The St. Louis Cardinals are heading into a crucial offseason under the guidance of Chaim Bloom, facing a potential rebuild after a disappointing 78-84 record in 2025 [3, 12]. This could involve trading away key players [12] while also exploring additions through free agency [6].
Potential Trades and Roster Adjustments
The Cardinals might trade away significant players like Nolan Arenado and Sonny Gray as part of their rebuild [2, 12]. Trading Arenado could mean the Cardinals would need to include a substantial portion of his salary to facilitate a deal [4]. Several teams could be potential landing spots for Arenado, with the Boston Red Sox mentioned as a possibility [2]. A trade involving Sonny Gray could also be on the horizon [12]. One projection estimates Gray's value in 2027 to be around 3 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) [1]. The Cardinals could also look to cut ties with some solid players in trades [3].
Lars Nootbaar's status for the start of the 2026 season is uncertain after he underwent heel surgery to correct Haglund’s deformities [8, 11]. Chaim Bloom indicated that Nootbaar's availability for Opening Day 2026 is not guaranteed [8].
Focus on Fan Engagement and Future Prospects
The Cardinals could learn from the Philadelphia Phillies' approach to fan revival, which involved leveraging star power to fill seats [9, 10]. The organization aims to revitalize fan engagement [9]. Despite team challenges, some players, like Brendan Donovan and Alec Burleson, were named Silver Slugger award finalists [14]. Prospects such as Herrera and Wetherholt also have Silver Slugger expectations [13]. Wetherholt had a solid first full season of professional baseball, hitting .306 with 17 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 109 games [13].
TL;DR
- The Cardinals are entering a rebuild phase and may trade key players like Nolan Arenado and Sonny Gray [2, 12].
- Lars Nootbaar's availability for the start of the 2026 season is in question following heel surgery [8, 11].
- The Cardinals are exploring ways to revitalize fan engagement, potentially learning from the Phillies' strategies [9, 10].
- Prospects Herrera and Wetherholt are generating excitement, with Silver Slugger potential [13, 14].