Mark DeRosa eloquently expressed the tension that the Cardinals are experiencing during this season.
St. Louis Cardinals: The Red Birds are stuck between a rock and a hard place, showing wild swings in performance this season that leave them hovering around .500 and trailing in the NL Central. They're in limbo, not terrific enough for a playoff run and not awful enough to fully tank. The team's in transition, with leadership changes on the horizon and an unclear path forward for the 2025 season.
The roster consists of a mix of veterans, solid arbitration players, and a blend of impressive and disappointing young players. Early in the offseason, the consensus seemed to be a sell-off of expensive trade pieces. However, the lack of activity and middling performance has sparked a 50/50 split among fans and analysts – should the team stick with their current roster or embrace the rebuild before Chaim Bloom takes over?
MLB Network analyst and USA Baseball manager Mark DeRosa echoes this sentiment, labeling the team as a "confusing bunch." After a series win against the Pirates, the Cardinals find themselves back at .500, with an offensive surge from players like Alec Burleson, Willson Contreras, and Masyn Winn. While this stretch fuels excitement among fans, it also adds to the confusion, making it difficult for the organization to decide if they should make a final push in John Mozeliak's final year or see what the current crop of talent can do.
Gray is a quality starter for the Cardinals and is enjoying another strong season. However, he reportedly is uninterested in waiving his no-trade clause, and there haven't been any discussions on the matter since the offseason. Erick Fedde, another potential trade candidate from the rotation, remained in St. Louis as a mid-rotation starter, raising questions about the Cardinals' depth and whether they see Fedde as a trade piece among their lacking rotation options.
Nolan Arenado will continue to draw trade rumors until the season's end. While he seems to be on the verge of leaving the team multiple times, he remains in St. Louis as a crucial piece in the middle of the order and a defensive powerhouse. However, Arenado has a no-trade clause, making a trade unlikely unless the Cardinals are out of the race or if a fantastic offer materializes.
Ryan Helsley, a free agent after the 2025 season, could be the most likely piece to be traded, given his track record of success as a closer and his expiring contract. However, an interesting usage pattern for Helsley could potentially hurt his market value until the team makes a decision on his future. The Cardinals have received offers for Helsley from teams, including a proposal from Jim Bowden, but the market for established relievers has been cold.
DeRosa also highlights Lars Nootbaar and Brendan Donovan as promising players the team should prioritize as building blocks for the future. With impressive young pieces like Nootbaar, Donovan, Masyn Winn, and Victor Scott II showing potential, the reset process could go smoothly if the Cardinals decide to fully commit to the rebuild.
However, with Ivan Herrera returning from rehab, the lineup construction could get more confusing, resulting in lost playing time for struggling young players. Ultimately, the direction the Cardinals choose won't be clear for the foreseeable future, but one thing's for sure – with their current performance, the baseball they play can be both exhilarating and tough to watch.
- Given the St. Louis Cardinals' current roster, there is a debate among fans and analysts whether they should stick with their existing team or embrace a rebuild before Chaim Bloom takes over, as the team's performance swings between mediocre and competitive.
- As the Cardinals evaluate their options for the 2025 season, MLB Network analyst Mark DeRosa emphasizes promising young players like Lars Nootbaar, Brendan Donovan, Masyn Winn, and Victor Scott II as potential building blocks for the future, suggesting that a successful reset process may ensue if the Cardinals fully commit to the rebuild.
