At this point, I think we all know to temper our expectations for the Cardinals for not only this coming offseason, but for the entirety of the 2025 season as well, maybe even 2026.
The Cardinals improved their record by 12 wins over 2023 this year, going 83-79 but still missing the playoffs. As we all know, the player development system needs work, and that is what has led the Cardinals to where they are now, which is, about to rebuild.
I think we can expect to say goodbye some players this offseason. This includes Ryan Helsley, Willson Contreras, Nolan Arenado, and maybe even Sonny Gray. But even if the Cardinals are rebuilding, that doesn’t mean they can’t add some pieces too.
Any additions that take place won’t be anything sexy. Honestly, that’s fine for a team that’s about to rebuild. They’re still a long way away from contending for a World Series title, maybe a couple of years at the earliest.
Still, there need to be some new faces. I’m not expecting Juan Soto, Blake Snell, Corbin Burnes, or Max Fried. I think somebody like Shane Bieber might even be a reach, as Katie Woo stated that the Cardinals won’t be looking at the market for star players.
But what would they add, you ask? Well, let me explain.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way. When they trade some players, they’re going to get some young players back in return. But if they want to make this rebuild go quickly, the pieces they acquire need to be Major League ready.
I’m talking young, cost-controlled pitching. They don’t have too many guys that are close to being Major League ready. Adding a few guys in trades that may have already tasted the majors or could potentially be right on the cusp will help.
To maximize the returns for their stars, the Cardinals are going to need Chaim Bloom’s input, as evaluating young talent is his area of expertise. If they consult him on these matters, they can get solid returns. But young players aren’t the only types of players the Cardinals need.
As crazy as it sounds, they need to dive into the free agent market and sign at least one player. It won’t be a star player, but just somebody that can fill a hole.
If I had it my way, the Cardinals would hold onto Gray and let Arenado, Contreras, and Helsley go. They have guys that can fill the third base and catcher spots. But they need somebody to lead the pitching staff, even as they rebuild.
Should he be traded, however, maybe they can take a look at a reunion with Michael Wacha.
As far as the offense goes, I think they could actually benefit from having everything centered around the young players. These guys are the future of the team, and they need to be given every opportunity to play. But I would personally like them to add a veteran right-handed bat.
It’s time they used the designated hitter spot as an actual position rather than a means to give players a break from the field on a consistent basis. With Paul Goldschmidt gone, I like the idea of giving Alec Burleson the job at first base, but they need a DH.
For this, maybe we could see them target somebody like Justin Turner so there can be a veteran presence around in a young clubhouse. And maybe if the Cardinals are out of contention by the trade deadline, they could send him to a team in the mix.
These are just my thoughts. It’s nothing earth shattering, but for next year’s team, it doesn’t need to be. But just adding some value pieces that can still produce could benefit the clubhouse and give the young players some guys to lean on as possible mentors.
While the Cardinals aren’t expected to contend next year, I don’t want to see another 90-loss season, and they should at least try to avoid that.