Insider's Prediction for Cardinals' Trade Deadline Moves Sparks Anticipation and Disappointment Among Fans
Reimagined Article:
Cardinals' Trade Strategy: Sell or Face the Music
The St. Louis Cardinals' fans have been pondering about the team's trade approach at the 2025 deadline, especially if they're still in the playoff race. The debate is heating up as the team is well into their 2025 season, and their early performance has left many fans yearning for change.
Nowadays, the question on most fans' lips (especially those on social media) is whether the team should sell at the deadline, but it's a given there are some who'd rather see the club improve immediately.
Katie Woo from The Athletic recently opined that the Cardinals could potentially add to their squad if they're contenders in July, but a different Cardinals' source seems skeptical about the team becoming buyers at this point.
The Cardinals Opt for Selling: A Novel Idea?
In a recent piece, Jeff Jones from the Belleville News-Democrat tackled the waning NL Central, as even with a sub-.500 record, the Cardinals are still within striking distance of the playoffs. Although the Cubs have made moves this offseason and appear to be the favorites, they haven't yet dominated the division. The Reds and Brewers are threats this year, but they've yet to take control either.
Naturally, this raises the question: do the Cardinals make a push for the playoffs in John Mozeliak's final season if they're in the hunt come July? Jones suggests the team will stick to their guns and sell. Here's a quote from his article:
"To be sure, the deadline will still matter. Ryan Helsley's upcoming trade is a done deal. Fedde is not far from the same reality; neither is Phil Maton, the team's only major league free agent signing this winter. In much the same way last season's moves shuffled the front office's cards for the 2024 team, the same will hold true in 2025. This is a team that was designed to sell at the deadline, and so they will."
For the average fan, this should bring some comfort. Jones is firm that any surprise playoff push this year will be due to the young talent, not because the team held onto veterans or made a last-minute addition. For most Cardinals fans, it'd be amazing to see the youngsters propel them into a playoff push this year. But it's crucial not to stop them from shedding expiring contracts like Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, Steven Matz, Erick Fedde, and potentially Nolan Arenado to fetch the best return for the future. I have no doubts they'll do their best to move Arenado again.
Some might find it hard to accept the team throwing in the towel if they have a chance, especially a storied franchise like the Cardinals. Normally, I'd agree, but this team seems to be fully committed to its future, and they need to stick to that if they want to maximize their next competitive window. While it's possible the team could embark on a miraculous playoff run if they slip into October, the chances are as slim as can be, and they can improve their odds in future years by making tough decisions come July.
Expect the Cardinals to be sellers come July. If that stirs indignation, I get it. But I believe you'll appreciate their decision in the long run. And hey, maybe those young bats and arms will pick up the slack and mount a run anyway!
Enrichment Data:- Core Factors Driving a Sell Approach: The Cardinals' underwhelming performance (14-18 record), contract dynamics, and structural design prioritizing long-term goals contribute to a sell approach at the 2025 deadline.- Potential Trade Candidates: Key players like Ryan Helsley, Erick Fedde, Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, and Phil Maton are likely trade candidates, with varying degrees of appeal to potential suitors.- Wildcard Scenarios: Although a sudden surge in the NL Central is deemed highly unlikely, fan backlash could result from trading core players and departing from the apparent transitional phase.- Front Office Constraints: The Cardinals' rebuild efforts last offseason were hindered by no-trade clauses that may impact their ability to move players like Arenado and Gray this time around. This deadline presents a clearer opportunity for retooling while prioritizing prospect accumulation to secure future success.
- The Cardinals, with their 14-18 record, might choose to sell key players like Ryan Helsley, Erick Fedde, Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, and Phil Maton at the 2025 deadline, prioritizing long-term goals over a potential playoff push.
- Despite some fans' indignation at the thought of the Cardinals selling, the team seems fully committed to their rebuild efforts and may need to make tough decisions to maximize their next competitive window.
- In the drawbacks of the NL Central division, the Cardinals' strategy of selling could yield valuable prospects that will help secure future success.
- It's possible that the Cardinals' young players might rise to the occasion and mount a playoff run even if the team chooses to sell, but the chances are as slim as can be, given their current performance.
