Getting a transparent image of the Cardinals’ plans for 2025 has been a little bit of a shifting goal. A number of studies over the previous months indicated the membership was taking a look at a type of reset 12 months, decreasing the payroll as they pivot in direction of a concentrate on participant growth. As such, it appeared honest to anticipate that a lot of veteran gamers on the roster could be accessible in commerce. In current weeks, that expectation has been softened, one thing that president of baseball operations John Mozeliak mentioned with Katie Woo of The Athletic this week.
“We’ve got each intention of fielding a great baseball group,” Mozeliak stated. “It’s going to have a unique profile, however we nonetheless have loads of perception that a few of our youthful gamers will take that subsequent step ahead. We’re enthusiastic about what we’ve got. Now, it’s Dec. 5, and issues can occur and issues can change. However we’re nonetheless going into (subsequent season) with optimism that it’ll be a enjoyable baseball group to observe.”
It appears the plan is to stroll a little bit of a fantastic line. The Playing cards are undoubtedly planning to take their foot of the fuel pedal a bit, although possibly to not the diploma that was initially anticipated. All indicators level to the membership spending a bit much less on the 2025 roster, however they could simply do this by being much less aggressive. RosterResource already tasks the membership about $35MM beneath final 12 months’s payroll, so the Playing cards may simply keep away from signings versus actively seeking to transfer gamers with notable contracts.
As of some weeks in the past, it appeared honest to anticipate gamers like Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Sonny Grey, Ryan Helsley and others could be accessible. Helsley is a wonderful reliever however is one 12 months away from free company, making it logical for them to discover trades. The opposite three are of their mid-30s and making eight-figure salaries. All of them have no-trade safety nevertheless it was assumed by some that they would favor to be traded to a competitor, somewhat than protruding a rebuilding course of.
Nevertheless it was reported final month that Contreras truly needed to remain in St. Louis and didn’t need to waive his no-trade clause. Since one of many targets of the 2025 season is for the membership to judge gamers together with catchers Iván Herrera and Pedro Pagés, Contreras will likely be moved to first base to interchange free agent Paul Goldschmidt. Although the reporting was a bit much less specific with Grey, it appears he additionally had a want to stick with the Playing cards subsequent 12 months.
Current reporting has additionally urged that they’ll maintain onto Helsley. They may ultimately commerce him on the deadline however there’s some danger there. Helsley may get harm or put up much less spectacular numbers within the first half of 2025. Holding onto him now additionally prevents the buying group from making a qualifying provide after 2025, doubtlessly decreasing his commerce worth.
All in all, it appears the plan is to do one thing in between rebuilding and full-throated contending. The Playing cards are going to provide taking part in time to some much less confirmed gamers and hope for some inner developments. Woo lists Nolan Gorman, Jordan Walker, Lars Nootbaar, Alec Burleson, Pagés and Herrera as gamers who ought to get lengthy auditions in 2025. That’s notable for Gorman as he appeared to fall out of favor this previous 12 months, getting optioned to the minors with Mozeliak seemingly delivering a harsh evaluation of his scenario at the moment.
“Clearly, it’s a sport of manufacturing up right here and sooner or later, you’ve obtained to persistently produce, or we’ve got to seek out somebody who can,” Mozeliak stated in August. “I imply, that’s what it finally comes all the way down to, and these are exhausting messages to listen to. It may be irritating, however that is what finally ends up defining you. With our offensive struggles this 12 months, I believe you may strictly have a look at the shortcoming for constant efficiency, day in and time out.”
It appears a lot has modified since that remark, as Mozeliak now tells Woo that they’re hoping for Gorman to get 600 at-bats subsequent 12 months. He appeared to interrupt out in 2023 with 27 dwelling runs and a powerful 11.4% stroll charge, working round a excessive strikeout charge of 31.9%. However his stroll charge fell to eight.5% in 2024 as his strikeout charge climbed even increased to 37.6%, resulting in his aforementioned optioning to the minors.
The Playing cards have just a few of those gifted however unproven gamers and it appears the plan is to provide them an opportunity to step ahead. Walker additionally had a powerful 2023 however fell off in 2024. Burleson had a pleasant breakout in 2024 that he’ll attempt to preserve. Nootbaar has been restricted by accidents and nonetheless hasn’t performed 120 video games in a season. Pagés and Herrera have been caught in backup obligation behind Contreras.
The overarching plan then is to proverbially throw these gamers into the deep finish and see how nicely they swim. The Playing cards consider that, with some success from that group and others, they might doubtlessly compete in 2025. That mentality is main them to carry onto gamers like Helsley for now and see how issues go. Relying on how the gamers and the group carry out within the first half of 2025 may then decide subsequent steps.
The massive remaining unknown appears to be Arenado, who appears to be extra open to waiving his no-trade clause than Contreras or Grey, however he hasn’t demanded a commerce and the Cardinals don’t appear hellbent on shifting him. Whether or not he returns to St. Louis in 2025 may maybe rely upon what sort of affords are placed on the desk for him. On high of that, gamers like Erick Fedde, Steven Matz and Miles Mikolas are impending free brokers. The membership could also be open to buying and selling them relying on the affords, however like Helsley, they is also retained because the membership tries to see if contending in 2025 is feasible.
