find the 1 and the 3 and the team as is would be a good base. This team could be dangerous after the 2027 lockout if they develop the pitching. That is still a good window to have Burleson in.

Makes sense, but unless something dramatic happens, I don't think they feel the team will be ready to compete again until 2028 at the earliest with '29/'30 being the more likely timeline. By then, the chances of Burleson being a good complimentary piece are very low.

2028?....2029/2030???
You guys are ridiculous thinking it should take the Cardinals that long to compete. That's absolutely INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cardinalsforlife, I totally agree. Smart financial transactions along with growth and development of the youth can go hand in hand. It does not have to be just one or the other. But that would require Bill to open the purse strings, which seems he is unwilling to do. Not unable, UNWILLING! 2012 Red Sox are a perfect example. Last place finish, minor league future still developing, and the next year after a few free agent aquistions, along with the youth taking the next step, and boom! 2013 World Series winner. It is about willingness to do so, and I feel that so many are drinking the koolaid "we can't walk and chew gum" at the same time. We can make a few smart free agency signings and some savy trades. We shouldn't have to be the Pirates for the next 5 or 10-or forever, years The money is certainly there, but I have serious doubts that there will ever be the willingness to spend it to make it happen. I feel most here have accepted that we have no choice but to wait for the youngsters to appear, but it certainly doesn't have to be that way or the only way. IMHO

Exactly!!
It is literally crazy that people think we are going to magically develop a team loaded with star players that are super young, don't cost any money, and all figure it out at the same time. Folks, that isn't ever going to happen!

Teams need star players, young players, veteran players, complimentary players, etc. to win.

Our Cardinals have a team full of young, complimentary pieces. We have a miniscule payroll. Go get a couple stars!! That won't affect our development of the minor leagues. Keep working to improve/develop great players, but get some stars! The MLB isn't a place to develop, it is a place to try and win. The minors are for the developing!

[mattmitchl44]

Exactly!!
It is literally crazy that people think we are going to magically develop a team loaded with star players that are super young, don't cost any money, and all figure it out at the same time. Folks, that isn't ever going to happen!

Teams need star players, young players, veteran players, complimentary players, etc. to win.

Our Cardinals have a team full of young, complimentary pieces. We have a miniscule payroll. Go get a couple stars!! That won't affect our development of the minor leagues. Keep working to improve/develop great players, but get some stars! The MLB isn't a place to develop, it is a place to try and win. The minors are for the developing!

As has been discussed ad nauseum, sure, you could go get a couple of "stars" right now, add them to the insufficient amount of young talent they have currently, and be an overall mediocre roster that wins 8X games in 2026, maybe sneaks into a WC, and loses in the 1st round of the playoffs if that is what you are into.

But, in three or four years, when maybe you do have more young talent with which to try to be really good, those "stars" you went out and got in Dec. 2025 are now - like Arenado, Goldschmidt, Mikolas, Matt Carpenter, etc. became - a shell of their former selves, untradeable, and payroll albatrosses which drag down your ability to compete at a higher level in 2028, 2029, etc.

That's the risk of committing to "stars" now when doing so still won't make you better than mediocre in the short run.

Go get your "stars" after the 2027, etc. season when you start to have the core of young talent you need to really compete and the "stars" you add will presumably still be "stars" instead of shells of their former selves as the back end of an expensive, long term contract.

[Cardinals4Life]

Exactly!!
It is literally crazy that people think we are going to magically develop a team loaded with star players that are super young, don't cost any money, and all figure it out at the same time. Folks, that isn't ever going to happen!

Teams need star players, young players, veteran players, complimentary players, etc. to win.

Our Cardinals have a team full of young, complimentary pieces. We have a miniscule payroll. Go get a couple stars!! That won't affect our development of the minor leagues. Keep working to improve/develop great players, but get some stars! The MLB isn't a place to develop, it is a place to try and win. The minors are for the developing!

As has been discussed ad nauseum, sure, you could go get a couple of "stars" right now, add them to the insufficient amount of young talent they have currently, and be an overall mediocre roster that wins 8X games in 2026, maybe sneaks into a WC, and loses in the 1st round of the playoffs if that is what you are into.

But, in three or four years, when maybe you do have more young talent with which to try to be really good, those "stars" you went out and got in Dec. 2025 are now - like Arenado, Goldschmidt, Mikolas, Matt Carpenter, etc. became - a shell of their former selves, untradeable, and payroll albatrosses which drag down your ability to compete at a higher level in 2028, 2029, etc.

That's the risk of committing to "stars" now when doing so still won't make you better than mediocre in the short run.

Your certainty of how adding stars would only make us a 80 something win team is perplexing. You don't know that.

And calling Mikolas a star, LOL.

[ecleme22]

Exactly!!
It is literally crazy that people think we are going to magically develop a team loaded with star players that are super young, don't cost any money, and all figure it out at the same time. Folks, that isn't ever going to happen!

Teams need star players, young players, veteran players, complimentary players, etc. to win.

Our Cardinals have a team full of young, complimentary pieces. We have a miniscule payroll. Go get a couple stars!! That won't affect our development of the minor leagues. Keep working to improve/develop great players, but get some stars! The MLB isn't a place to develop, it is a place to try and win. The minors are for the developing!

As has been discussed ad nauseum, sure, you could go get a couple of "stars" right now, add them to the insufficient amount of young talent they have currently, and be an overall mediocre roster that wins 8X games in 2026, maybe sneaks into a WC, and loses in the 1st round of the playoffs if that is what you are into.

But, in three or four years, when maybe you do have more young talent with which to try to be really good, those "stars" you went out and got in Dec. 2025 are now - like Arenado, Goldschmidt, Mikolas, Matt Carpenter, etc. became - a shell of their former selves, untradeable, and payroll albatrosses which drag down your ability to compete at a higher level in 2028, 2029, etc.

That's the risk of committing to "stars" now when doing so still won't make you better than mediocre in the short run.

Right.

Even the Theo Cubs divested for a bit before adding to the payroll in 2015 and 2016.

Sure you can 'get some stars!,' but you could have a Contreras situation where you give a catcher a 5 year deal, then after a year and a half realize that catcher isn't the most important need. Sure, it would be cool to sign Schwarber to 6 years/180mil, but maybe in two years we find that we don't need a DH. My point is getting stars during a rebuild isn't an efficient way to spend and can go against the overall goal.

Now I AM down for signing some reclamation projects on 1-year deals. Those players can be flipped or, at worst, released.

Lastly, I disagree with Mitch on one point: I don't think it will take 3-4 years. I can see the 2026 team like the 2024 team. And the 2027 winning 90+ games.

[mattmitchl44]

Exactly!!
It is literally crazy that people think we are going to magically develop a team loaded with star players that are super young, don't cost any money, and all figure it out at the same time. Folks, that isn't ever going to happen!

Teams need star players, young players, veteran players, complimentary players, etc. to win.

Our Cardinals have a team full of young, complimentary pieces. We have a miniscule payroll. Go get a couple stars!! That won't affect our development of the minor leagues. Keep working to improve/develop great players, but get some stars! The MLB isn't a place to develop, it is a place to try and win. The minors are for the developing!

As has been discussed ad nauseum, sure, you could go get a couple of "stars" right now, add them to the insufficient amount of young talent they have currently, and be an overall mediocre roster that wins 8X games in 2026, maybe sneaks into a WC, and loses in the 1st round of the playoffs if that is what you are into.

But, in three or four years, when maybe you do have more young talent with which to try to be really good, those "stars" you went out and got in Dec. 2025 are now - like Arenado, Goldschmidt, Mikolas, Matt Carpenter, etc. became - a shell of their former selves, untradeable, and payroll albatrosses which drag down your ability to compete at a higher level in 2028, 2029, etc.

That's the risk of committing to "stars" now when doing so still won't make you better than mediocre in the short run.

Your certainty of how adding stars would only make us a 80 something win team is perplexing. You don't know that.

And calling Mikolas a star, LOL.

Even with a couple of more "stars" (not a Judge, Ohtani, etc., "superstar" but like a 3-4 fWAR Bo Bichette and/or Dylan Cease) makes this a sub-90 win talent roster because there just isn't yet the developed, young talent to support them being better than that.

[Melville]

Exactly!!
It is literally crazy that people think we are going to magically develop a team loaded with star players that are super young, don't cost any money, and all figure it out at the same time. Folks, that isn't ever going to happen!

Teams need star players, young players, veteran players, complimentary players, etc. to win.

Our Cardinals have a team full of young, complimentary pieces. We have a miniscule payroll. Go get a couple stars!! That won't affect our development of the minor leagues. Keep working to improve/develop great players, but get some stars! The MLB isn't a place to develop, it is a place to try and win. The minors are for the developing!

As has been discussed ad nauseum, sure, you could go get a couple of "stars" right now, add them to the insufficient amount of young talent they have currently, and be an overall mediocre roster that wins 8X games in 2026, maybe sneaks into a WC, and loses in the 1st round of the playoffs if that is what you are into.

But, in three or four years, when maybe you do have more young talent with which to try to be really good, those "stars" you went out and got in Dec. 2025 are now - like Arenado, Goldschmidt, Mikolas, Matt Carpenter, etc. became - a shell of their former selves, untradeable, and payroll albatrosses which drag down your ability to compete at a higher level in 2028, 2029, etc.

That's the risk of committing to "stars" now when doing so still won't make you better than mediocre in the short run.

Right.

Even the Theo Cubs divested for a bit before adding to the payroll in 2015 and 2016.

Sure you can 'get some stars!,' but you could have a Contreras situation where you give a catcher a 5 year deal, then after a year and a half realize that catcher isn't the most important need. Sure, it would be cool to sign Schwarber to 6 years/180mil, but maybe in two years we find that we don't need a DH. My point is getting stars during a rebuild isn't an efficient way to spend and can go against the overall goal.

Now I AM down for signing some reclamation projects on 1-year deals. Those players can be flipped or, at worst, released.

Lastly, I disagree with Mitch on one point: I don't think it will take 3-4 years. I can see the 2026 team like the 2024 team. And the 2027 winning 90+ games.

The entire organization could be fixed in 30 days or less.
I could do it - as could any qualified leader.
All that is required is the skill and the will.
4 rather straightforward decisions, each easily executed.
The team would be positioned to win 85+ next season, and 90+ the following seasons.
DeWitt, of course, lacks the will.
We shall soon see if Bloom possesses the requisite skill.
And, to the point of this thread, that specific 30-day window to fix everything would not include trading Donovan.

[mattmitchl44]

Lastly, I disagree with Mitch on one point: I don't think it will take 3-4 years. I can see the 2026 team like the 2024 team. And the 2027 winning 90+ games.

I think it could be as early as 2027 or as late as 2029 before they are really ready to compete again for NL pennants and/or WS title.

But it all depends on what they can get out of Walker, Gorman, etc., what they can get in trade now for Arenado, Gray, Contreras, Donovan, etc., how ready Weatherholt, Doyle, etc. are....

If they hit solidly on all fronts, yeah, they could be looking good in 2027.

Figuring some hits, some misses, more like 2028.

[Cardinals4Life]

Exactly!!
It is literally crazy that people think we are going to magically develop a team loaded with star players that are super young, don't cost any money, and all figure it out at the same time. Folks, that isn't ever going to happen!

Teams need star players, young players, veteran players, complimentary players, etc. to win.

Our Cardinals have a team full of young, complimentary pieces. We have a miniscule payroll. Go get a couple stars!! That won't affect our development of the minor leagues. Keep working to improve/develop great players, but get some stars! The MLB isn't a place to develop, it is a place to try and win. The minors are for the developing!

As has been discussed ad nauseum, sure, you could go get a couple of "stars" right now, add them to the insufficient amount of young talent they have currently, and be an overall mediocre roster that wins 8X games in 2026, maybe sneaks into a WC, and loses in the 1st round of the playoffs if that is what you are into.

But, in three or four years, when maybe you do have more young talent with which to try to be really good, those "stars" you went out and got in Dec. 2025 are now - like Arenado, Goldschmidt, Mikolas, Matt Carpenter, etc. became - a shell of their former selves, untradeable, and payroll albatrosses which drag down your ability to compete at a higher level in 2028, 2029, etc.

That's the risk of committing to "stars" now when doing so still won't make you better than mediocre in the short run.

Your certainty of how adding stars would only make us a 80 something win team is perplexing. You don't know that.

And calling Mikolas a star, LOL.

Even with a couple of more "stars" (not a Judge, Ohtani, etc., "superstar" but like a 3-4 fWAR Bo Bichette and/or Dylan Cease) makes this a sub-90 win talent roster because there just isn't yet the developed, young talent to support them being better than that.

Bo Bichette and Dylan Cease are not going to lead anybody anywhere.

[Bully4you]

Lastly, I disagree with Mitch on one point: I don't think it will take 3-4 years. I can see the 2026 team like the 2024 team. And the 2027 winning 90+ games.

I think it could be as early as 2027 or as late as 2029 before they are really ready to compete again for NL pennants and/or WS title.

But it all depends on what they can get out of Walker, Gorman, etc., what they can get in trade now for Arenado, Gray, Contreras, Donovan, etc., how ready Weatherholt, Doyle, etc. are....

If they hit solidly on all fronts, yeah, they could be looking good in 2027.

Figuring some hits, some misses, more like 2028.

Jesus, you live in fantasy land.
Have you seen Walker?
Have you seen Gorman?
Yeah, if they make all the right moves and these guys do a 180, we may be back in business.
Where are we Disney Land where all dreams come true?

[mattmitchl44]

Exactly!!
It is literally crazy that people think we are going to magically develop a team loaded with star players that are super young, don't cost any money, and all figure it out at the same time. Folks, that isn't ever going to happen!

Teams need star players, young players, veteran players, complimentary players, etc. to win.

Our Cardinals have a team full of young, complimentary pieces. We have a miniscule payroll. Go get a couple stars!! That won't affect our development of the minor leagues. Keep working to improve/develop great players, but get some stars! The MLB isn't a place to develop, it is a place to try and win. The minors are for the developing!

As has been discussed ad nauseum, sure, you could go get a couple of "stars" right now, add them to the insufficient amount of young talent they have currently, and be an overall mediocre roster that wins 8X games in 2026, maybe sneaks into a WC, and loses in the 1st round of the playoffs if that is what you are into.

But, in three or four years, when maybe you do have more young talent with which to try to be really good, those "stars" you went out and got in Dec. 2025 are now - like Arenado, Goldschmidt, Mikolas, Matt Carpenter, etc. became - a shell of their former selves, untradeable, and payroll albatrosses which drag down your ability to compete at a higher level in 2028, 2029, etc.

That's the risk of committing to "stars" now when doing so still won't make you better than mediocre in the short run.

Your certainty of how adding stars would only make us a 80 something win team is perplexing. You don't know that.

And calling Mikolas a star, LOL.

Even with a couple of more "stars" (not a Judge, Ohtani, etc., "superstar" but like a 3-4 fWAR Bo Bichette and/or Dylan Cease) makes this a sub-90 win talent roster because there just isn't yet the developed, young talent to support them being better than that.

Bo Bichette and Dylan Cease are not going to lead anybody anywhere.

They aren't going to lead the Cardinals anywhere. But Bichette and Cease are probably about what you can get for $50, $55, etc. million a year.

So that's my point - the Cardinals can't get enough talent to make them more than mediocre for what they might spending even if they ran the payroll up to around $180 million.

[mattmitchl44]

Lastly, I disagree with Mitch on one point: I don't think it will take 3-4 years. I can see the 2026 team like the 2024 team. And the 2027 winning 90+ games.

I think it could be as early as 2027 or as late as 2029 before they are really ready to compete again for NL pennants and/or WS title.

But it all depends on what they can get out of Walker, Gorman, etc., what they can get in trade now for Arenado, Gray, Contreras, Donovan, etc., how ready Weatherholt, Doyle, etc. are....

If they hit solidly on all fronts, yeah, they could be looking good in 2027.

Figuring some hits, some misses, more like 2028.

Jesus, you live in fantasy land.
Have you seen Walker?
Have you seen Gorman?
Yeah, if they make all the right moves and these guys do a 180, we may be back in business.
Where are we Disney Land where all dreams come true?

I'm not counting on Walker, Gorman, etc. - which is why I said their range is anywhere from 2027 to 2029.

[rockondlouie]

Exactly!!
It is literally crazy that people think we are going to magically develop a team loaded with star players that are super young, don't cost any money, and all figure it out at the same time. Folks, that isn't ever going to happen!

Teams need star players, young players, veteran players, complimentary players, etc. to win.

Our Cardinals have a team full of young, complimentary pieces. We have a miniscule payroll. Go get a couple stars!! That won't affect our development of the minor leagues. Keep working to improve/develop great players, but get some stars! The MLB isn't a place to develop, it is a place to try and win. The minors are for the developing!

As has been discussed ad nauseum, sure, you could go get a couple of "stars" right now, add them to the insufficient amount of young talent they have currently, and be an overall mediocre roster that wins 8X games in 2026, maybe sneaks into a WC, and loses in the 1st round of the playoffs if that is what you are into.

But, in three or four years, when maybe you do have more young talent with which to try to be really good, those "stars" you went out and got in Dec. 2025 are now - like Arenado, Goldschmidt, Mikolas, Matt Carpenter, etc. became - a shell of their former selves, untradeable, and payroll albatrosses which drag down your ability to compete at a higher level in 2028, 2029, etc.

That's the risk of committing to "stars" now when doing so still won't make you better than mediocre in the short run.

Your certainty of how adding stars would only make us a 80 something win team is perplexing. You don't know that.

And calling Mikolas a star, LOL.

You seem to be able to tell the future matt, give me the Mega Millions numbers.

Even with a couple of more "stars" (not a Judge, Ohtani, etc., "superstar" but like a 3-4 fWAR Bo Bichette and/or Dylan Cease) makes this a sub-90 win talent roster because there just isn't yet the developed, young talent to support them being better than that.

You seem to be able to tell the future matt, give me the Mega Millions numbers.

You have no idea what adding a Bichette and Cease could do for the 2026 team.

(And I'm not calling for them to do it. I just get tired of you always slamming people who want to stay relevant while you want to s u c k for years and years thinking that will magically turn them into WS contenders............it doesn't work that way and we have multiple MLB teams that prove it. Of course we need to draft/trade and develop our own talent. But we can also add YOUNG talent starting this winter too!)