The Cardinals officially have a new head of baseball operations for the first time in nearly two decades. As announced at the beginning of last offseason, longtime president of baseball ops John Mozeliak has stepped aside and passed the torch to former Rays and Red Sox executive Chaim Bloom, who'd previously been a senior advisor with the Cardinals. Bloom's end-of-season press conference spelled out what had already become abundantly clear over the past 12 months: this will be an offseason unlike any the Cardinals have experienced in recent memory -- the onset of what's likely to be a yearslong rebuild.
Guaranteed Contracts
- Nolan Arenado, 3B: $42MM through 2027 (Rockies paying $5MM)
- Willson Contreras, 1B: $41MM through 2027 (includes buyout of 2028 club option)
- Sonny Gray, RHP: $40MM through 2026 (includes buyout of 2027 club option)
2026 guarantees: $75MM
Total long-term guarantees: $117.5MM through 2027
Option Decisions
- None
Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; salary projections via MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz)
- Jorge Alcala (5.165): $2.1MM
- JoJo Romero (5.045): $4.4MM
- John King (4.148): $2.1MM
- Lars Nootbaar (4.076): $5.7MM
- Brendan Donovan (4.000): $5.4MM
- Andre Pallante (3.145): $3.4MM
- Nolan Gorman (3.114): $2.9MM
- Alec Burleson (3.029): $3.5MM
- Matthew Liberatore (2.144): $2.8MM
Non-tender candidates: Alcala, King
Free Agents
For the early portion of last offseason, it seemed quite possible that the Cardinals would embark on the very type of rebuild that now seems far likelier. Instead, no-trade clauses in the contracts of veterans Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras threw a wrench into those plans. Gray and Contreras seemed unfazed by the idea of a youth movement and quickly let the team know they were content to remain in St. Louis. Arenado was open to trade scenarios but to a limited number of clubs. He wound up vetoing a trade to the Astros and remaining in St. Louis.
This time around, it seems overwhelmingly likely that at least one of those veterans will change hands. Gray candidly said after his final start that he has to consider trade scenarios this winter after talking to Bloom about the direction of the team. Contreras has said his preference is still to remain in St. Louis but he'll consider waiving his no-trade protection in the right scenario. Arenado has voiced his intent to be more open to a wider array of teams this time around.
That said, there are prominent hurdles when it comes to trading everyone from the group, and there's ample reason to wonder just how much -- if anything at all -- the Cardinals can get back in return for any of those pricey veterans. They're reportedly open to paying down some of the remaining salary (which will be a necessity), but if they really want to extract meaningful prospect value, there are more notable trade avenues to explore.
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No matter what happens, progress has already been achieved. Good riddance Mo!
To Chaim Bloom: Please just be decisive and stop with the half measures and ridiculous catch phrases. John Mozeliak believed that the Cardinals fan base would never support a rebuild. As usual, he was wrong. Just show us a plan, don’t pretend we are too dumb understand it, and follow your words with actions. We are with you. We love young, promising players. Stick to the plan and don’t get bogged down in sappy (though possibly profitable) sentimentality.
I just hope he doesn’t take a holistic approach to the offseason.
Well stated
As long as Oliver Marmol is the manager, he’ll just find a way to mismanage the roster. Offseason is irrelevant.
How many games do you think Marmol cost the Cardinals in 2025?
EndinStealth —-
How many times did Oli Marmol leave his starting pitcher’s in the ballgames to give up 5+ runs —- and let the games get out of hand before he took them out????
That will give you a good indication as to how many games Marmol cost the Cardinals in 2025!!!
So you think the Cardinals were a playoff team by that logic? lmao
He didn’t cost them any. If you actually look at the expected results regarding team record and the team outperformed the expected win loss results. Sure not all of that is due to the manager, but surely some can be credited.
@CanOKorn. Exactly. A lot of these fans want to have it both ways. There was no way this team was a playoff contender yet they were still alive with only 4 games left in the season.
Oliver inherited a very good team in 2022. His public flogging of players and sensless doghouse lineups pretty much determine the outcomes
Gray and Arenado could perhaps be dealt but they are making so much money they won’t bring a lot back. Romero is a soon to be free agent. Donovan and Nootbaar have 2 years of control left. Burleson has 3 and is coming off a good year. Those are the guys that will actually bring something back in trade. Those guys need to be moved for more than Gray and Arenado.
tl;dr version of the article
A good analysis. I’ve been saying to other Cardinals fans that BDW Jr. would have to eat at least $15 MM to get back anything of value for Gray. The Cardinals will be shopping for starting pitcher innings even if they keep Gray. Arenado’s contract is far enough under water that I don’t see many teams wanting to take on more than $10 MM total for ‘26 & ‘27, and with the anticipated CBA lockout, I don’t see anyone wanting to take an already declining Arenado for’27. Bloom said he’s not releasing Arenado, so it’s possible he’ll finish out his contract in STL. Bloom certainly has his work cut out for him.
I believe Bloom has to say he wont release Nado if he wants to get any trade done. That said, if they cant get a trade they may drag his carcas along to start next season, hoping to work something.
It will be a lot of new players next year hopefully we can get some good players in trades we make I am ready for a complete rebuild I am ready to get back to the cardinals way of winning ballgames again I am ready to get bc ack to being a contender
Heck of a run-on sentence, elvis.
Hang onto Arenado out of spite that’ll teach him to pout his way out of another org. But seriously unless he’s waving his clause to a team that would actually trade anything besides org filler the Cards might have to just ride his contract out.
Trade Nolan Gorman to the Dodgers for Young Quality Starting Pitcher — Gavin Stone.
Gavin is recovering from Tommy John.
However —- His rookie season —- when the other name starters were down —- Gavin carried the team with an 11-4 record until the staff could get back!!
Gavin was shut down and missed this season recouping from his surgery. He’s progressing well!!
Gavin has his World Series Ring! He wouldn’t mind being in a Cardinals rebuild.
He is from Lake City, AR and has been a Cardinals Fan all of his life.
Why would LA need Nolan Gorman? Their infield is set and the only hole in their OF is LF, a need I’m certain that will be addressed via the checkbook or with a trade.
Is Muncy signed after this year? I also don’t see a spot for Gorman on the Dodgers, but sending them $15 mil along with Arenado, Noot, and Pallante might work. The Cards could get creative and take Trienan’s $13 mil contract back along with Stone plus lottery tickets further down their prospects list like Leiter and/or Huebeck. Thought Stone had elbow surgery, but it was shoulder, which seems worse if rotator cuff issues.
LA could use Gorman as a backup at 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. He has the mlb experience!!
Frankly Gorman probably needs the Dodgers a lot more than the Dodgers need Gorman!! But it would definitely pay off!
Gorman Does have a ton of potential!!
And —- The Dodgers have the right hitting instructors who can unleash Gorman’s potential —- back into that dependable “Contact Hitter with Power” he was when he first came up from the minors!!
During Gorman’s second seasons up with the Cardinals, their hitting coach at the time, made Gorman ditch his hitting style that got him to the majors —- and go strictly to a Launch Angle swing —- assuming Gorman was going to be a 30+ homers guy on a yearly basis!!!
The Cardinals hitting coaches have had him screwed up ever since then.
The Dodgers can make that young man an All-Star in short order!!!!
None of the arb eligible players are gonna cost big cheese even if they win their case. So, choose the arb player(s) you want to keep, try to sign them before they actually go to arbitration, and set the others free.
Make any trade you can and pay whatever money it takes to move on from Arenado and Contreras. The former is past his expiration date and the latter has never endeared himself to Cardinal fans.
I’d keep Gray, at least until the 2026 trade deadline, because he certainly could bring at least one solid prospect in return.
Time to give Tink Hence and Quinn Mathews a shot in the rotation.
As for the offense, trade or sign for players who don’t strike out a lot, have some speed and perhaps even position versatility. With not a whole lotta pop in the organization, might be time to play a lot of small ball while prioritizing defense.
The NL Central has no powerhouse within the division, so there’s no reason the 2026 Cardinals can’t do what the Brewers did this year.
Yea I would hold Gray til the deadline as well. I believe I would put Hence in the pen to start. Great post
I would like to see not only the cards but all of mlb go back to small ball, much more exciting game than what we have now which is nothing but feast or famine.
Unfortunately—- Tink Hence hasn’t stayed healthy for a full season in what seems like years. Also Unfortunately —- every year
Hence comes back from whatever arm issue he had the previous year —- he seems to lose more and more of that potential Star prospect quality…… for his sake, I hope that trend changes for him and he becomes a star!!!
But —- he appears not to be Mentally and Physically tough enough to get past all of that……. But that’s just an Old Coach’s opinion and observation.
I dont think keeping marmol got blooms tenure off to a good start. I know the teams rebuilding so it makes some sense but keeping him makes it seem different mouthpiece, same message to the fans.
Marmol has one year left on his contract. The Cardinals are not going to pay Marmol to sit at home.
I also find it humorous that people still think this team can compete next season. Do they actually watch this team. Gray changing his mind tells you its a rebuild. Better stsrt thinking about 27 or prob 28 before this team even starts having some life and thats if we hire someone to replace marmol.
If they can get back to developing their talent into overachieving like their very long and very consistent tradition has always been, then they’ll be back to competing for division titles and ships year in and year out as soon as ’27. I don’t believe they’ll be down for long