What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
Moderators: STLtoday Forum Moderators, Cards Talk Moderators
What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
Being reasonable what do you think the cardinals could do either by free agent signings or trades to make them competitive next year?
I think getting a true #1 or #2 starter and a impact outfield bat would go a long way but both of those would not come cheap if they were available by free agency or very costly and very difficult to get by way of trade.
I think getting a true #1 or #2 starter and a impact outfield bat would go a long way but both of those would not come cheap if they were available by free agency or very costly and very difficult to get by way of trade.
Re: What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
Two good starting pitchersDecker57 wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 19:27 pm Being reasonable what do you think the cardinals could do either by free agent signings or trades to make them competitive next year?
I think getting a true #1 or #2 starter and a impact outfield bat would go a long way but both of those would not come cheap if they were available by free agency or very costly and very difficult to get by way of trade.
One proven rbi in the middle of the lineup
Two good relievers
Improvement from Walker and Scott
Re: What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
They could up the payroll where it was a couple years ago signing a couple front line bats and and a front line starting pitcher. That’s useless to talk about, though. They are all but saying in plain English they aren’t going to do that. They aren’t going to spend money again until at least 2027 when a new CBA is in place. Maybe it’s as stupid as we all think or maybe it’s brilliant in the long run, who knows. But it’s what’s happening either way.
Re: What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
+1JohnnyMO wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 19:46 pm They could up the payroll where it was a couple years ago signing a couple front line bats and and a front line starting pitcher. That’s useless to talk about, though. They are all but saying in plain English they aren’t going to do that. They aren’t going to spend money again until at least 2027 when a new CBA is in place. Maybe it’s as stupid as we all think or maybe it’s brilliant in the long run, who knows. But it’s what’s happening either way.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 5695
- Joined: 01 Jul 2021 21:30 pm
Re: What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
1. Losing Mozeliak.
2. Ditching Marmol.
3. Shuttling Dusty back to college.
4. Increasing payroll to acquire pitching & a moto bat.
2. Ditching Marmol.
3. Shuttling Dusty back to college.
4. Increasing payroll to acquire pitching & a moto bat.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 3958
- Joined: 06 Oct 2020 15:45 pm
Re: What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
Payroll back to top 11 like 2006-2011. That will be $215m and currently projected at $75m. $140m will get Tucker and 2 TORSP. Trade 3-4 of the OF/2B/DH abundance to fix bullpenJuanAgosto wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 20:20 pm 1. Losing Mozeliak.
2. Ditching Marmol.
3. Shuttling Dusty back to college.
4. Increasing payroll to acquire pitching & a moto bat.
Re: What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
Trade teams, FO and ownership with Cleveland. It has been done before.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 5695
- Joined: 01 Jul 2021 21:30 pm
Re: What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
$75 million payroll in 2026 MLB. How pathetic. DeWitt is milking the customers.Youboughtit wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 20:26 pmPayroll back to top 11 like 2006-2011. That will be $215m and currently projected at $75m. $140m will get Tucker and 2 TORSP. Trade 3-4 of the OF/2B/DH abundance to fix bullpenJuanAgosto wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 20:20 pm 1. Losing Mozeliak.
2. Ditching Marmol.
3. Shuttling Dusty back to college.
4. Increasing payroll to acquire pitching & a moto bat.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 5467
- Joined: 23 May 2024 13:01 pm
Re: What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
Dewitt selling the team to an ownership that actually wants to winDecker57 wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 19:27 pm Being reasonable what do you think the cardinals could do either by free agent signings or trades to make them competitive next year?
I think getting a true #1 or #2 starter and a impact outfield bat would go a long way but both of those would not come cheap if they were available by free agency or very costly and very difficult to get by way of trade.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 3958
- Joined: 06 Oct 2020 15:45 pm
Re: What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
$75m currently on roster. Lower if they trade AreanadoJuanAgosto wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 20:33 pm$75 million payroll in 2026 MLB. How pathetic. DeWitt is milking the customers.Youboughtit wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 20:26 pmPayroll back to top 11 like 2006-2011. That will be $215m and currently projected at $75m. $140m will get Tucker and 2 TORSP. Trade 3-4 of the OF/2B/DH abundance to fix bullpenJuanAgosto wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 20:20 pm 1. Losing Mozeliak.
2. Ditching Marmol.
3. Shuttling Dusty back to college.
4. Increasing payroll to acquire pitching & a moto bat.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 5695
- Joined: 01 Jul 2021 21:30 pm
Re: What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
Unreal. And a 15% increase on season tickets. Terrible business model.Youboughtit wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 21:37 pm$75m currently on roster. Lower if they trade AreanadoJuanAgosto wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 20:33 pm$75 million payroll in 2026 MLB. How pathetic. DeWitt is milking the customers.Youboughtit wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 20:26 pmPayroll back to top 11 like 2006-2011. That will be $215m and currently projected at $75m. $140m will get Tucker and 2 TORSP. Trade 3-4 of the OF/2B/DH abundance to fix bullpenJuanAgosto wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 20:20 pm 1. Losing Mozeliak.
2. Ditching Marmol.
3. Shuttling Dusty back to college.
4. Increasing payroll to acquire pitching & a moto bat.
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 3958
- Joined: 06 Oct 2020 15:45 pm
Re: What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/_/year/2026JuanAgosto wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 22:30 pmUnreal. And a 15% increase on season tickets. Terrible business model.Youboughtit wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 21:37 pm$75m currently on roster. Lower if they trade AreanadoJuanAgosto wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 20:33 pm$75 million payroll in 2026 MLB. How pathetic. DeWitt is milking the customers.Youboughtit wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 20:26 pmPayroll back to top 11 like 2006-2011. That will be $215m and currently projected at $75m. $140m will get Tucker and 2 TORSP. Trade 3-4 of the OF/2B/DH abundance to fix bullpenJuanAgosto wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 20:20 pm 1. Losing Mozeliak.
2. Ditching Marmol.
3. Shuttling Dusty back to college.
4. Increasing payroll to acquire pitching & a moto bat.
I was wrong. Currently $69m committed and most of it is to Gray Contreras and Arenado
Re: What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
Just incredible. What sheep for the shearing they think we are!Youboughtit wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 22:33 pmhttps://www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/_/year/2026JuanAgosto wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 22:30 pmUnreal. And a 15% increase on season tickets. Terrible business model.Youboughtit wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 21:37 pm$75m currently on roster. Lower if they trade AreanadoJuanAgosto wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 20:33 pm$75 million payroll in 2026 MLB. How pathetic. DeWitt is milking the customers.Youboughtit wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 20:26 pmPayroll back to top 11 like 2006-2011. That will be $215m and currently projected at $75m. $140m will get Tucker and 2 TORSP. Trade 3-4 of the OF/2B/DH abundance to fix bullpenJuanAgosto wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 20:20 pm 1. Losing Mozeliak.
2. Ditching Marmol.
3. Shuttling Dusty back to college.
4. Increasing payroll to acquire pitching & a moto bat.
I was wrong. Currently $69m committed and most of it is to Gray Contreras and Arenado
Re: What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
1.Big FA signing like Schwarber
2. Trade for a top SP. Gorman Crooks for…
3. Sign/trade Noot for RP
4. Wetherholt to hit like Robinson Cano/George Brett.
I would like to dump Arenado and start Wetherholt at 3B Donovan at 2B but it will be tough to trade him.
Wetherholt 2B
Winn SS
Schwarber LF/DH
Herrera DH/LF
WC 1B
NA 3B
Walker RF
Pages C
Scott CF
Pozo
Sagesse
Donovan
Burly
2. Trade for a top SP. Gorman Crooks for…
3. Sign/trade Noot for RP
4. Wetherholt to hit like Robinson Cano/George Brett.
I would like to dump Arenado and start Wetherholt at 3B Donovan at 2B but it will be tough to trade him.
Wetherholt 2B
Winn SS
Schwarber LF/DH
Herrera DH/LF
WC 1B
NA 3B
Walker RF
Pages C
Scott CF
Pozo
Sagesse
Donovan
Burly
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 17320
- Joined: 10 Nov 2019 04:55 am
Re: What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
Decker57 wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 19:27 pm Being reasonable what do you think the cardinals could do either by free agent signings or trades to make them competitive next year?
I think getting a true #1 or #2 starter and a impact outfield bat would go a long way but both of those would not come cheap if they were available by free agency or very costly and very difficult to get by way of trade.
Re: What would make the cardinals be competitive next year
I agree. Wainwright seems to think they will make a couple of FA "splashes," but admitted he hadn't talked to Mozeliak or Bloom about it.Decker57 wrote: ↑17 Aug 2025 19:27 pm Being reasonable what do you think the cardinals could do either by free agent signings or trades to make them competitive next year?
I think getting a true #1 or #2 starter and a impact outfield bat would go a long way but both of those would not come cheap if they were available by free agency or very costly and very difficult to get by way of trade.
I also think adding a dependable "innings eater" type pitcher is probably necessary as well, but I am pretty pessimistic that any of this will happen.