Cardinal's Dilemma: Two Purchase Motivations, Two Selling Incentives
Just Like Magic, The Cardinals Amaze: Watch as the St. Louis Cardinals continue to stun everyone in the 2025 baseball season. Dubbed the "reset" Redbirds, they've defied expectations and emerged as one of the MLB's top contenders. With a jaw-dropping 16 victories in their last 21 games, October seems within their grasp even in June. But this wasn't part of the script—the Cardinals weren't supposed to be in this position. Their objectives shifted—the 2025 season was meant to showcase young talents and offer each a fair shot at a roster spot.
Given their surprising success, it's time the Cardinals scrutinize their roster's shortcomings and do what's necessary to maintain this momentum. Caught in a rut at the moment, let's weigh the pros and cons of buying or selling at the deadline.
First reason to buy: Reinforce the Pitching CrewPitching is the backbone of any contending team, and a top-notch bullpen is key to achieving postseason success. At the deadline, teams go all out to patch any deficiencies in their relief corps, and it's no different for the Cardinals, who are desperate for bullpen reinforcements. Beyond Phil Maton, Ryan Helsley, and Kyle Leahy, the bullpen remains a puzzle. It currently ranks 29th in all of MLB in cumulative stats, with a revolving door of back-end relievers, struggling performances, and an odd presence like John King. Is this makeshift bullpen sustainable for the rest of the season? More importantly, do they have what it takes to hold their ground in a postseason run? The Cardinals are limited in their minor league options, and they can't afford to overuse their reliable options while remaining competitive.
While the starting pitchers have impressed, is this level of performance sustainable? Mikolas has had a hiccup in his latest outing, and Matthew Liberatore, the team's ace, suffered his first defeat of the 2025 season. The crew needs bolstering to ensure they can maintain their current position—be it through additional depth or a slight upgrade. Matthew Liberatore is also embarking on a critical portion of his Major League career. As a recent convert from relief to starting pitcher, he's shown incredible improvement in 2025, but managing his workload is essential to prevent burnout and preserve his exceptional progress.
To Sum it Up: With the absolute chaos of the trade deadline on the horizon, the Cardinals need to smartly navigate the landscape of buying and selling. They must carefully assess their chances this season, balance short-term competitiveness with long-term development goals, and make their moves accordingly. The objective is simple: strengthen the pitching staff and keep their postseason aspirations alive.
- A potential solution for the Cardinals' shaky bullpen could be investing in strengthening their pitching crew at the trade deadline, as a fortified relief corps is vital for postseason success.
- As the Cardinals aim to keep their postseason aspirations alive, bolstering their pitching staff, either through additional depth or an upgrade, is essential to maintain their current position and support the development of their ace Matthew Liberatore.
