By Christopher Kline
May 24, 2025
The St. Louis Cardinals have defied preseason expectations with a hot start to the 2025 campaign — and ironically, that success may complicate their long-term plans.
Entering the season, the prevailing storyline surrounding the Cardinals was all about transition. With longtime president of baseball operations John Mozeliak in his final year, and former Red Sox executive Chaim Bloom set to take the reins in 2026, the team appeared poised for a strategic shift. Bloom, known for rebuilding farm systems, was expected to steer the franchise into a developmental phase centered on youth and long-term sustainability.
Instead, Mozeliak held firm to the organization’s veterans over the offseason, resisting significant trades. As a result, the roster today looks much like it did in 2024 — except now, it’s winning. The Cardinals currently sit at 29-23, just two games behind the division-leading Cubs in the NL Central.
That success presents a dilemma: the Cardinals may now be too competitive to justify being sellers at the trade deadline. Pitchers on short-term deals, such as Erick Fedde and Miles Mikolas, will likely stay put, while once-valuable trade pieces like closer Ryan Helsley have seen their value dip and may not be moved at all.
At the same time, the clock is ticking on potential contract extensions for rising stars Lars Nootbaar and Brendan Donovan. Both players are under team control through 2027, but their impressive seasons — Nootbaar with a .761 OPS and 7 home runs, Donovan with an .837 OPS and 3 home runs — are raising their market value significantly. Any chance to lock them in at a discount has likely slipped away, creating future financial pressure.
The situation becomes even more awkward considering the Cardinals’ previous public signals about a shift in direction. With Mozeliak on his way out and Bloom preparing to implement a new vision, a winning season wasn’t supposed to happen — at least not yet.
Veteran stars like Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, and Helsley are all underperforming, which limits their trade appeal. Meanwhile, the team’s young talent is growing costlier, and their farm system still lags behind many other franchises in depth and quality.
If St. Louis fails to make a meaningful postseason push despite its promising start, the offseason could bring difficult decisions — and possibly a major shake-up — once Bloom officially steps in. For now, what should feel like a breakthrough season might only be delaying the hard decisions waiting around the corner.
