2024 Record: 83-79
General Manager: John Mozeliak (entering year 18)
Manager: Oli Marmol (entering year 4)
Notable Offseason Acquisitions: None
The St. Louis Cardinals were disappointing in 2024, as they missed the playoffs for the second straight season. As soon as the year concluded, they decided that the team was gonna move towards a younger direction. That meant St. Louis would move on from franchise stalwarts in first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and third baseman Nolan Arenado, and integrate younger players into their roster. A re-tool of sorts.
Goldschmidt left St. Louis in free agency, finding a home with the New York Yankees. Arenado was still under contract for three years and the Cardinals had to find a trade partner. The Houston Astros were interested in the platinum glove defender and both teams struck up a deal. However, Arenado had a no-trade clause and declined the trade. The Cardinals could not find another destination to send Arenado to, and he remains with the team as we speak.
The Arenado debacle threw a big wrench into the Cardinals offseason. As a result, they did not sign a single free agent. Because of this inaction, this puts a lot of pressure on the homegrown talent that St. Louis has in-house.
They do have that talent that could absolutely breakthrough in 2025. Players such as outfielder Victor Scott and infielders Jordan Walker and Thomas Saggese are good examples of this. I also think St. Louis has good younger talent on the pitching side such as Quinn Mathews and Michael McGreevy who I also feel can find homes in the Cardinals rotation sooner rather than later.
Will this new infusion help the Cardinals in the win department? I am not sold on that idea. Even if you assume Arenado will start the year in St. Louis, they will need a lot of breakout seasons to make the playoffs and break that 2-year skid of missing October baseball.
Nevertheless, the young St. Louis Cardinals of 2025 will be fun to track this year, as some big development wins could set them up for a big offseason the following winter and potentially a quick turnaround back to contender status that fans have come to know from the Redbirds.
