It is fine! Totally fine! I’m not worried about it at all!
Kiley McDaniel posted their annual farm system rankings at ESPN and the St. Louis Cardinals were not ranked quite as highly as this Cardinals fan might have hoped. The Cardinals came in at number 18, which, while an increase from 20 in 2024, is the lowest ranked team in the National League system. For a team that has graduated most of its prospects and transferred that into winning, it would be expected to be near the bottom in farm system rankings, but a team coming off back-to-back seasons of under-performing… Well, I can see why the renewed focus on re-tooling.
It does put a bit of a damper on hopes to see a team the Cardinals are chasing in the standings have the top-ranked farm system in the National League Central. Here is where the Central stands on the list:
9. Milwaukee Brewers
10. Cincinnati Reds
15. Chicago Cubs
16. Pittsburgh Pirates
18. St. Louis Cardinals
It would certainly be more exciting to go into the 2025 with a top-ranked farm system and the Cardinals definitely didn’t improve their system by not trading players like Ryan Helsey or Nolan Arenado or Erick Fedde. But that just means those players remain on the roster improving the Big League team. A strong farm system is crucial for long-term success as it provides a pipeline of young talent for the major league team, but trades are not the only way to build a farm. These rankings do tend to jump around a bit — just as recently as 2023 the Cardinals farm was a high as ninth on the list. These rankings can change quickly with player development and successful drafts and the Cardinals, rather publicly, have been making efforts to restock their farm system and focus on developing their young talent. Back in 2024 a top college shortstop in the form of JJ Wetherholt dropped to the seventh pick allowing the Cardinals to pick him in the draft. In 2025 the Cardinals will have the fifth overall pick in the draft, their highest draft pick since 1998. The Cardinals have not had the luxury of these high draft picks before, having to build their farm system with later picks and a keen late-round strategy.
What I am saying is, yeah, it sounds kinda… yeesh, but do not fret, Cardinals fans. The Cardinals do have good prospects in the pipeline. JJ Wetherholt is near the top of most prospects lists and as McDaniel wrote in their reporting: “He [Wetherholt] heads a system with a balance of proximity pitching and Rookie-level position standouts. Yairo Padilla and Rainiel Rodriguez offer the organization two potential future Top 100 Prospects.” Those are the birds in the hand. Then there is the bird in the bush in the upcoming fifth overall draft pick. Without even trading talent from the major league roster (which is still an available option) the Cardinals are in a good position to improve their farm, they have increased their focus on development, and I expect them to make a big leap when these rankings come out again in 2026. There are good things in store if we can just wait a little bit.
Happy Sunday!