Getting a transparent image of the Cardinals’ plans for 2025 has been a little bit of a shifting goal. A number of experiences over the previous months indicated the membership was taking a look at a form of reset yr, decreasing the payroll as they pivot in direction of a give attention to participant growth. As such, it appeared truthful to anticipate that various veteran gamers on the roster can be out there in commerce. In latest 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 each intention of fielding a superb baseball crew,” Mozeliak mentioned. “It’s going to have a distinct profile, however we nonetheless have plenty of perception that a few of our youthful gamers will take that subsequent step ahead. We’re enthusiastic about what we have now. 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 crew to look at.”
It appears the plan is to stroll a little bit of a superb line. The Playing cards are undoubtedly planning to take their foot of the gasoline pedal a bit, although perhaps 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 may simply do this by being much less aggressive. RosterResource already initiatives the membership about $35MM beneath final yr’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 truthful to anticipate gamers like Nolan Arenado, Willson Contreras, Sonny Grey, Ryan Helsley and others can be out there. Helsley is a wonderful reliever however is one yr 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 like to be traded to a competitor, fairly than protruding a rebuilding course of.
However it was reported final month that Contreras really wished to remain in St. Louis and didn’t wish to waive his no-trade clause. Since one of many objectives of the 2025 season is for the membership to judge gamers together with catchers Iván Herrera and Pedro Pagés, Contreras shall be moved to first base to switch free agent Paul Goldschmidt. Although the reporting was a bit much less specific with Grey, it appears he additionally had a need to stick with the Playing cards subsequent yr.
Latest reporting has additionally prompt that they may maintain onto Helsley. They may finally commerce him on the deadline however there’s some threat 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 crew from making a qualifying provide after 2025, doubtlessly lowering 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 offer taking part in time to some much less confirmed gamers and hope for some inside 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 yr, getting optioned to the minors with Mozeliak seemingly delivering a harsh evaluation of his scenario at the moment.
“Clearly, it’s a recreation of manufacturing up right here and sooner or later, you’ve acquired to persistently produce, or we have now to search out somebody who can,” Mozeliak mentioned in August. “I imply, that’s what it finally comes right down to, and these are onerous messages to listen to. It may be irritating, however that is what finally ends up defining you. With our offensive struggles this yr, I believe you may strictly have a look at the lack 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 yr. He appeared to interrupt out in 2023 with 27 dwelling runs and a robust 11.4% stroll fee, working round a excessive strikeout fee of 31.9%. However his stroll fee fell to eight.5% in 2024 as his strikeout fee climbed even larger to 37.6%, resulting in his aforementioned optioning to the minors.
The Playing cards have a couple of of those gifted however unproven gamers and it appears the plan is to offer them an opportunity to step ahead. Walker additionally had a robust 2023 however fell off in 2024. Burleson had a pleasant breakout in 2024 that he’ll attempt to keep. 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 responsibility behind Contreras.
The overarching plan then is to proverbially throw these gamers into the deep finish and see how effectively they swim. The Playing cards consider that, with some success from that group and others, they may 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 crew 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 on what sort of presents 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 presents, however like Helsley, they may be retained because the membership tries to see if contending in 2025 is feasible.
