The St. Louis Cardinals have started to heat up, bringing a fresh wave of optimism to their fanbase. Riding a five-game winning streak, the team has clawed its way back to a .500 record—something that felt out of reach just a few weeks ago. While their success has largely come at home, the momentum they’re building carries echoes of a team that shocked the baseball world not long ago: the 2022 Baltimore Orioles.
There’s a noticeable pattern forming with this Cardinals squad. They catch fire for a stretch, playing like legitimate contenders, then cool off and slip back below the .500 mark. This back-and-forth rhythm has defined much of their season so far. Still, the fact that they keep bouncing back suggests there’s more potential brewing beneath the surface.
That’s what makes the comparison to the 2022 Orioles so compelling. Just a few years ago, Baltimore was fresh off a brutal 110-loss season. They weren’t expected to do much, but by May, they had quietly begun turning things around—ironically, that turnaround started in St. Louis, when they took two of three from the Cardinals. From there, the Orioles slowly climbed back into the playoff picture, despite trading away veterans like Trey Mancini at the deadline. They finished 83-79, just three games shy of a Wild Card berth.
Much like the Orioles did then, the Cardinals may be headed for a “soft sell” approach at this year’s trade deadline. Even if they part ways with expiring contracts and a few veteran arms—think Ryan Helsley, Phil Maton, Steven Matz, Erick Fedde, and possibly Miles Mikolas—it wouldn’t signal a surrender. Rather, it could open the door for young pitchers like Gordon Graceffo, Michael McGreevy, or even rising prospect Quinn Mathews to get a shot.
This kind of strategy worked for both the Orioles and the 2016 Yankees—teams that sold key pieces yet continued to compete. The Orioles used the opportunity to build for the future, clearing space for future stars like Gunnar Henderson. The Cardinals have similar depth developing in the farm system and could benefit from following that same script.
Trading a major name like Nolan Arenado still seems unlikely due to the complexities involved, but a retooling focused on pitching could pay dividends, both now and down the line.
Though Baltimore is struggling in 2025, their strategy in 2022 laid the groundwork for playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024. That’s the kind of long-term gain the Cardinals could be positioning themselves for—even while trying to win as many games as possible this season.
The blueprint is there. The 2022 Orioles showed the baseball world how a team can rebuild on the fly without completely tearing things down. Now, the 2025 Cardinals are walking a similar path—with their eyes set on a brighter future that just might start sooner than anyone expected.
