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TRADES:
1. Arenado. Gone. Cards will tak some money and get a minor leaguer.
2. Gray. Same as Arenado.
3. Conteras. 35% chance he's traded.
4. Donovan: Gone, if it's a good deal.
5. Noot: Gone.
6. Burleson. 20% chance he's traded. I think Bloom likes Jordan and will trade AB if the trade is right.

ACQUISTIONS:
1. Bloom gets at least two starters in FA on 1 year deals. He will look to flip them at the deadline if the team sucks.
2. One outfielder.
3. One reliever.

OTHER ACTION:
1. Herrera is worked out at catcher AND outfield.
2. Walker starts the season in AAA if he's not right in spring training.
3. Oli fired.
4. Pitching coach fired.

That's all I got.

If Oli is fired, his entire staff should go with him or at least be forced to reapply. A new manager should be allowed to choose his coaches.

ecleme22 wrote: ↑28 Sep 2025 22:13 pm TRADES:
1. Arenado. Gone. Cards will tak some money and get a minor leaguer.
2. Gray. Same as Arenado.
3. Conteras. 35% chance he's traded.
4. Donovan: Gone, if it's a good deal.
5. Noot: Gone.
6. Burleson. 20% chance he's traded. I think Bloom likes Jordan and will trade AB if the trade is right.

ACQUISTIONS:
1. Bloom gets at least two starters in FA on 1 year deals. He will look to flip them at the deadline if the team sucks.
2. One outfielder.
3. One reliever.

OTHER ACTION:
1. Herrera is worked out at catcher AND outfield.
2. Walker starts the season in AAA if he's not right in spring training.
3. Oli fired.
4. Pitching coach fired.

That's all I got.

Pretty much agree except don’t see Oli being fired.Blake maybe.
Maybe 50/50 on Contreras trade.
I also see two bounce back starters signed. I stated earlier Buehler and May as possibilities
I also see Gorman moved

ecleme22 wrote: ↑28 Sep 2025 22:13 pm TRADES:
1. Arenado. Gone. Cards will tak some money and get a minor leaguer.
2. Gray. Same as Arenado.
3. Conteras. 35% chance he's traded.
4. Donovan: Gone, if it's a good deal.
5. Noot: Gone.
6. Burleson. 20% chance he's traded. I think Bloom likes Jordan and will trade AB if the trade is right.

So the Cardinals trade a combined 130 career WAR (with considerable future WAR remaining) and get how many WAR back, either in past or future?

ecleme22 wrote: ↑28 Sep 2025 22:13 pm TRADES:
1. Arenado. Gone. Cards will tak some money and get a minor leaguer.
2. Gray. Same as Arenado.
3. Conteras. 35% chance he's traded.
4. Donovan: Gone, if it's a good deal.
5. Noot: Gone.
6. Burleson. 20% chance he's traded. I think Bloom likes Jordan and will trade AB if the trade is right.

ACQUISTIONS:
1. Bloom gets at least two starters in FA on 1 year deals. He will look to flip them at the deadline if the team sucks.
2. One outfielder.
3. One reliever.

OTHER ACTION:
1. Herrera is worked out at catcher AND outfield.
2. Walker starts the season in AAA if he's not right in spring training.
3. Oli fired.
4. Pitching coach fired.

That's all I got.

Good list ! Under trades: No. 3 I think Contreras being traded is more than 35% . His comments that he likes the challenge to remain here was nice but he also said in his statements that if the right deal came along he would be willing to accept a trade. I think Bloom would like to go younger all the way around and would move all 3 vets .. Arenado, Gray , and Contreras

Also unsure if Oli will be fired . I could see Blake not returning .

ecleme22 wrote: ↑28 Sep 2025 22:13 pm TRADES:
1. Arenado. Gone. Cards will tak some money and get a minor leaguer.
2. Gray. Same as Arenado.
3. Conteras. 35% chance he's traded.
4. Donovan: Gone, if it's a good deal.
5. Noot: Gone.
6. Burleson. 20% chance he's traded. I think Bloom likes Jordan and will trade AB if the trade is right.

ACQUISTIONS:
1. Bloom gets at least two starters in FA on 1 year deals. He will look to flip them at the deadline if the team sucks.
2. One outfielder.
3. One reliever.

OTHER ACTION:
1. Herrera is worked out at catcher AND outfield.
2. Walker starts the season in AAA if he's not right in spring training.
3. Oli fired.
4. Pitching coach fired.

That's all I got.

I agree with most of that. I think if Arenado goes, Donovan stays unless they get blown away by the return. What your post did not have was what was coming back. I doubt they sign 2 FA starters, maybe 1. I would expect they will get SP prospects back in at least some of these trades. I would also expect they trade one of Crooks or Pages as well as part of trying to get a SP prospect. I understand neither is a center piece to that type of a deal, but, they can be a piece that helps get the guy you want.

I don't really care if the fire Oli or not. He seemed to do reasonably well this year, so I expect he stays. But if he goes, fine with me also. I think this team can compete next year if they add the right pitching pieces. Wetherholdt should add a lot of offense to the infield compared to Arenado. If Walker is at Memphis, the OF has to be better right?

The real issue is filling in a SP staff. If they want to compete after trading Gray this offseason, try to get Justin May on a 1 year deal with an option. I am not certain what he might sign for, $7M with a $15M option if he gets to 150 innings and a $1M buyout? Trade for a ML ready SP prospect
and go

1. May
2. Traded for
3. Mcgreevy
4. Liberatore
5. Leahy

With some combination of Doyle, Mathews and Thompson as the next guys up. Could be an absolutely a horrendous staff. But, could also surprise to the upside. They also have the trio from Springfield, none of whom are hard throwers, but were effective this year, Henderson, Hansen and Mautz in Memphis. So unlike 2025, they should have a bunch of guys that are close to helping the ML team instead of just 1, McGreevy. That means if one or more of those 5 guys I listed, fail, they don't have to give them 20 starts like they did with Fedde this year before trying the next guy...That should hopefully reduce the downside. If they are all terrible, well, it is a rebuilding process...

ecleme22 wrote: ↑28 Sep 2025 22:13 pm TRADES:
1. Arenado. Gone. Cards will tak some money and get a minor leaguer.
2. Gray. Same as Arenado.
3. Conteras. 35% chance he's traded.
4. Donovan: Gone, if it's a good deal.
5. Noot: Gone.
6. Burleson. 20% chance he's traded. I think Bloom likes Jordan and will trade AB if the trade is right.

ACQUISTIONS:
1. Bloom gets at least two starters in FA on 1 year deals. He will look to flip them at the deadline if the team sucks.
2. One outfielder.
3. One reliever.

OTHER ACTION:
1. Herrera is worked out at catcher AND outfield.
2. Walker starts the season in AAA if he's not right in spring training.
3. Oli fired.
4. Pitching coach fired.

That's all I got.

Man, ecleme that's a lot.
Most likely not going to be this robust.
However, I don't disagree with much of what you think will happen.
I'd enjoy seeing that kind of change and we do need it.
One person I'd keep is Burleson.
Can we at least keep the #12 hitter in baseball?
The rest and more is a-okay with me.

I don't think we see Doyle next year unless it's a late season call up. I doubt Matthews makes opening day roster. Gray is traded. Mikolas already gone. I think Pallante is left in the rotation. Maybe Curtis Taylor gets a serious look. We still need 2 other guys. And that's just starting pitchers.

Agree with your plan, Ec.
What troubles me is that we are due for SP injuries. Last year none, but we had Pallante hit the wall and MM and Fedde both bomb out. All that was done was to keep Fedde beyond his "best-by date" and to stomach MM's starts. We need a couple of more SP arms that can be brought into the rotation on an as-needed basis and I do not see those arms in Memphis. Any suggestions here? Thank you.

I am going to counter with this scenario. The logic behind it is purely based on the impending lockout. If the owners decide to fight for some kind of salary cap issue it could go on for a bit, maybe even the whole season. 2026 is still all about developing players in the minors and getting coaching on the same page. New players will be added to freshen up the system. It is also all about money. If the owners do fight for caps they are going to be losing a ton of money. They are already going to be on the hook for contracts shipped out. We see a low budget payroll for 2026.

1. Marmol & staff - Marmol will be back and most of his staff to simply be the fall guy at the end of the year. Let him play out his contract and use the small window between their off season ending and the official MLB off season to part ways with Marmol and bring in Blooms guy and staff prior to contract negotiations. I cannot see any scenario Marmol gets to continue on as head chief.

2. Arenado & Gray - Arenado & Gray will both be gone with the team eating significant portions of the contracts. Return will most likely be minor leaguers.

3. Contreras - Willy C is making it hard on the Cards mgmt. I see him being a 50/50 scenario of staying and going. He put up good enough numbers to warrant keeping around however I think this is about money at the end of the day and long term viability. If the right deal comes along to a team he likes, it could be a deal he can accept. He knows he is not getting an extension from the Cards. Might as well play for a new contract elsewhere.

4. Others gone or in AAA - Gorman, Walker.

5. Donovan & Burleson - Both will be given a decent ARB payout and held onto as trade bait for later in the year if they do not commit to them in one spot moving forward. Otherwise they will soon become too expensive for being a super utility player, and with continued success can bring back a decent player. If they plant them in a spot and call it theirs, then expect to see a contract from the Cards for long term years once the lockout is done or even prior to. They will be two of the few. I think there is no one that can argue that both would be key players on a team that had a viable 1-2 punch of stars that hit the ball hard. They are not going to be the teams stars taking them to the promised land but, they certainly can be solid compliments to them. Winning teams are all about talent and chemistry. Both bring the right stats and attitude.

We will see most of this teams core back. Scott, Nootbar will continue to be given chances to put it together coming out of ST. Other guys like Church will be given continued looks. I think new players will also be seen in Prieto, Blaze and Koperniak with strong spring efforts. Most of all pitching is going to need the most development. If there is one place I see some free agent signings or acquired assets from trades it will be journeyman pitchers to fill out the staff for 2026. I believe they will continue to work the arm strength of Doyle and Matthews up without over exposing them to what could be a long layoff from the negotiations.

Fine post, ecle. Well thought out.

I’m wondering if Donovan and Arenado are connected. It seems like you have to make a decision on Donovan first? If he is traded it would mean JJ to second instead of replacement for Arenado at third. In that case I’m not sure Arenado is gone.

I have pushed for Arenado to go to let youth play. Honestly we have not seen a good replacement. It ain’t Gorman.

My hope is Donovan stays and Arenado goes.

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑28 Sep 2025 23:07 pm

ecleme22 wrote: ↑28 Sep 2025 22:13 pm TRADES:
1. Arenado. Gone. Cards will tak some money and get a minor leaguer.
2. Gray. Same as Arenado.
3. Conteras. 35% chance he's traded.
4. Donovan: Gone, if it's a good deal.
5. Noot: Gone.
6. Burleson. 20% chance he's traded. I think Bloom likes Jordan and will trade AB if the trade is right.

So the Cardinals trade a combined 130 career WAR (with considerable future WAR remaining) and get how many WAR back, either in past or future?

Were you also upset when Waino’s 45 WAR retired?

Carp4Cy wrote: ↑28 Sep 2025 23:07 pm

ecleme22 wrote: ↑28 Sep 2025 22:13 pm TRADES:
1. Arenado. Gone. Cards will tak some money and get a minor leaguer.
2. Gray. Same as Arenado.
3. Conteras. 35% chance he's traded.
4. Donovan: Gone, if it's a good deal.
5. Noot: Gone.
6. Burleson. 20% chance he's traded. I think Bloom likes Jordan and will trade AB if the trade is right.

So the Cardinals trade a combined 130 career WAR (with considerable future WAR remaining) and get how many WAR back, either in past or future?

LMAO.

What a ridiculous statement

Gray hasn't been a 2 WAR player either of his 2 years here. Do you calculate age and contract in your dumb post?

Nado has 18 WAR in 5 years...one of those being 7.9

Here’s the offseason: the paperwork will be completed to get rid of Mikolas. NA will be on the trading block, but won’t be traded. Gray won’t be traded because Bill won’t eat what it will cost. That’s it. Bill knows he’s in hot water with the fans. So, he will say eff ’em and let ’em eat fish heads.

Rojo Johnson wrote: ↑29 Sep 2025 08:56 am Here’s the offseason: the paperwork will be completed to get rid of Mikolas. NA will be on the trading block, but won’t be traded. Gray won’t be traded because Bill won’t eat what it will cost. That’s it.

This is what I expect too. And if that's the market. Then keep em and let them play. Salary is a sunk cost.

It could be a lot worse (Pallante and Fedde instead of Gray).